{"id":57492,"date":"2021-12-20T15:58:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=57492"},"modified":"2021-12-23T23:40:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T23:40:12","slug":"cardiffs-running-renaissance-in-full-stride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2021\/12\/20\/cardiffs-running-renaissance-in-full-stride\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff&#8217;s running renaissance in full stride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parkrun is set to return for Christmas Day this year after a two-year absence &#8212; fingers crossed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>AMID the numerous lockdowns of the pandemic, one silver lining&nbsp;emerged, as&nbsp;many people found the lure to start running, or return to it,&nbsp;irresistible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, we are no longer restricted to leaving the house for only&nbsp;&#8220;one form of exercise a day&#8221;. However,&nbsp;this lockdown period offered&nbsp;people the chance to fall in love with a sport that&nbsp;the hustle and bustle&nbsp;of&nbsp;everyday life often neglects. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I went down to\u00a0Cardiff parkrun earlier this month and spoke to the day&#8217;s run director, Karen Chadwell. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1400x1050.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50-1400x1050.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_513515d5-0f20-4aa9-a111-292af0fe1f50.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption><strong>Cardiff parkrun start sign<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople missed it when it was gone, I didn\u2019t know what I was going to do with myself,\u201d she laughs. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parkrun is a free, weekly 5km run, which began in Bushy Park in Teddington in 2004 but has exploded across the globe since. Cardiff\u2019s began in February 2008 with a modest 56 runners.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast-forward to March 2020 when lockdown was announced and parkrun, like the rest of the country, came to an abrupt halt. It didn\u2019t restart in Wales until August 2021 and while watching the run, it looks like the post-pandemic buzz is real. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Karen tells me that there are&nbsp;\u201conly\u201d about 500 runners today (including a surprising number of people pushing prams). The record number of&nbsp;finishers at Cardiff parkrun stands at 1,192 runners in February 2018. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Figures have not quite returned to those heady heights yet, but Karen says the December slump is to be expected.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChristmas and New Year&#8217;s Day are always good, and then January is a big month,\u201d she says. The New Year&#8217;s resolution runners, I ask? \u201cYes,\u201d she says knowingly. Apparently&nbsp;not everyone lasts all year. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>December 25 will&nbsp;see Blackweir welcome back the Christmas Day parkrun for the first time since 2019, when a staggering 857 runners delayed&nbsp;festivities for a 5km run. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we talk, volunteers prepare a funnel at the&nbsp;finish line&nbsp;(wide enough for prams) for the runners. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I mention&nbsp;the army of&nbsp;volunteers I had seen marching to their marshalling positions across the route. She explains: \u201cWell, we need about 50 or 60 volunteers each week for it to work. The first people get here about 7.30am and we\u2019re&nbsp;gone by just after 10am. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a big commitment, but we take it in turns. We\u2019ve managed to recruit a few more run directors as well since returning in August which is good.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parkrun has&nbsp;also insisted on a higher ratio of barcode scanners to runners to prevent mixing&nbsp;at the finish. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tom Morris, 40, and dog Millie, are&nbsp;waiting for his (also pram-pushing) partner to finish. They take it in turns with the dog or the pram and he tells me he\u2019s enjoying&nbsp;parkrun being back. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull has-white-background-color has-parallax\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/rsz_parkrun_start-1024x768.jpg);min-height:625px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m glad people have taken to running since the pandemic. It\u2019s outside and low risk, and there\u2019s a nice community feel to this one,\u201d he says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He mentions he has a&nbsp;parkrun win to his name: \u201cIt was an absolute fluke, no one else turned up, I started running and no-one else followed. I\u2019m 40 now, so that won\u2019t happen again!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe beauty of running is that you can put on a pair of shoes and just go anywhere.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the frontrunners are finishing, and I&nbsp;see the first pram-pusher finish,&nbsp;clocking a brisk&nbsp;18:28. He tells me he\u2019s a 17-minute man at his best, but his baby daughter is occupying his normal training time. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Peter Gillibrand, 25, and his dad, John, who is a vicar, have also seized the opportunity given to them by the pandemic. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cI\u2019ve been running for years and been trying to get my dad to join me. He was never interested though.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut over lockdown I think it kind of dawned on him, he\u2019s 60, he\u2019s&nbsp;older now,&nbsp;and he\u2019s not getting any younger. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe gave it a go; he downloaded the Couch to 5k app in April this year during lockdown. I didn\u2019t think he\u2019d stick it out, but he did,\u201d says Peter. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wasn\u2019t the only one to do so. Data gathered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/couch-to-5k-app-hits-5-million-downloads\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Health England<\/a> in July this year revealed that the app had been downloaded more than 2.3 million in the UK times since the pandemic began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, a global running&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/assets.aws.worldathletics.org\/document\/60b741d388549ceda6759894.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a> including UK data, found that 13% of all runners had started since April 2020, with many, like John,&nbsp;saying Covid influenced their decision to participate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"401\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1024x401.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1024x401.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-770x301.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-293x115.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1400x548.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B.png 1512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1024x401.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1024x401.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-770x301.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-293x115.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B-1400x548.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/364034A7-22DC-488B-B140-A3A557C7CD6B.png 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Taken from Recreational Running Consumer Research Study by Nielsen Sport <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe did his first 5k in August in the first&nbsp;parkrun back after lockdown and&nbsp;enjoyed it. He rang me one day in London and said \u2018I\u2019ve done a 10k\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019d told me this time last year, I wouldn\u2019t have believed you, he\u2019s reaping the benefits of it all now. He\u2019s speeding up, and he\u2019s doing the&nbsp;half marathon in March, less than a year after starting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think the Cardiff parkrun is&nbsp;a great initiative. I don\u2019t think my dad would have done it properly without their set up. It\u2019s all about the community feel. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cParkrun do an amazing job. I\u2019ve done more parkruns with my dad than I thought I ever would. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They run together whenever they\u2019re not working, but the Christmas parkrun is off this year due to John&#8217;s responsibilities as a vicar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think there has been a massive resurgence in runners,&nbsp;people who ran prior to lockdown have had a second wind since.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58947\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-770x770.jpeg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-293x293.jpeg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-390x390.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-585x585.jpeg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-900x900.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58947\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-770x770.jpeg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-293x293.jpeg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-390x390.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-585x585.jpeg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85-900x900.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/921C983C-BBBE-473A-A501-065604B8FE85.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption><strong>John has enjoyed parkrun so much he&#8217;s signed up for a half marathon in March<\/strong>. <em>Photo: Peter Gillibrand<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>That was exactly the case for Colin Williams, 56, who hadn\u2019t run for over seven years. He says: \u201cI&#8217;m retired from work, so when lockdown came, I knew I would have to start running again or go a little bit mad.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He joined&nbsp;Les Croupiers Running Club in Cardiff, based at Llandaff Rugby Club: \u201cI&#8217;m absolutely loving being part of the club, it\u2019s a great club with some great people.&nbsp;I\u2019ve lost three stone and feel a lot better for that.\u201d &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull has-parallax\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/12\/E426C00C-4FB9-4A58-83EE-E9FF5D4EF8A1.jpeg)\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>After spotting&nbsp;a group of three second year students, who had all commendably sacrificed their Friday night for an early morning Saturday 5k, I bumped into another volunteer, Terry. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Terry Cavaney, 62, was one of the last volunteers remaining, cycling back along the route looking for a man\u2019s lost car keys. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He tells me: \u201cI volunteer most weeks, I only live a mile away, so I&nbsp;thought I might as well do it.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Did he miss parkrun\u2019s absence? \u201cI did I suppose, but it had to be done, we didn\u2019t know how bad it was going to get which is understandable then. You only miss these things&nbsp;when they\u2019re&nbsp;gone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We try to encourage all different types of people. And that\u2019s the secret of it all, any running, just getting people involved to do it. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cParkrun\u2019s not bad Covid wise, you can keep your distance. It relieves a lot of the stress at the end of the day.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Cardiff <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parkrun.org.uk\/cardiff\/\">parkrun<\/a> is free to sign up for and always welcomes newcomers, whether you&#8217;re running, volunteering, or simply starting a New Year&#8217;s resolution.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Photos courtesy of: <\/em>Mik Lambert, Craig Skidmore and Tom McArdle. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Parkrun set to return for the Christmas day run this year after two-year hiatus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":58265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[1291,373,6769],"coauthors":[7307],"class_list":["post-57492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-longer-reads","tag-cardiff-2","tag-cardiff-parkrun","tag-covid-3"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cardiff&#039;s running renaissance in full stride - The Cardiffian<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Parkrun set to return for the Christmas day run this year after two year hiatus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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