More than 25,000 runners will participate in Sunday’s event
THE Cardiff Half Marathon returns this Sunday, March 27, for the first time since 2019.
It will be 903 days since the last half marathon, and more than 25,000 runners will be participating in Wales’ largest participation event.
Thirty percent of runners will be taking part in their first half marathon on Sunday.
Matthew Jones, 45, from Swansea, will be running his first official half marathon in Cardiff this weekend.
He said: “I’m feeling extremely excited about the race on Sunday. Everyone says Cardiff is one of the best atmospheres to run in, with the crowd willing you on every step of the way, and some of those people have run the London and Boston marathons.
“I’ll be running for my late Mum and, as it’s Mothers’ Day, it will be a special run to make her, my Dad and my sons proud.”
Cardiff Half Marathon is Wales’ largest multi-charity fundraising event, with over £3 million raised in 2019.
This year’s lead charity partner is the NSPCC, with nearly 800 runners fundraising for it. Other major charities include Mind, Alzheimer’s Society, Shelter Cymru, Prostate Cancer UK, and the British Heart Foundation.
Lisa Pedder, 46, from Norfolk, has grown up wanting to run the Cardiff Half Marathon.
She said: “I have always been inspired to run the Cardiff Half when I have watched it on the TV.
“I am excited to be running on Sunday, but also nervous as I had some devastating news this week that my dad in the States has passed away, so this run will be emotional and for him.
“It will be so nice to see so many people participate and be transfixed by the sound of all those feet running a mass event, and looking up and seeing the bobbing of heads. Nothing quite beats that – it makes you emotional.”
The weekend begins with junior races on Saturday, including the Toddler Dash, Future Challenges Race, and Fun Run.
On Sunday, road closures will begin at 4am in preparation for the half marathon. The wheelchair race begins at 9.50am and the main race starts in waves from 10am.
Runners will make their way past Cardiff Castle, Principality Stadium, and Wales Millennium Centre, among other Cardiff landmarks, before finishing at King Edward VII Avenue.
Hannah Poulton, 44, from Hampshire, will also be running her first half marathon in Cardiff this weekend, which will fundraise for Hope Rescue, a Llanharan rescue for abandoned dogs in South Wales.
She said: “I only took up running about two years ago and my original intention was to do a 5K race, but by the time races came back I was already running over 10K so I decided to enter the half.
“Hope Rescue do amazing work with dogs in need. I’ve already more than doubled my original target of £500 and I’m hoping to get a few more pounds in before the weekend.”
This weekend’s event was originally scheduled for October 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic. As a result, two races will be held in 2022, with the second during the race’s regular autumn slot on Sunday, October 2.
A number of Covid safety measures will be in place, including staff wearing face coverings when close to others, regularly cleaned touch points throughout the event, and staff and volunteers requiring a negative lateral flow test to attend.
Charlie Bevan, of Swansea, has fundraised £650 for Hope Rescue. She is glad that these large events are finally able to return in Wales.
She said: “These events are very important, both for the charities they support and the people who spend so much time and effort training for them.
“That this event is going ahead really signifies the end of Covid restrictions in Wales to me, and whilst the restrictions have been very important, it is nice that we are able to move forward now.”
Runners will be asked to join in a moment of applause at the start line to show support for those impacted by the Ukraine conflict, with opportunities to donate promoted by Cardiff Half.
Live results on the day can be viewed here.
