Cardiff Half Marathon 2024
Race Report by Chris Pascoe
This was a target race for Chris. See how he got on…
Principality Cardiff Half Marathon 2024
The Principality Cardiff Half Marathon is part of the Super Half’s, a set of six Half Marathons, which take place across Europe. This year celebrating its 21st year with the theme “A Race For Everyone”
More than 29,000 runners took to the streets of Cardiff in this mostly flat and quick course. The race started on Castle Street at 10 a.m., with Cardiff Castle as the backdrop. The course headed south through Penarth Marina, crossed the Cardiff Barrage, then the iconic Wales Millenium Centre before heading North, looping beautiful Roath Park, and finishing in the heart of the city at the Civic Centre.
The race was very well organised, with very little hanging around, incredibly helpful marshals, and spectators along the entire course.
One of my running goals this year was to achieve a 1:25 Half Marathon time, with my previous PB being 1:28:30 at Tunbridge Wells. Everything was on track this year until June when I rolled my ankle, and sustained a nasty injury putting me out of action for almost six weeks. However, after physio and gentle running I was back out with the club.
A couple of races under my belt, I knew I could push myself at Cardiff. The conditions on the day were perfect; cool, overcast, and a gentle breeze. I programmed my watch for a 1:25 time and set off. Everything felt good, my ankle was comfortable and my mind was determined. The course was wide and it soon allowed me to find my pace and drive forward.
I knew I was on track, and at 8 miles I was pretty sure I would be under the 1:25 target. There were a couple of small inclines, one right at 10 miles and another at 13.
My finish time was 1:24:39, finishing in 577 place overall, 457 male and 40th in my age group.
Another outstanding TRAC performance. To get a Sub 1:30 is outstanding so to go Sub 1:25 is Premier League stuff. Chris continues to achieve great things in his running career. Well done.