Darren Evans from Cheshire will be attempting to complete his first 10K race when he lines up with thousands of other runners at the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run this Sunday.
Originally from Pontypridd, he started running less than a year ago at the age of 63 and wanted to return to the country of his birth for his first attempt at the distance.
His enthusiasm and progress from couch to 10K via parkrun demonstrates how it’s never too late to take up and enjoy the benefits of running, and how signing up for a race is a great way to challenge and push yourself further than before.
Darren commented: “I came to running quite late in life following a difficult ending to a relationship and have surprised myself just how much I have enjoyed it. You don’t need any fancy equipment or have to spend hours practicing – I can run for as little as 15 minutes or for as long as I like”.
“I’ve even now joined a Nantwich Running Club, which far from being competitive and serious has been a friendly and welcoming experience where I have met lovely people who I can run with at a pace I feel comfortable. I’ve lost two kilograms without changing my diet and even met a new partner at the running club!”.
“I’ve challenged myself to run further by signing up for the Cardiff Bay Run and can’t wait to spend a weekend in Cardiff which is a lovely city. I’ll be wearing my distinctive Welsh dragon running shirt and have set myself the target of completing the run in under an hour”.
“I’ll be doing the run in memory of my Dad who died in July 2020. None of our family could be with him because of the COVID restrictions. He once told me he was the fastest runner in his school, so I must get it from him!”.
More details on the benefits of running, joining a running club, or signing up for an event like the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run can be found on the Cardiff Bay Run and Run 4 Wales websites at cardiffbay10K.co.uk and www.run4wales.org.
