The Cardiff Half Marathon normally marks the end of the ‘racing season’ and a quieter period that lasts until March when the road races start up again. However, it’s not all about the tarmac and actually there are local(ish) races almost every weekend throughout autumn / winter. If anything, there are actually a lot more local races than during the summer months as out of the all the races listed below, most are within an hours drive and around half are within 30 minutes. Its way to long and too much information for the usual Facebook post so have a look through the following events and hope to see you at one, two or several of them… October Sunday 12: Gwent XC League – Newbridge Fields, Bridgend. Entry Fee: £4 to enter as a guest on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Laps around Newbridge Fields (grass surface). Mainly flat. Time and Distance: 13:20 start for Senior Ladies which is a 6K course. 15:00 start for Senior Men for a 10K course. Sunday 19: West Glam XC League – Gnoll Estate, Neath. Entry Fee: £2 entry for guests on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi terrain including grass, tarmac and forestry track. Hills involved Time and Distance: 11am. 2 laps for Women (approx 6.5K), 3 laps for Men (approx 10K) Sunday 26: Ponty Plod, Pontypool Entry Fee: £10 on day entry Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi-Terrain including forestry track and grass. Hilly. Time and Distance: 10am. 10 miles. November Sunday 2: Richard Burton 10K, Cwmavon Entry Fee: £14 entry for guests on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Forestry Track / Tarmac. New course – apparently PB potential so assuming pretty flat Time and Distance: 11am. 10K. Sunday 2: Bog and Bryn Challenge Entry Fee: £12 Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi-Terrain including Forestry Track / Tarmac / Mud / Grass. Very Hilly (1600 feet of ascent). Time and Distance: 10.30am. Approx 13 miles (Half Marathon) Sunday 2: Weston Super Mare Half Marathon Entry Fee: £27.50 Course / Terrain / Elevation: Road, mainly flat Time and Distance: 9am. Half Marathon (13.1 miles) Sunday 9: Gwent XC League – Llandaff Fields, Cardiff Entry Fee: £4 to enter as a guest on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Laps around Llandaff Fields (grass surface). Mainly flat. Time and Distance: TBC Sunday 16: The Burn, Cowbridge Entry Fee: £31 if team of 10. £35 individuals Course / Terrain / Elevation: Obstacle course – looks like a mini-Tough-Mudder with fire, water, barbed wire, Time and Distance: 12 midday. 10K (although if anything like Survival of Fittest then probably 13K) Sunday 16: Sospan Runners Multi Terrain 10 miler, Pembrey Entry Fee: £15 (in advance) Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi-Terrain including tarmac, grass, gravel, and a run across a beach Time and Distance: 10am. 10 miles. Sunday 16: Mo Run Cardiff Entry Fee: £22 (in advance) Course / Terrain / Elevation: Tarmac paths. Flat Time and Distance: 10am. 10K (also 5K option) *please note that this isn’t a recognised Welsh Athletics / UK Athletics race and therefore distance is not certified and not counted towards club PB’s Sunday 23: Glam XC League – Pontrhydyfen, Afan Valley Entry Fee: £2 entry for guests on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi terrain including grass, tarmac and forestry track. Undulating course. Time and Distance: 11am. Women (approx 6.5K), Men (approx 10K) Saturday 29: Sleepwalker Night Race Entry Fee: £26 (in advance) Course / Terrain / Elevation: Trail. Hilly course in the dark! Time and Distance: 18:00 Women 20 miles December Saturday 6: Gwent XC League – Penlan Leisure Centre, Brecon Entry Fee: £4 to enter as a guest on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: TBC Time and Distance: TBC Sunday 14: Merthyr Mawr Pudding Run Entry Fee: £17 Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi-Terrain including sand dunes, tarmac, mud, grass, gravel, river beds (everything!). Hilly. Time and Distance: 10am. Approx 6 miles Friday 26: Porthcawl Lions Boxing Day run Entry Fee: £12 (approx) Course / Terrain / Elevation: Tarmac – mostly flat and includes parkrun course Time and Distance: 10am. Approx 5 miles Friday 26: Glynneath 5 miler Entry Fee: £8 in advance or £12 on day entry Course / Terrain / Elevation: Tarmac – mostly flat Time and Distance: 11am. 5 miles Wednesday 31: Nos Galan, Mountain Ash Entry Fee: £15 (approx) Course / Terrain / Elevation: 3 laps on Tarmac – mostly flat Time and Distance: 19:30. 5K January Thursday 1: Kenfig Prince of Wales New Years Day Run Entry Fee: £5 (approx) Course / Terrain / Elevation: mostly tarmac with some uneven lanes – undulating Time and Distance: 11:00 (TBC). 4.2 miles Sunday 11: Glam XC League – Eglwys Nunydd Reservior, Margam Entry Fee: £2 entry for guests on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi terrain including grass, tarmac and forestry track. Hills involved Time and Distance: 11am. Women (approx 6.5K), Men (approx 10K) . Sunday 25: Liswerry 8 miler Entry Fee: £14 Course / Terrain / Elevation: Tarmac – pancake flat Time and Distance: 11.30am. 8 miles. February Saturday 8: Gwent XC League – Blaise Castle, Bristol Entry Fee: £4 to enter as a guest on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: TBC Time and Distance: TBC Sunday 15: Glam XC League – Margam Park, Port Talbot Entry Fee: £2 entry for guests on the day Course / Terrain / Elevation: Multi terrain including grass, tarmac and forestry track. Hills involved Time and Distance: Women (approx 6.5K), Men (approx 10K) *Note that some of the XC (Cross Country) fixtures don’t have much information yet but generally it appears to be a £2-4 entry fee for guests with a distance of around 6K for women and 10K for men.Write your post here. |