Cardiff Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Cardiff Half Marathon (previously known as the Cardiff Marathon) takes place in October. In 2011, it is on Sunday 16 October. It is an annual half marathon
race held in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff
. The event was established in 2003 and is organised by the children’s charity Barnardo’s. Also in partnership with the race is Cardiff Council
, the Vale of Glamorgan Council
, the Welsh Government, Welsh Athletics
and sponsored by LLoyds TSB, the South Wales Echo
and Princes Gate Spring Water.
The course has always been predominantly flat, making it ideal for first time runners and professionals alike (elite runners can gain free entry to the race). The 2009 event incorporated the prestigious Welsh Half Marathon Championships; entitling the top three Welsh male and female finishers to represent Wales in an international half marathon. The scenery of the route is also incredible and varied, as the course takes runners past historical landmarks such as Cardiff Castle, the modern waterfront of Cardiff Bay and the greenery of Bute Park.
In 2009, Wales’ longest road race attracted 11,000 competitors who raised money for over 175 charities. 2010's sell-out race saw a record number of runners taking part, with over 15,000 entering the race.
The event has grown considerably over the years and now attracts both UK and international runners – it is now known as one of the top events in the Autumn running calendar. Previous participants in Cardiff races include Paralympics champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
and inspirational adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
Event Organiser Rachel Madge says:
“This year’s race is proving more popular than ever and registrations are up 78% on this time last year. Anyone wanting to take part should register as soon as possible otherwise they risk losing out on a place in Wales’ most exciting running event. There is certainly a big buzz already this year around Wales’ biggest mass participation event, with runners from all walks of life, from international elites to first time runners, taking on the challenge."
Charlie Webster
, TV presenter and fitness guru, will be running this year's race - the latest celebrity to run after Andrew Lincoln
took part last year. Charlie is very excited about taking part, stating:
"I’ve wanted to run the Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon for a while now – last year’s race attracted more than 15,000 runners and sold out before I could get a look in! I love taking part in organised events like this because of the satisfaction I get, knowing I’m raising money for great causes. Last year the race raised more than £1,000,000 for charities – this year I can’t wait to join the fundraising effort."
Before the 2009 race took place, the event organisers announced the date of the 2010 Cardiff Half Marathon to be Sunday 17 October. Registrations opened immediately after the 2009 event. The Welsh Government were backing the race with a £75,000 grant, with the aim to get 20,000 runners competing in the race by 2012. Wales' First minister Rhodri Morgan
was so impressed with the 2009 event that he told the BBC he would do the race in 2010.
The size of the field has dramatically expanded during the race’s history; from just under 1,500 runners in 2003 to 15,000 in 2010. The race has simply doubled in size. The number of runners has grown year on year and is on track to achieve over 20,000 runners by 2012.
The Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon is now host to the Welsh Half Marathon Championships, recognising Wales’s best athletes. 2010’s winners were Cardiff AAC’s Michael Johnson and Neath’s Anne-Marie Hutchison. The race is also attracting elite runners from abroad. The 2010 race saw two foreign winners for the first time, with Edwin Kipkorir and Hellen Jemutai claiming first prize.
2010’s race also saw the debut of the Cardiff Family Fun Run. This special one mile (1.6 km) run allowed children and their families to enjoy running part of the course during the main race and gave the race a carnival atmosphere.
Immediately after the race many runners questioned whether the course was the correct length having finished in unexpectedly good times. Race organisers subsequently admitted that a diversion had been put in place after scaffolding had been erected on a narrow part of the course in the week preceding the event. This left the course 193m short.
. Just over 11,000 runners signed up to participate in the race, with an estimated 18,000 spectators also coming to Cardiff to offer support.
The new and improved route took runners past famous city landmarks such as the Castle and the Wales Millennium Centre
and included a run along the barrage
and wetlands. It started on King Edward VII Avenue in Cathays Park
near Cardiff City Hall, the race looped around towards Cardiff Castle
. Runners were taken down St. Mary Street, before weaving their way back towards the Wales Millennium Centre
. From there it was down towards the barrage, where competitors ran to Tracy Island. From the barrage switchback runners headed towards the Norwegian Church, Cardiff
The Senedd and the beautiful Cardiff Bay
area. Next it was the wetlands and Taff Embankment, before returning to the streets. Thereafter it was on to Llandaff Fields
and Bute Park
, before returning to the Castle for the final stretch to the finish line on King Edward VII Avenue.
The men's race was won by Simon Lawson of Lisvane, Cardiff. He broke his own record of being the fastest UK junior half marathon runner with a time of 1:05:48. In second place was Michael Johnson, while Simon Jones, who won the 2007 and 2008 races, finished third.
Finishing first in the women's race was Genet Measso from Ethiopia. Welsh runners Caryl Mair Jones and Anne-Marie Hutchison took second and third place.
The race also attracted many Welsh TV and radio personalities as runners. These included Carl Edwards and Angela Benfield from ITV News Wales, Mal Pope
and Louise Elliott from BBC Wales, Matthew Pritchard
from Dirty Sanchez and Robin Hawkins
from The Automatic
.
Lots of the runners that took part were raising money for charity. Event organisers Barnardo's suggested that almost £1 million was raised by runners for a range of good causes.
Highlights of the race were also broadcast on TV for the first time. S4C showed the programme the day after the event, while Channel 4 were covering it on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 7:55am.
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
race held in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The event was established in 2003 and is organised by the children’s charity Barnardo’s. Also in partnership with the race is Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
, the Vale of Glamorgan Council
Vale of Glamorgan Council
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is the governing body for the Vale of Glamorgan, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. It is run by the Conservative Party after the United Kingdom local elections, 2008, taking over the council from no overall control....
, the Welsh Government, Welsh Athletics
Welsh Athletics
Welsh Athletics is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Wales.The current limited company, set up in 2007, replaced the former Athletic Association of Wales...
and sponsored by LLoyds TSB, the South Wales Echo
South Wales Echo
The South Wales Echo is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff, Wales and distributed throughout the surrounding area.The newspaper was founded in 1884 and was based in Thomson House, Cardiff city centre. It is published by Media Wales Ltd , part of the Trinity Mirror group...
and Princes Gate Spring Water.
The course has always been predominantly flat, making it ideal for first time runners and professionals alike (elite runners can gain free entry to the race). The 2009 event incorporated the prestigious Welsh Half Marathon Championships; entitling the top three Welsh male and female finishers to represent Wales in an international half marathon. The scenery of the route is also incredible and varied, as the course takes runners past historical landmarks such as Cardiff Castle, the modern waterfront of Cardiff Bay and the greenery of Bute Park.
In 2009, Wales’ longest road race attracted 11,000 competitors who raised money for over 175 charities. 2010's sell-out race saw a record number of runners taking part, with over 15,000 entering the race.
The event has grown considerably over the years and now attracts both UK and international runners – it is now known as one of the top events in the Autumn running calendar. Previous participants in Cardiff races include Paralympics champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Carys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK...
and inspirational adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
The 2011 race
The 2011 Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon is set to take place on Sunday 16 October. A new route for the 2011 half marathon (21.0975 kilometres (13.1 mi)) will be announced later this year.Event Organiser Rachel Madge says:
“This year’s race is proving more popular than ever and registrations are up 78% on this time last year. Anyone wanting to take part should register as soon as possible otherwise they risk losing out on a place in Wales’ most exciting running event. There is certainly a big buzz already this year around Wales’ biggest mass participation event, with runners from all walks of life, from international elites to first time runners, taking on the challenge."
Charlie Webster
Charlie Webster
Charlotte "Charlie" Webster is an English television presenter.-Early life:Webster attended Tapton School in Sheffield where she participated in elite junior athletics and went on to study Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University...
, TV presenter and fitness guru, will be running this year's race - the latest celebrity to run after Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln is an English actor, known for his roles in the TV series This Life, Teachers and Afterlife, and the films Love Actually and Heartbreaker...
took part last year. Charlie is very excited about taking part, stating:
"I’ve wanted to run the Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon for a while now – last year’s race attracted more than 15,000 runners and sold out before I could get a look in! I love taking part in organised events like this because of the satisfaction I get, knowing I’m raising money for great causes. Last year the race raised more than £1,000,000 for charities – this year I can’t wait to join the fundraising effort."
The 2010 race
Every year the race attracts runners from all over the UK and further afield. It is fast becoming known as one of the top events in the autumn running calendar. The 2010 race attracted runners from all corners of the globe, including many from Europe, the USA and Kenya.Before the 2009 race took place, the event organisers announced the date of the 2010 Cardiff Half Marathon to be Sunday 17 October. Registrations opened immediately after the 2009 event. The Welsh Government were backing the race with a £75,000 grant, with the aim to get 20,000 runners competing in the race by 2012. Wales' First minister Rhodri Morgan
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
was so impressed with the 2009 event that he told the BBC he would do the race in 2010.
The size of the field has dramatically expanded during the race’s history; from just under 1,500 runners in 2003 to 15,000 in 2010. The race has simply doubled in size. The number of runners has grown year on year and is on track to achieve over 20,000 runners by 2012.
The Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon is now host to the Welsh Half Marathon Championships, recognising Wales’s best athletes. 2010’s winners were Cardiff AAC’s Michael Johnson and Neath’s Anne-Marie Hutchison. The race is also attracting elite runners from abroad. The 2010 race saw two foreign winners for the first time, with Edwin Kipkorir and Hellen Jemutai claiming first prize.
2010’s race also saw the debut of the Cardiff Family Fun Run. This special one mile (1.6 km) run allowed children and their families to enjoy running part of the course during the main race and gave the race a carnival atmosphere.
Immediately after the race many runners questioned whether the course was the correct length having finished in unexpectedly good times. Race organisers subsequently admitted that a diversion had been put in place after scaffolding had been erected on a narrow part of the course in the week preceding the event. This left the course 193m short.
The 2009 race
The 2009 Cardiff Half Marathon took place on Sunday 18 October 2009 and was started by sprinter Jamie BaulchJamie Baulch
James Steven Baulch , but raised by foster parents in Risca, near Newport, is a British sprint athlete and television presenter. He won the 400 metres gold medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships. As a member of British 4 x 400 metres relay teams, he won a gold medal at the 1997 World...
. Just over 11,000 runners signed up to participate in the race, with an estimated 18,000 spectators also coming to Cardiff to offer support.
The new and improved route took runners past famous city landmarks such as the Castle and the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
and included a run along the barrage
Cardiff Bay Barrage
The Cardiff Bay Barrage lies across the mouth of Cardiff Bay, Wales between Queen Alexandra Dock and Penarth Head. It was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during construction in the 1990s.-History:...
and wetlands. It started on King Edward VII Avenue in Cathays Park
Cathays Park
In addition to the large lawn in front of the City Hall, Cathays Park includes three formal gardens. All of the spaces are within conservation areas and many of the surrounding buildings are listed. The open spaces are very important to the image of the city. Several important buildings overlook...
near Cardiff City Hall, the race looped around towards Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is a medieval castle and Victorian architecture Gothic revival mansion, transformed from a Norman keep erected over a Roman fort in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The Castle is a Grade I Listed Building.-The Roman fort:...
. Runners were taken down St. Mary Street, before weaving their way back towards the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
. From there it was down towards the barrage, where competitors ran to Tracy Island. From the barrage switchback runners headed towards the Norwegian Church, Cardiff
Norwegian Church, Cardiff
The Norwegian Church in the Cardiff Bay area of the city of Cardiff, Wales, is a historic church building and formerly a place of worship for the Norwegian community in Cardiff....
The Senedd and the beautiful Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
area. Next it was the wetlands and Taff Embankment, before returning to the streets. Thereafter it was on to Llandaff Fields
Llandaff Fields
Llandaff Fields is a large parkland spanning parts of central and northern Cardiff, Wales.The park is owned by Cardiff Council and managed by its Parks department. The parkland is highly visible and accessed from local communities. The parkland is lined with avenues of trees and large grassed areas...
and Bute Park
Bute Park
Bute Park in Cardiff, Wales, is an extensive area of mature parkland easily accessible from the city centre. Flanked by the River Taff, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Cardiff Castle, Bute Park is a very popular 'green lung' full of historic and wildlife interest. Few cities have such a...
, before returning to the Castle for the final stretch to the finish line on King Edward VII Avenue.
The men's race was won by Simon Lawson of Lisvane, Cardiff. He broke his own record of being the fastest UK junior half marathon runner with a time of 1:05:48. In second place was Michael Johnson, while Simon Jones, who won the 2007 and 2008 races, finished third.
Finishing first in the women's race was Genet Measso from Ethiopia. Welsh runners Caryl Mair Jones and Anne-Marie Hutchison took second and third place.
The race also attracted many Welsh TV and radio personalities as runners. These included Carl Edwards and Angela Benfield from ITV News Wales, Mal Pope
Mal Pope
Mal Pope , is a Welsh musician and composer, who is especially notable for his contribution to music theatre portraying Welsh national identities and themes...
and Louise Elliott from BBC Wales, Matthew Pritchard
Matthew Pritchard
Mathew Pryderi Pritchard , is a Welsh professional skateboarder, daredevil and one quarter of the Dirty Sanchez crew, who have their own television programme on MTV and also appears on Balls of Steel with Pancho as the Pain Men.-Dirty Sanchez:Pritchard is often seen as the founder of Dirty Sanchez,...
from Dirty Sanchez and Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
from The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
.
Lots of the runners that took part were raising money for charity. Event organisers Barnardo's suggested that almost £1 million was raised by runners for a range of good causes.
Highlights of the race were also broadcast on TV for the first time. S4C showed the programme the day after the event, while Channel 4 were covering it on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 7:55am.