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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog

Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church

For details of how to sponsor see this post

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OK..... I'm going to cheat a bit tonight because I worked late and I'm 'plum tuckered'. So a short link blog in which I will treat you , dear reader, to an account of The Great Welsh Marathon which was held in blazing sunshine at Llanelli last year on April 10th. This was, apparently, only the second Llanelli Star Great Welsh Marathon and by all accounts it was a raging success. This year's event will be held on April 15th at 9 a.m. at the Millennium Coastal Park

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Keep tuned for more WCE announcements. Hoping to have some major news by early next week.

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Llanelli Star Great Welsh Marathon

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Hey, thats what Ill call you Collywobble!

Collywobble , published by Pont Books , is a heart-warming tale of a brave little collie pup by Malachy Doyle.

Working sheepdog Bess has had a litter of puppies: three are big and strong, three are good enough but Collywobble is the most shivery, wobbly little scrap youre ever likely to see. Nobody wants him! Farmer Joe agrees to keep him on the farm but hell have to earn his keep.

When Bess and Farmer Joe fail to return home one day, Collywobble ventures out into the snow to look for them. But when faced with a herd of runaway sheep and finding that Farmer Joes truck has skidded off the road, will the little pup really be able to save the day and prove his worth?

This beautifully illustrated picture book shows that appearances arent always what they seem and this endearing tale is sure to appeal to tender-hearted animal lovers of all ages, but especially children.

Malachy Doyles touching story is beautifully complemented by Petra Browns artwork. Her feel for the Welsh landscape and her affinity with animals makes this a picture book for children (and their mums and dads) to treasure.

Malachy Doyle grew up in Northern Ireland, and after living in Wales for many years he has now returned to Ireland. Since taking up creative writing at the age of forty, he has enjoyed an illustrious career as a childrens author, producing over 50 books, most of which have enjoyed both UK and worldwide success, and established him as one of the UKs most respected childrens authors. For more information visit his colourful website www. malachydoyle .com

Petra Brown lives in north Wales and has been a childrens book illustrator since 2006. Having illustrated books for many publishers, Collywobble , is her second collaboration with Malachy Doyle having illustrated Granny Sarah and the Last Red Kite published by Pont Books in 2006. To see more of Petra Browns wonderful illustrations, visit her website petrabrown. blogspot.com

Collywobble is available from all good bookshops and online

retailers.

For more information, please visit www.pontbooks.co.uk

By Alan Evans

A revolutionary new online network has taken off in West Wales. The network named Deheubarth after the old name for the kingdom ruled over by Hywel Da in West Wales has been set up to promote community, business, culture, history, art and music within the area. It has received a warm welcome from businesses artists, musicians and community organisations. Within the first month the site has topped 6,000 views. The site can be translated into almost any language in the world at a click of a button. It is the brainchild of professional photographer Alan Evans. Alan said All I am doing is using the latest free software and applications to empower people and allow communities to take ownership of marketing themselves. It is entirely free and anyone over thirteen years of age can join. The site allows people to add their events, create online groups, promote their business, upload and share all types of files and listen to music by any artist. Alan said, People are looking for real alternatives and I am simply providing them with a platform free of bureaucracy. My title is simply, administrator. There is no doubt that this is the future for enabling communities to consolidate the best they have to offer. Similar networks are being used across the world but this is a first for Wales and it will revolutionize the way people connect with each other. It has been set up so that anyone can access the multi functional site and reach a worldwide audience. This is not a static brochure site we see so much of where nothing changes. The community has taken ownership of the site and the community has the say in what goes on there. Best of all, it is FREE.

With 100 members joining within the first month of being launched Alan is optimistic that more will follow. The 100th member Sascha Pearce Narbett received a free bottle of champagne. There is a slap up meal for two at one of Carmarthenshires best restaurants on offer for the 200th member. Laugharne County Councillor Jane Tremlett and Simon Morris, chairman of Pendine Community Council attended a presentation of the network at Gilberts caf last Wednesday.

Councillor Tremlett said "The Deheubarth Network presentation impressed everyone with its quality and the opportunity it gives to individuals, community groups and businesses to share their interests, events and showcase this outstanding landscape to the world. We need to use everything we can to develop economic growth in our communities. Tourism is a necessary part of our economy. We all have our unique personalities. Pendine has a beach that compares with the best in the world. Laugharne has its literary heritage in Dylan Thomas's Boathouse Museum, its Castle and estuary. We need to attract tourists to the area and this website has the potential to reach those prospective visitors. I hope this presentation will soon be given to the various community organisations and businesses in Laugharne." Businesses already signed up include Morfa Bay Adventure, Gilberts, Elaichi, Sarnau Design, 24 Carrot Promotions, Castle Stores amongst others. Alan wishes to thank Ceri Shaw for his help and inspiration in setting up the network. Ceri is administrator for a similar network in America set up for the ex pat Welsh community. Americymru is extremeley successful at promoting all things Welsh and is open to anyone, wherever they may be in the world.The website for West Wales can be found at www.sanclertimes.ning.com

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Gwynedd Tourism Officer Speaks About Celticos AmeriCymru Trail Tour

Alun Fon Williams is the tourism officer for Gwynedd. A responsible position when you consider that Gwynedd comprises the whole of north west Wales and that the tourist industry in this area is worth 900 million GBP annually ( 1350 million dollarsapprox ). In this interview Alun speaks about his job with specific reference to the Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour which is designed to cater for Americans visiting north Wales who have an interest in exploring their historic roots in the area.

Alun also talks about his own familial connections with America and reveals that his great great great grandfather Robert E. Owens migrated to the USA and became one of the largest cattle barons in the State of Iowa.

Biography of Robert E. Owens
Iowa County, IA Biographies

Robert E. Owens was one of the extensive landowners of Iowa county, owning eight hundred and forty acres, his home being in Troy township. He was born in Anglesea, Wales, in 1835, and was one of a family of fifteen children. The only one now living is a brother, D. L. Owens, a resident of Lime Springs, Iowa. read more here

Enjoy the interview and dont forget to head on over to the Forum and nominate your favorite Welsh American or American of Welsh descent in order to be entered in our competition to win two tickets for the Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour. Here is the post ( instructions on the page ):- Competition: Unique Tour of North Wales - Win a Place For Two on the AmeriCymru North Wales Tour

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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog

Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church

For details of how to sponsor see this post

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Well it's Day 16 already and this blog is still going strong. I must admit though that it is sometimes difficult to think of a fresh topic for each days post so I decided to take a look at other running blogs to see what is out there.

There is certainly no shortage. One of the first sites that caught my eye was this one:- Top 50 Running Blogs It is, as you might have deduced from the title, a list of the Top 50 Running Blogs as ranked by Google, Alexa etc. I don't think I will be submitting my own feeble effort for inclusion in this list BUT it is certainly an interesting and voluminous repository of information and ideas for anyone with an interest in running and/or writing about running.

After a brief perusal of one or two of the blogs on the list I was fascinated ( and relieved ) to learn that there is much more to write about running than one might first have thought. Certainly I have come across a few medical conditions that are new to me, for example:- Iliotibial Band Syndrome which features in this post from Runblogger - Running Shoes and Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS): One Runners Story

But I guess if you're going to run the main thing is to enjoy it, a sentiment which I'm sure would be endorsed by the Fishtown Beer Runners whose mission statement ( see linked blog ) is to :-

"....combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science. We gather once a week to run three to five miles, and conclude each run at a pub for a beer or two."

And lest anyone thinks that running is strictly the preserve of grim faced fanatical 'fittists' here is a whole blog devoted to the notion that Running is Funny

I'll be back with a full report on my own painful and glacial progress tomorrow but meanwhile check out the links at Running is Funny....I'm sure you'll find something to chuckle at

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