Tough as teak Cardigan builder Clive Evans completed a 39.1 mile marathon run from Aberystwyth RFC to Cardigan RFC yesterday afternoon and he was welcomed in by an enthusiastic crowd, full of admiration for the efforts of this modest but very determined man.
Evans, a former Cardigan RFC second team captain and father of Cardigan first team scrum half Aaron Evans was supported along the way by several friends and family including his daughter Leah who is also a keen runner and who was at his side as they crossed the line.
Clive was running for three charities and hopes to have raised around £2000.
A member of the Cardigan Running Club, Clive was running for Cardigan Cancer Care, the National Autistic Society and Pembrokeshire Blind, a charity close to the hearts of the Evan’s family and he was encouraged along the way by around 25 other runners – many who ran part of the way through various villages en route.
“Running to Penparcau was a breeze, and so was Blaenplwyf, but it was a drag from Llanon and hard from New Inn. I stopped there longer than I had wanted to, but you don’t know until you get there. I never walked, I just kept running all the way, and it’s the longest distance I’ve run so far.
“I didn’t hit a wall, but had a bad stomach when I reached Tanygroes, but that seemed to go and I’m okay today, even though I was dreading getting up this morning,” said Clive who trains six times a week.
“During the run, people would stop their cars to cheer me on and that’s what you need when you are running. The support I had was amazing and I was very emotional when I finished,” said Clive who is going to give ‘Iron Man’ a go next year.
His next challenge will be in two weeks’ time – the 26.2 marathon in Brighton, where he will use it as a training session for the South African Comrades run in the summer, which is a 56 mile run. He will be joined there by runners Eirwyn Penlan from Cardigan, and Andrew Toft and Heddwyn Evans from Penparc.
Clive says that this marathon run would not have been possible without the support of great family and friends, including wife Elaine, Viv Skips and Derek Burton of St Dogmaels, Robins Taxis, Cardigan, Enfys James of Cardigan Cancer Care and E.L Jones the printers.
