:00:13. > :00:20.For the past four months, these people have been to hell and back.
:00:21. > :00:24.Today, as 100 Alfie's Angels attempt to complete the Cardiff Half
:00:25. > :00:33.Marathon, they will find out whether or not it's all been worth it.
:00:34. > :00:41.Does anybody in here think you can motivate the person next to you to
:00:42. > :00:49.complete the half marathon? There's your answer. 16 weeks ago Rugby
:00:50. > :00:54.legend Gareth Alfie Thomas accepted his greatest challenge yet, to drain
:00:55. > :00:59.from scratch 100 novice runners for this year 's Cardiff Half Marathon.
:01:00. > :01:05.A total of 20 teams have been following a training programme set
:01:06. > :01:12.by Alfie and training Guru James. We've followed three teams up close
:01:13. > :01:17.and personal for the TV series. Team number one, the Ty Gwyn Mums. Eight
:01:18. > :01:23.incredible ladies whose children all attend the same special needs school
:01:24. > :01:28.in Cardiff. Team number two, the Royal Glam Nurses, a fabulous
:01:29. > :01:34.foursome who will work on word 12 of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. And
:01:35. > :01:40.finally team number three, the Flying Filers, five Batty
:01:41. > :01:44.beauticians from Haverfordwest. It's been a helter-skelter summer for all
:01:45. > :01:49.of these teams as they've trained their way from couch potatoes to 21
:01:50. > :01:54.K. But it hasn't all been a stroll in the park. At the very beginning
:01:55. > :01:59.Alfie was convinced the nail bar girls wouldn't stay the course. I
:02:00. > :02:05.can't see them doing it. He worried they were all about booze. Botox.
:02:06. > :02:15.And smokes. But after an Alfie intervention... Your lungs after a
:02:16. > :02:20.year when you smoke 20 a day. They've all knuckled down. Alfie has
:02:21. > :02:23.been forced to eat his words. The nail bar girls, when I first met
:02:24. > :02:28.them, I thought their party lifestyle and the fun element of
:02:29. > :02:34.them was maybe all they were about, but boy was I wrong. They are an
:02:35. > :02:38.amazing group of girls, individually and collectively. They are so
:02:39. > :02:43.motivated, they worked extremely hard and they've been leaders in the
:02:44. > :02:50.whole group. Let's get through it! Everybody looks to one of the nail
:02:51. > :02:54.bar girls for conversation or some kind of motivation. They have turned
:02:55. > :03:01.out to be from what I thought were a team that would struggle to a team
:03:02. > :03:08.that has led the way. At the outset, the Royal to girls had the complete
:03:09. > :03:11.opposite effect on Alfie. -- roiled the girls. Their working life is
:03:12. > :03:17.tough and they will see some of these challenges is quite easy. How
:03:18. > :03:22.wrong can one of Wales greatest sporting I can speak the nurse
:03:23. > :03:27.quickly became casualties of their own infuser as. The nurses, when I
:03:28. > :03:31.first met them, I thought they were a really strong team. But with the
:03:32. > :03:36.amount of time they are on their feet at work and with training, they
:03:37. > :03:41.were picking up injuries, they were over training. A fracture straight
:03:42. > :03:45.through the bone. But they have such a drive and motivation and
:03:46. > :03:57.dedication and that probably comes from their work a 12 hour shift,
:03:58. > :03:59.then training, then going home to look after family, doing that every
:04:00. > :04:04.day is an extremely difficult thing to do. They have inspired everybody
:04:05. > :04:10.else. And then there's the Ty Gwyn Mums. The Ty Gwyn mums speak for
:04:11. > :04:15.themselves. They've been an inspiration from day one. Faced with
:04:16. > :04:19.incredible challenges at home, they've been walking a continual
:04:20. > :04:23.tightrope to fit in the demands of training and family life. All the
:04:24. > :04:28.other women have seen how these women live their lives and how
:04:29. > :04:32.special they are. They've taken a determination they have every day
:04:33. > :04:40.and they've used it differently. They've taken some of that
:04:41. > :04:43.determination for me, I'll have some determination myself and do
:04:44. > :04:50.something for me and they've done that. They've used that
:04:51. > :04:55.determination. For all 100 of the marathon Angels, there have been big
:04:56. > :04:58.sacrifices. Heartaches and happiness. They've marked off the
:04:59. > :05:04.milestones across a summer of sweat that none of them will forget in a
:05:05. > :05:11.hurry. And now ahead of them lies one last hurdle to overcome. But
:05:12. > :05:16.it's the biggest one of them all. Joining 17,102 other runners at the
:05:17. > :05:25.start line of the 2016 Cardiff Half Marathon. But first... Saturday,
:05:26. > :05:29.October one 2016. The day of judgment is less than 24 hours a
:05:30. > :05:34.great and in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, Alfie and coach James have
:05:35. > :05:39.gathered all 100 Angels for a prerace evening they might never get
:05:40. > :05:49.over. First off, thank you for being here this evening. We are on the eve
:05:50. > :05:53.before the very, very big one. For myself, for all of that hard work,
:05:54. > :05:57.to yourself as Angels, I have a special set of guests coming to give
:05:58. > :06:04.you a last-minute worn up and get us ready as a team, ready to start the
:06:05. > :06:10.half marathon tomorrow. Turn your attention to the gates. I hope you
:06:11. > :06:21.enjoy... What has James got lined up? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No,
:06:22. > :06:36.it's a fire engine. And 19 firemen. What? Are in need of some attention.
:06:37. > :06:40.-- 100 a are in aid of some attention in preparation for the
:06:41. > :06:46.half marathon. These firefighters are doing it tomorrow as well. This
:06:47. > :06:51.random drop by isn't quite as random as it seems. The firemen with the
:06:52. > :06:55.megaphone is Kevin and tomorrow he's going to attempt to break the world
:06:56. > :07:02.record for running a half marathon in a full firefighting kit. Move
:07:03. > :07:05.your arms around in a circle. His fellow firemen from Cardiff Central
:07:06. > :07:10.station will be running around supporting. But tonight they are
:07:11. > :07:13.here to take Alfie and the Angels through their warm up routine. And
:07:14. > :07:18.now that's been achieved we get down to the real business of the visit.
:07:19. > :07:21.Dress up Alfie and then... I think we all Mowen what's coming next.
:07:22. > :07:56.You're going to get very wet. My God! I didn't know... Oh my god.
:07:57. > :08:00.The things I do for you lot. Fair play, put everyone in good spirits
:08:01. > :08:06.ready for the rest of the day and tomorrow. Forget about it for a
:08:07. > :08:12.while and have some fun. And Alfie's fun evening has even turned funnier
:08:13. > :08:16.as the firemen themed get-together gets gate-crashed by a newly wed
:08:17. > :08:21.bride and groom. Who wouldn't want a wedding album photo of themselves
:08:22. > :08:25.with one of Wales greatest rugby players stood in front of a castle
:08:26. > :08:32.sopping wet in a full fireman skit? What are the chances? This is Elvis
:08:33. > :08:37.on the moon territory! Here's to a long and prosperous life together,
:08:38. > :08:43.Charis and Andrew. Don't forget to tell your grandkids you staged the
:08:44. > :08:50.whole thing. Wow! Wasn't expecting that. And the Angels aren't
:08:51. > :08:55.expecting what's coming next because following a traditional pre-marathon
:08:56. > :08:57.pasta party at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, Alfie has lined up some
:08:58. > :09:12.surreal afters. I bet you wonder why you're out
:09:13. > :09:18.here. I want to welcome you all to one of Wales's most iconic hotels.
:09:19. > :09:23.The Angel Hotel. All of Wales's greatest stars have stayed here,
:09:24. > :09:28.from Tom Jones to Shirley Bassey, even the Welsh rugby team would stay
:09:29. > :09:40.here. But none of them, absolutely none of them, have had the honour of
:09:41. > :09:44.having this hotel named after them. So tonight, my lovely Angels, I give
:09:45. > :10:07.you... Remember, 60 weeks ago, when I asked
:10:08. > :10:13.you honestly to put your hands up to show you how many of you think you
:10:14. > :10:19.could complete the half marathon. None of you put your hands up. With
:10:20. > :10:23.all the determination, all the motivation, everything you've been
:10:24. > :10:28.through in the last 16 weeks, I ask you for one last minute of honesty.
:10:29. > :10:38.Put your hands up if you think you can complete the half marathon
:10:39. > :10:44.tomorrow. There you are. So one last surprise. Tonight we've been invited
:10:45. > :10:52.across the road to the Cardiff Arms Park to go on the field... A nice
:10:53. > :10:55.rousing reception from the crowd and have a little feel of what's
:10:56. > :11:02.tomorrow -- what tomorrow is going to be like. Off we go. The girls
:11:03. > :11:07.have been doing fantastic, I thought I'd bring them here tonight to hear
:11:08. > :11:15.what it's like to be in front of an amazing crowd. Let's hear it for
:11:16. > :11:19.them! So the Angels round off a completely random evening by being
:11:20. > :11:23.introduced to the blues crowd at half-time in their game against
:11:24. > :11:29.Leinster. And they get right rousing reception. Good luck for tomorrow,
:11:30. > :11:40.Alfie's Angels. Good luck sleeping tonight.
:11:41. > :11:48.Sunday, October two. Half marathon morning. The three DVDs are heading
:11:49. > :12:00.to meet up with the other Angels and there is tension in the air. My
:12:01. > :12:07.stomach is all over the place. The nerves are mounting. But so are the
:12:08. > :12:13.knocks. Nicola's angle is swollen, Lisa's knee has a minuscule Stey,
:12:14. > :12:19.Rachel has shin splints and then there's nurse Jo. You're limping
:12:20. > :12:23.when you're walking. How is it? The fracture is fine, I've pulled a
:12:24. > :12:30.ligament in the same ankle. How are you feeling about getting around?
:12:31. > :12:40.Petrified. What petrified as you? Letting everybody down. Really?
:12:41. > :12:56.You won't let anyone down. You're not going to let anyone down. You
:12:57. > :13:01.afraid of not finishing? As they join the other Angels preparing for
:13:02. > :13:05.the marathon, Alfie sends Jo to physio Nicola who often patched up
:13:06. > :13:11.Alfie when he was playing and will give Jo a last-minute fitness test.
:13:12. > :13:19.It hurts a little bit up here. Bend your knees.
:13:20. > :13:31.All I can do is to really try and make sure you can walk. I don't
:13:32. > :13:39.recommend you try and run. I would like to say don't do it, but I know
:13:40. > :13:47.you want to do it anyway! Exactly. Smacks of talking to you all those
:13:48. > :13:51.years ago! I would say be sensible... Decision made. Jo joins
:13:52. > :13:57.the walking wounded Angels getting patched up and strapped up ready for
:13:58. > :14:02.the starting line, leaving Alfie to his own last-minute yet. I'm nervous
:14:03. > :14:07.myself, really nervous. There are so many of them now. Rather than
:14:08. > :14:14.thinking how good it could be, the potential of what can go wrong with
:14:15. > :14:20.100 women. It's mad! Wrong? What could possibly go wrong? Check out
:14:21. > :14:28.the contents of her legendary leopard-print bum bag.
:14:29. > :14:40.Jelly babies and nicotine chewing gum. That is right, Betsan has been
:14:41. > :14:48.three weeks off the fags. Cap and Charlotte's go faster eyelashes are
:14:49. > :14:51.securely in place. And the rest of the Angels are as Eadie as a girl
:14:52. > :15:02.guide troop which has been at the patrol leader's hip flask. 16 weeks,
:15:03. > :15:09.amazing. They are ready, there will be so many emotions out there even
:15:10. > :15:13.before we get across the start line. And they will finish? They are all
:15:14. > :15:20.here, they are already and what a day for it. Top man. And suddenly,
:15:21. > :15:26.here we are. The beginning of the end of an emotional, funny and
:15:27. > :15:35.painful journey for Alfie's 100 Angels. Between them and glory, the
:15:36. > :15:40.small matter of 13.1 miles. It's a beautiful sunny Sunday and all 100
:15:41. > :15:46.get off to a good start. We're doing all right. We're getting there. By
:15:47. > :15:51.the time they approach the marina, the majority are still sailing
:15:52. > :15:56.along. But as they make their way towards the bay in the halfway mark,
:15:57. > :16:01.two of the 100 have had to pull out through injury. But the rest keep on
:16:02. > :16:08.keeping on. Nurse Zoe is striding away at the front of the pack.
:16:09. > :16:13.Followed swiftly by Flying Filers Charlotte and Betsan. Nurse Sarah is
:16:14. > :16:23.breathless but keen to share her journey so far. Love it. It is
:16:24. > :16:28.amazing! I am so happy! It is good. Translation, she is tired but happy
:16:29. > :16:35.to see her son in the crowd and she is busting for a comfort break. Cap
:16:36. > :16:43.has more pressing issues to address. Is the make up still on? That is
:16:44. > :16:50.amazing. Looking good, running well. These mums really can't stop. My
:16:51. > :16:55.feet are killing me. Although they are happy to phone in their
:16:56. > :17:01.progress. Just on the halfway, towards the Magic roundabout and we
:17:02. > :17:06.are having a whale of a time, loving it, absolutely awesome! At the
:17:07. > :17:15.halfway mark, a pile of Angels are pouring through. There are still 98
:17:16. > :17:19.on the go. Some of them need refuelling. Thank you! And some of
:17:20. > :17:23.them still have time to flirt and crack jokes. You do not look as bad
:17:24. > :17:31.as you feel. You don't feel so bad that you don't look so bad yourself!
:17:32. > :17:37.This one is amazing. These are getting me through, these girls. As
:17:38. > :17:42.nurse Jo limps on through halfway, at the finish line and in an
:17:43. > :17:46.extraordinary two hours and four minutes, the first Angel comes home.
:17:47. > :17:54.Jo's colleague and close friend, nurse Zoe. I didn't think it was
:17:55. > :18:01.ever going to end! Followed closely by Flying Filers Charlotte. The
:18:02. > :18:08.adrenaline is absolutely pumping. My legs are like jelly. Not bad going
:18:09. > :18:14.for two complete strangers who 16 weeks ago had never done any running
:18:15. > :18:20.at all. Then third across the line is Angela. I did 110 K last year but
:18:21. > :18:28.that is all I have ever done so really pleased. Out on the course it
:18:29. > :18:34.is thirsty work in the unseasonal October sunshine but Kat is keeping
:18:35. > :18:43.her bottle and clutching for dear life her emergency bum bag make up
:18:44. > :18:50.supplies. Ty Gwyn Mums are in perfect rhythm. Did the first bit
:18:51. > :18:57.with Alfie boy. I'm dancing to all the music, loving it! Nurse Leigh
:18:58. > :19:02.and the flying filer Lisa helping each other in adversary. Just
:19:03. > :19:06.getting round with an injury. Really hurting now but we are sticking
:19:07. > :19:12.together and we are going to finish it. At the finish, Betsan was the
:19:13. > :19:25.latest Angel home, a little worse for wear. BLEEP but it is not all
:19:26. > :19:36.bad. My toenail is fine. And then next up nurse Sarah. I am happy. I
:19:37. > :19:41.am relieved. But how is fellow nurse Jo? She's still a full four miles
:19:42. > :19:45.from the finish. As Jo clings painfully to her dreams of
:19:46. > :19:56.finishing, many of the other Angels are already there. How did I do
:19:57. > :20:04.that? I do anything I can talk! That was amazing! I have done it! Thank
:20:05. > :20:16.you very much. That was amazing! Amazing! And here is another Flying
:20:17. > :20:23.Filer crossing the line. This is for mum and Nanna Angela. Did you enjoy
:20:24. > :20:27.that? At times. It was tough. I had to push hard. With half of the
:20:28. > :20:36.Angels safely across the finish line, another bunch are approaching
:20:37. > :20:43.the 12 mile mark known as hell Hill. Tell me about this hill? I am loving
:20:44. > :20:49.it. It is just a hill, get over it. So mum Cass is loving it, what about
:20:50. > :20:54.Kat? I never in a million years would have thought I would be able
:20:55. > :21:00.to achieve this. But now I am at the halfway point so it is realistic
:21:01. > :21:04.now. And I gave up smoking. It is my make up still on? I topped it up
:21:05. > :21:13.once but I haven't done it again. See later, boys! Ty Gwyn Mums lives,
:21:14. > :21:25.Nick and cherie are not feeling quite so sparky. The heat is killing
:21:26. > :21:31.us. We did about six or seven without stopping. It is so hot now.
:21:32. > :21:40.My feet are hurting, the legs are hurting. The blisters coming. Next
:21:41. > :21:46.to soldier up murder mile come mums Christina and Sally. But at least
:21:47. > :21:52.they have Group Captain James to bolster morale. Arms and legs are
:21:53. > :22:00.moving, we are inside the last mile. There are a couple just ahead. We
:22:01. > :22:08.are getting it done. Bobbing along! Wonky donkey style. So Sally and
:22:09. > :22:15.Christina feel like wonky donkeys. How about fellow mum Rachel? I am in
:22:16. > :22:20.so much pain, so much pain! But this atmosphere has been absolutely
:22:21. > :22:25.overwhelming. People have pulled me through. I am going to well up,
:22:26. > :22:31.don't. It has been amazing, literally amazing. I can't believe I
:22:32. > :22:36.am nearly at the finish. But I am in so much pain and I can't wait to see
:22:37. > :22:46.my babies. I need to finish and get across that line and see my babies.
:22:47. > :22:53.Thank you, guys. Rachel Plouffe on. Swollen knee, shin splints and all.
:22:54. > :22:57.-- Rachel ploughs on. She is followed by casualties nurse Jo. We
:22:58. > :23:04.have one leg at Jo Root to get over the line. She has run 13 miles with
:23:05. > :23:15.one leg. Very painful but the atmosphere is really into. -- the
:23:16. > :23:22.atmosphere is brilliant. She is in agony but she ain't stopping for no
:23:23. > :23:26.one. On the home straight, their families nervously await the first
:23:27. > :23:31.Ty Gwyn Mums. Three of them are on the way and the others are not far
:23:32. > :23:50.behind. Right on cue, here they come. So glad that's over! Ben Moore
:23:51. > :24:03.Angel teams. We have done it! And here is Rachel. I did it, I did it!
:24:04. > :24:11.Well done, Rachel. Thank you. I can't believe I did it, I crossed
:24:12. > :24:23.the line, 13.1 miles! Next home, Kat. I am crying. My make up, sort
:24:24. > :24:29.it out. More Angels and a nun. And Glory be, more Angels still. Here is
:24:30. > :24:39.Hayley and Cass bounding over the line.
:24:40. > :24:50.The support has been fantastic. All the locals giving out drinks and the
:24:51. > :24:53.kids high-fiving. Coming down to the home straight, Leigh and Lisa
:24:54. > :25:03.supported all the way by husband Graham. Awesome. As for so many of
:25:04. > :25:09.the Angels, their families are waiting at the line. That is the
:25:10. > :25:21.first time I have ever done anything with her. For that, well done. Well
:25:22. > :25:22.done! Next up, that brace of Shanks's ponies, Sally and
:25:23. > :25:35.Christina. I couldn't have done it without
:25:36. > :25:44.Christina. We are like a couple of wonky donkeys. I am so hot, so hot!
:25:45. > :25:50.Most of the Angels have landed, is anyone still out there? Alfie is out
:25:51. > :25:56.there with Joanne. The support on the course is the nominal and the
:25:57. > :26:03.camaraderie between the Angels was amazing. The atmosphere, I am
:26:04. > :26:07.speechless. And talking of camaraderie, Jo has unbelievably
:26:08. > :26:14.made it, thanks to the large part to the encouragement of fellow Angels
:26:15. > :26:24.Claire and Vicky. And of course, Alfie. Well done, you were amazing!
:26:25. > :26:30.I am in agony, I want to throw up! I feel amazing though. I am really
:26:31. > :26:35.proud of myself. I didn't think I was going to do it this morning. I
:26:36. > :26:42.was in so much pain when I woke up. I didn't want to let anyone down. So
:26:43. > :26:49.where is Alfie hiding? I think I'm overwhelmed. The strength of some of
:26:50. > :26:53.these people. I've watched them running on one leg for 13 miles.
:26:54. > :27:03.Just so they could say I have done it. That is special, that. I am
:27:04. > :27:13.proud to have been a part of it. So many of them. So many of them.
:27:14. > :27:21.A couple left on the course. I don't want them to think they have been
:27:22. > :27:25.left on their own, so I think it is important that they cross the line
:27:26. > :27:33.and everybody is still there waiting for them. Two Angels were forced to
:27:34. > :27:37.drop out through injury while some was eliminated from the final tally
:27:38. > :27:50.for not following the complete course. An astonishing 97 of Alfie's
:27:51. > :27:58.100 Angels finished the race. You are over the line! Over the line!
:27:59. > :28:13.The finish line is yours, go on, oh and it! It is yours! A round of
:28:14. > :28:19.applause. Keep going, keep going! And in case you're wondering, just
:28:20. > :28:30.to top an absolutely awesome day, fireman Kevin did indeed break the
:28:31. > :28:37.world record. # She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes!
:28:38. > :28:43.Today, only five days since this race was run, the majority of
:28:44. > :28:49.Alfie's 100 Angels are planning, contemplating or have already signed
:28:50. > :29:18.up for their next competitive run. Alfie's 100 Angels, we salute you.
:29:19. > :29:22.Hello, I'm Sangita Myska, with your 90-second update.