When Paul Maggs, who runs his popular Maggs Optics in Haverfordwest and Tenby, lost his father Ray with Alzheimer’s he decided he would raise funds for the charity by running in the Cardiff Half Marathon – and last Sunday he and family members entered again, ably assisted by former Haverfordwest Rugby player, Karl Weake, whose wife Tina helps Paul run the shop in Haverfordwest, stepped in because one family member was unavoidably absent from the family’s big day.

 
Paul’s partner, Fiona Russell, was arguably the most pleased because she knocked a massive 12 minutes off her previous time and Paul’s daughter Laura also reduced her time by a couple of minutes.

 
His son Liam says that he found it tough going at one stage but showed the benefit of hard work in training by recording a debut time of 1 hour, 48 minutes and 58 seconds. Karl Weake also ran really well for a time of two hours, 29 minutes and 18 seconds and has told his wife Tina that he might now enter the London Marathon next year!

 

All finished – and a good sum raised

 
It is good to report that the quintet all completed the 13+ miles through the streets of the capital amongst about 28,000 other runners and in doing so raised a good sum for such a worthwhile cause – and Paul showed that being 59 is no hindrance to being involved by turning up at Haverfordwest Maggs Optics the very next day, although he did admit to being a little on the stiff side!
 

“I admit I found it tougher going than last year, especially the last two miles,” Paul told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk,  “but the huge crowds were magnificent – and by the end I had got my second breath and was chuffed that I actually improved my time by two minutes. Who knows, it could the marathon at The Long Couse weekend in Tenby next year – if my ageing little legs allow me!
 

“What was brilliant was the fact that we stayed in a Cardiff hotel before and after the race and raised much-needed funds for vital research on an awful illness – and we like to thank our customers, friends and rest of our families for their amazing support.