The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run is returning this Sunday, set to be the largest mass participation event to take place in Wales since before the pandemic. 6,000 people have signed up for the 10K race and 2K family fun run which was originally scheduled for March 2020.
The Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon was the last major road race to take place in the Welsh capital in October 2019, and things will look noticeably different at the race this weekend.
The race will be delivered as a ‘Breathable Event’ – providing a great event day experience and atmosphere with a focus on responsibility and safety. A number of measures will be in place to help keep people safe and prevent the spread the Coronavirus.
When is the Cardiff Bay Run?
The event takes place this Sunday, 26 September. The 10K race will start at 10:00 and the 2K Family Fun Run at 13:00.
Where is it happening?
Both races will start on Lloyd George Avenue and finish in the Roald Dahl Plass. The event village is situated on the waterfront near the Pierhead Building.
Can I still enter?
Registration for both races is now closed and no on-the-day entries will be available.
Where does the 10K race go?
The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run boasts a stunning 10K course around Cardiff Bay.
The route takes in all of Cardiff Bay’s most iconic landmarks, starting on Lloyd George Avenue and passing the Wales Millennium Centre, Mermaid Quay, the Pierhead Building, Senedd, Porth Teigr and the Cardiff Bay Barrage before finishing in Roald Dahl Plass.
What is the weather foreacast?
Perfect running conditions are forecasted for Sunday morning. Temperatures will be cool for the 10K runners setting off at 10:00 with sunny intervals due for late morning and into the afternoon.
What is the best way to travel to the race?
Cardiff Bay is easily accessible by foot, bike, public transport or car. It’s a 20-minute walk from the city centre and is served by regular buses and trains (via Cardiff Queen Street Station).
Road closures for the event will impact access to Cardiff Bay, so those travelling by car are encouraged to park in the city-centre then walk, jog or take public transport to Cardiff Bay.
Organisers have teamed up with nextbike UK to provide all of those taking part 2 x 30 minute free rides using #OVObikes so they can travel sustainably. There will be a dedicated virtual station at the event so participants can drop a bike without looking for a fixed docking station.
Participants were e-mailed a free ride code on Wednesday 22 September.
For travel and parking advice click here.
Will there be road closures in place?
Some road closures will be in operation to facilitate the safe passage of participants. A list of road closures and interactive google map to help plan your journey can be found here.
What COVID safety measures will be in place?
A full COVID-19 specific risk assessment and operational plan has been put in place in recognition of the continued risk of transmission and the responsibilities of event organisers to minimise risk.
Although current Welsh Government guidance no longer requires restrictions on maximum numbers or the implementation of social distancing or mask wearing, a number of measures will be in place for the protection of staff and participants.
The event venue has been redesigned with additional space created throughout and the size of start pens significantly increased to allow participants to create space between themselves and others.
Staff, suppliers and event officials will wear face coverings when close to others and runners will be encouraged to wear them in crowded areas.
A dedicated cleansing team will regularly clean touch points throughout the event site including toilets, door handles, barriers, drink stations and pen entry points – with hand sanitiser points provided for runners across the event.
All staff will need to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test before arriving on the event site and have no symptoms of COVID-19. Runners will be encouraged to take personal responsibility by taking a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event.
Volunteers on water stations will be wearing gloves and passing sealed bottles to runners.
Runners will be asked to limit the number of spectators they bring along to the event, with those who do attend encouraged to avoid busy areas around the start and finish line.
Full details on all of the measures in place can be found here.
Is there an elite race?
The event is playing host to the Welsh 10km Championships and will be the most serious event of its kind in Wales in 2021. Top athletes from across the UK are set to take part.
Dewi Griffiths will look to regain his title from 2017 when he set the course record of 29:07.
Sonia Samuels will headline the women’s race. The 2016 Olympian from Sale Harriers was fifth at the Commonwealth Games Marathon in 2018 and 21st at the European Championships Marathon.
A full elite preview can be seen here.
Will there be atmosphere around the route?
Although runners are being asked to limit the number of spectators they bring to the event, there will still be a fantastic atmosphere in Cardiff Bay.
Expect inspiring music at the start and finish, cannons, a Velindre cheer station, supportive volunteers and a Tune Truck along the route.
Will money be raised for charity?
Velindre are the new Lead Charity of the event and a 200 strong team of runners will be hoping to turn Cardiff Bay green on Sunday in support of Wales’ Hospital of Hope.
Among the army of fundraisers taking part on behalf of Velindre, will be a 43 strong team of ‘Derek’s Dazzlers’ – an inspirational group of runners who have been training for over a year and half. They’ve battled all weathers, event postponements and pandemic uncertainty to prepare for the race, some whilst having cancer treatment.
There are also large teams of fundraisers from the British Heart Foundation, striving for a world without heart and circulatory diseases and the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, the official charity of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
What else is going on?
Brecon Carreg are the headline sponsor of the event for the third time. They use their association with the race as a vehicle to promote recycling, sustainability and the fight against plastic waste. A group of Brecon Carreg ‘ploggers’ (the act of litter picking whilst jogging) will be taking part in the 10K, collecting litter as they go. Official Partner Healthspan are donating their spaces in all 2021 R4W events to key workers in thanks for their efforts during the pandemic. A group of Royal Mail postal workers have been gifted free spaces in the Cardiff Bay Run.
What will runners receive when they finish the race?
Every 10K runner will receive a commemorative medal and event t-shirt upon finishing the race.
The medal this year features the stunning Wales Millennium Centre and will form a matching set with medals given out at other 2021 events in the Healthspan Wales 10K Series this year including the ABP Newport Wales 10K and R4W Virtual 10K.
The race t-shirt this year is a vibrant green colour in celebration of Velindre becoming the Lead Charity of the event. The design was unveiled earlier this week by two Velindre patients who are a part of the ‘Derek’s Dazzlers’ team of fundraisers.
Lorraine Berry from St Fagans and Hayley Davies from Llantwit Major have both suffered with breast cancer and are running the 10K to give something back to the hospital that helped save their lives.
Can you track runners around the race?
The Run 4 Wales App on iOS and Android can be used to inspect the route pre-race and live track participants on the day with full Google maps functionality.
Find out more or download the app here.
Race Day Guide
A full lowdown of all the important event information can be found here.
