Thousands of runners braved the heat to race around the Welsh capital’s iconic waterside landmarks this weekend as part of the popular Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K.
5,000 people registered to run in the 10K event, with hundreds more taking part in a series of Junior races including a family-focused 2K Fun Run, an adorable Toddler Dash and competitive Future Challengers Mile.
In the Elite Race it was a close contest between teammates Kadar Omar and three-time race winner, Omar Ahmed, who crossed the finish line less than a second apart, but it was Ahmed who took this year’s title and his fourth consecutive victory with a time of 28:47.
Ahmed said: “Winning wasn’t easy today. My teammate was very close but I just managed to beat him so I’m very happy and so excited. I’ve run the course four times so I know it very well. Today was a bit windy and hot, but that didn’t stop me.”
In the women’s race it was ABP Newport 10K victor, Hannah Iwin, who took the title in 33:16, marking her second win in the 2024 Run 4 Wales 10K series.
Irwin added: “It was a really good event – I really enjoyed it. I did it last year so I had an idea about what it was like but it was very windy and warm today, so I’m really pleased to take the win.”
In the wheelchair race it was serial winner Richie Powell who took the title with 33:41. But he also felt the effects of the weather on performance.
Despite the heat making for more challenging running conditions, the sunshine brought the spectators out in their droves to take part in the day’s festivities, engaging with stands in the event village and enjoying course entertainment from the Vale of Glamorgan Brass Band and Rock Choir.
A 16-strong team of ploggers from Brecon Carreg, the event’s title sponsor, were out on the course collecting litter as part of the brand’s sustainability and recycling drive in their fight against plastic waste.
Celebrity chef and triathlon athlete, Matthew Pritchard, who is best known as the star of MTV’s Dirty Sanchez also laced up his trainers to run for the event’s lead charity, Cancer Research Wales.
Joining him were 140 other Team Cancer Research Wales runners, fundraising to help change the future for cancer patients of tomorrow in Wales.
Other official sponsors included High5, Bridgend Ford, Capital FM, The Red Dragon Centre and Rubicon Wales. The event also received funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Eleri Morgan, Brecon Carreg’s Brand Manager, said: “Brecon Carreg is proud to sponsor the Cardiff Bay 10K and we’d like to wish congratulations to all the runners who took part in today’s event and a huge thank you to everyone who made this iconic event such a success. We’d also like to say an extra special thank you to the army of Brecon Carreg ploggers that took to the course today, collecting recycling plastic as they raced – a fantastic effort!”
Steve Brace, Race Director at Run 4 Wales, added: “Congratulations to every runner who braved the heat and completed this year’s Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K and a huge thank you to our partners, sponsors, staff and fantastic team of Extra Milers who make these events possible.”
The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K is the second event in the 2024 Run 4 Wales 10K Series, following the ABP Newport 10K which took place at the end of April. Next up will be the Ogi Porthcawl 10K on Sunday 7 July, followed by the CDF 10K on Sunday 1 September.
Those who are inspired to take part in next year’s event can pre-register for 2025 and be the first to hear when entries go on sale and a date is announced by visiting: cardiffbay10k.co.uk/register/
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