Running In Focus is a website I maintain and it is composed of photographs of mainly road races with the occasional cross country and mountain race.

I had only ever dabbled with running intermittently, having swum with Rhyl Swimming Club,and done some fitness training with a local group of keep-fit enthusiasts known as 'The Berserkers'.I was keen to get involved with an organised club at the time,but never quite found anything tht suited me.

My running career started when I met Gareth Hughes.Gareth was active on the local running scene in North Wales,and was at the time secretary of Prestatyn Running Club.That was in 1995 and he persuaded me to have a go at running.I joined Prestatyn Running Club shortly afterwards, and the training started in ernest.

I found I adapted to the obsessive regimes that runners follow quite easily.It seemed quite simple. If you trained hard you got better.So that's what I did.For 10 wonderful years I had some fantastic times with Prestatyn Running Club and all my running friends in North Wales.I met some great friends on the way, and running became my social life.

North Wales had its own running league,the Border League,and I did quite a few races with them.The competition was always fierce,and there was intense rivalry.It was quite something to get in the top forty! The other outlet for runners in North Wales was the Cross Country scene.This was even more demanding than road running.You had to be able to cope with the winter weather,and sometimes appalling conditions.

My most memorable race was with Ian Carson in the Chester Spring 5 in 1998. We were both running well and kept together, pushing each other all the way.Ian just managed to nudge ahead of me at the finish but it was a great race and I clocked my best time for 5 miles at 28.38.

I did the Chester Zoo 10k quite a few times and it was on this course that I did my fastest time.Again Ian was just ahead of me and we were both running strongly.I slowed slightly on the hill at the finish and narrowly missed breaking 36 minutes.Ian went just under 36 minutes.

My hardest race was undoubtedly the Llandudno 10 in 1996.Unlike most races I remember, the conditions for a PB were good and I felt like trying for one.I pushed myself all the way. I remember getting to 9 miles and realising I was easily going to break 60mins - the conditions on the front were perfect.I finished in 58.38.Myself Paul Brandrick and Richard Washbrook all ran under the hour that year.I broke the hour twice more, both times at Llandudno.

My best running was throughout 1999 in the build-up to the London Marathon.I was fortunate to have a good training partner in Paul Brandrick. We both ran well that year and I did my best half marathon time of 1.19 in the Four Villages Half Marathon.Paul and I both went on to do the Wilmslow Half Marathon just before London and clocked similar times.I remembr trying to find my way there very well. Richard Washbrook travelled with me and we got lost on the way to the race.We made the start but only just. Richard ran a good time that year as well.He went off in his characteristic way- fast- only to slow in the later stages.

In my third attempt at London I clocked 3.03.Paul passed me at 23 miles and went on to run just under 3 hours.Kevin Jones ran that year and also broke 3 hours.

The Castle Relays is definitely my most memorable event.It brings together huge groups of friends and is in itself a huge organisational feat for Les Croupiers.The individual stages are all challenging in their own way.

I was very fortunate to have some very good friends who encouraged me in my running. Eddie Faure, John McKenna, Richard Washbrook and Paul Brandrick helped and supported me throughout.