*A group photograph of all the supporters who turned out to remember their friend and colleague John Dalzell on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night.
Good turn-out on the prom in midweek for a 5k tribute run in memory of John Dalzell.
Report by Don Hale.
About sixty people attended a special tribute and social 5k run/walk on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night in memory of a popular North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell, who tragically lost his life last month.
John was a well-known ultra-distance athlete and a regular parkrunner at Conwy, who always had time for people, and often gave loads of encouragement to fellow runners, before, during, and after any events.
This special commemorative 5k was arranged by club colleagues and close friends of John, in Jonathan Kettle and Tony Price Jones, and attracted plenty of supporters from numerous clubs and organisations that he was previously associated with, including a series of sprint sessions on the prom each Wednesday night, organised by this coaching duo. *Supporters later raised a glass in John's memory.
After the run, Jonathan Kettle confirmed: “Thank you so much to all that attended John’s Memorial 5km this evening. It was amazing to see 56 runners there from Dalzell Runners, North Wales Road Runners Club, GOG Triathlon Club, Black Cloak Runners and CXF Wellbeing
“If we can take just one thing away to remember it has to be it’s okay not to be okay, and please talk if you need to. We also raised £250 for MATES support group. Gone but never forgotten!”
Club colleague Rachel Morris added: “Thanks to Jonathan and Tony for organising such a great event. It was great to see so many people from different clubs come together in remembering John tonight at Dalzell Runners, Jonathan and Tony organised the social 5k run in memory of Jon Doe. What an amazing turn out, and it was great to see so many runners from different running clubs in the area come together to run and remember John.”
And Helen Hannam, who runs for both NWRRC and Dalzell Runners, said: “A great turnout for an amazing man, gone too soon, but one who will never be forgotten. Please talk if you need to. It's OK to not be OK. This was my first 5k run since my illness, my time was 34.28.”
*A further tribute was paid to the late John Dalzell at his favourite parkrun at Conwy last Saturday, by NWRRC member, and parkrun MC John Hatton, who told over 200 starters about the sad loss of a parkrun friend, and a regular runner on this 5k course, and said this week’s event was to be run in memory of John Dalzell, with the news commemorated by spontaneous applause.