HE ACHIEVED his best time ever, and celebrated with his first glass of red wine in two months. The Bishop of Bangor, the Rt Revd Andrew John, who turns 50 this year, took part for the second time in the Snowdonia Marathon that curls round Wales's highest peak and through the heart of his diocese. "The Snowdonia Marathon is a heady mix of wonder at the stunning views," he says, "and the excruciating pains of enduring steep hills and descents at 24 miles. This is a race which tells you a lot about yourself. . . I didn't prepare terribly well this time, but barefoot running and energy gels got me home in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 26 seconds," which was nine minutes better than he did it last year.

That was all the more remarkable, as he had injured himself three weeks before, and thought he would have to pull out. That meant he was unable to be sponsored personally, but he was supporting an ordinand, Martin Pritchard, also running, who had pledged his sponsorship money, of about £600, to helping children's educational needs in Lango diocese, Uganda.