Global InformationCardiff Half Marathon information
| Principality Cardiff Half Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Date | October |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Half Marathon |
| Primary sponsor | Principality Building Society |
| Established | 2003 |
| Course records | Men's: 59:30 (2019) Leonard LangatWomen's: 1:05:52 (2017) Edith Chelimo |
| Official site | Cardiff Half Marathon |
| Participants | 20,108 (2023) |
The Principality Building Society Cardiff Half Marathon (Welsh: Hanner Marathon Caerdydd) (previously known as the Cardiff Marathon) is an annual half marathon race held in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff, taking place in October. The event was established in 2003,[1] initially alongside the Cardiff Marathon, however, due to the increasing popularity of the Half Marathon, the Marathon distance was dropped after 2006. The race was originally organised by the children’s charity Barnardo’s. Now organised by Run 4 Wales, the race has grown to accommodate up to 27,500 runners.
Principality Building Society became the headline sponsor in 2023. Wizz Air was the headline sponsor of the October 2022[2] event, replacing Cardiff University who had been in position since 2016. Lloyds Bank had a multi-year partnership with the event until 2015.
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 race usually takes place on the first Sunday in October and often sells out, so runners are encouraged to register early.
The event has incorporated the prestigious World (2016) Commmonwealth (2018) British (2014/2015) and Welsh (Annually) Half Marathon Championships and has held a World Athletics Elite Road Race Label[3] since 2017. The route includes some of Cardiff's most iconic landmarks, including the Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Pierhead Building and Roath Park Lake.
The race is a part of SuperHalfs, a series of leading international half marathon races including Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Valencia and Copenhagen. Races have been chosen based on their quality, popularity, location and commitments to sustainability. All hold World Athletics (IAAF) labels whilst Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia have all recently hosted the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.
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 British running calendar. It regularly sells out early, with over 27,500 people entering. Previous participants in Cardiff races include Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, GB's most decorated track Olympian Mo Farah,[4] inspirational adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.
The 2012 Cardiff Half Marathon appeared in the March 2013 episode of Casualty "Brave New World" as the Holby Half Marathon which Big Mac was taking part in.
- ^ "Race history". Cardiff Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ "New era for Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon". Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ "World Athletics Label Road Races | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Farah third in World Half Marathon". BBC Sport.