Cardiff Half Marathon: 30,000 runners expected for 23rd edition
Travel disruption and road closures warned as elite athletes and thousands of runners gather for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Quick Look
- Around 30,000 runners are expected for the 23rd Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, bringing widespread road closures and travel disruptions.
- The sold-out event features elite athletes alongside notable participants like former rugby player Adam Jones.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Cardiff Half Marathon is the 23rd edition of the race, part of the SuperHalfs series, and holds a World Athletics Elite Road Race label.
There are warnings of travel disruption and road closures as 30,000 runners are expected to take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday.
The 23rd edition of the race will see participants run past landmarks including the Wales Millennium Centre and the Principality Stadium.
A variety of bands and choirs will perform along the course, providing entertainment for both runners and supporters.
Widespread road closures are in place to accommodate the 13.1 mile (21km) route, with the race due to start on Castle Street at 10:00 BST.
With high demand for the event, it sold out after going to a ballot for the first time last year, and no on-the-day entries will be available.
Cardiff Half is part of the SuperHalfs series, along with Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Valencia and Copenhagen.
Runners are challenged to complete the six races in order to earn a SuperMedal.
The event also holds a World Athletics Elite Road Race label and will feature competitors from Kenya, Ethiopia, USA, Australia and the Netherlands.
Former world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei - the first athlete in history to run under 65 minutes for a half marathon - will headline the women's field while Gideon Kiprotich is the fastest athlete registered in the men's field.
Wales' ex-prop Adam Jones will also be competing and said he will be relying on crowd support to carry him through the final stages of race.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Jones said he decided to take up running after gaining weight and feeling unhappy with his fitness.
"I just put a bit on weight last year and I was heavy... I kind of looked at myself and thought, I need to do something about this," he said.
"I thought I'll do the Couch to 5K, I'll have a crack at that, see how that goes. Enjoyed it, got to 5K, sense of achievement, all that sort of stuff.
"Then I thought I'll do a 10k. So I kind of googled out the Cardiff Half Marathon and it was sort of long enough in the distance, the kind of challenge that I thought, yeah, I'll have a go."
Jones said he feels physically ready.
"I think I was good at peace with myself as a rugby player, so I'm hoping I can take that into this," he added.
The ex-Welsh rugby player said he was looking forward to the experience, adding: "I think for the first half marathon I just want to get round, really."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Cardiff Half Marathon will start on Castle Street at 10:00 BST on Sunday.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Who will win the elite men's and women's races?
