CARDIFF & VALE HEALTH CHARITY HIGHLIGHTS 6-7 OCTOBER 2018 OVERVIEW The 2018 Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon threw open the window to Wales as top athletes from all corners of the Commonwealth created history alongside a bumper 15th birthday celebration. Formed in 2003 and now one of the UK’s biggest and best running events, the race hosted the inaugural Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in a year that also marked the 15th anniversary of Wales’ largest mass participation event. All 25,000 entries sold out in record time, six months ahead of race day. OVERVIEW As well as the 15th anniversary of the race, 2018 marked 60 years since the British Empire and • 63 athletes represented 14 • A record year for fundraising, with • The race was once again awarded Commonwealth nations in the 33% of the field running for a number a Silver Road Race Label by the Commonwealth elite race including Kenya, Uganda, of good causes and in excess of £3 IAAF – the world’s governing body Australia, Mauritius, Botswana, million raised. for athletics, confirming its position Games were hosted Fiji, New Zealand, Wales, Scotland, as one of the world’s best half England and Northern Ireland. • The race continues to be a major marathon’s. in Cardiff. sporting event in the Welsh calendar, • Australia’s Jack Rayner took the attracting tens of thousands of men’s Commonwealth title in 61:01, spectators and comprehensive live beating 2017 champion John Lotiang BBC television and radio coverage. of Kenya and showing his fast-finish to out-pace Uganda’s Fred Musobo. • The momentum from such a In the women’s race, Uganda’s Juliet successful weekend has created Chekwel took the title in 69:45 with unprecedented interest in the 2019 Australia’s Celia Sullohern runner-up event; with 7,500 entries sold in a big PB of 71:04. within 24 hours of launch. THE COMMONWEALTH HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS The 2018 race hosted the inaugural It attracted press coverage and some Commonwealth Half Marathon of the world’s top athletes from Championships – a new CGF sanctioned Commonwealth nations including event, which coincided with the 60th Kenya, Uganda, Australia, New Zealand, anniversary of the British Empire and Mauritius, Botswana, Fiji, New Zealand, Commonwealth Games coming to Cardiff. Wales, Scotland, England and N Ireland. Jack Rayner of Uganda’s Juliet A welcome event for Uganda’ took Gold Australia took the men’s Chekwel took the athletes and team in both the male and Commonwealth title in women’s title in 69:45 officials was held at female team element 61:01 Cardiff University THE MASS RACE Runners from across Wales, the UK and the world came together to follow in the footsteps of champions and participate – opting to run 13.1 miles for a whole variety of 46 reasons, be it a personal challenge, to raise % % % % money for a good cause or as an excuse for a 51 49 48 13 weekend visit to the Welsh capital. Male Female 46 celebrated a Ran Cardiff Half Were part of an birthday on race for the first time athletics club day The race sold out in record time, with % % all 25,000 entries 78 22 33% 38 snapped up by April. In Wales Outside Wales 60% Consider running their Ran for a charity Average age primary activity THE GREAT AND THE GOOD • Fourteen entertainment points around the route provided musical encouragement with choirs, brass bands, rock groups and samba drummers bringing the noise. • The packed-out Event Village hosted live entertainment, • Only Men Aloud, winners of TV’s Last Choir Standing sang street food, promotional stands and a range of sports the national anthem at the start. activities for the whole family across the entire weekend. • Merywen Gin were crowed the winners in the Corporate • Designed by new sportswear partner and global brand Challenge. 729 runners from 45 companies went head-to- HOKA ONE ONE, the finishers t-shirt was emblazoned head including GE, Principality, Olympus, Zurich, PwC and with the flags of competing Commonwealth nations. Airbus. • Every finisher received a medal and goody bag at • Over 120 people attended Official Hospitality at the start the finish line. The medal design celebrated the and finish – it was attended by Welsh Government, Sport 15th anniversary of the race and featured the iconic Wales, sponsors, celebrities and famous sporting faces. Principality Stadium and Castle Bridge, which runners cross during the first mile of the race. • A PR campaign celebrated a number of ‘All-Timers’ who had ran all or nearly every race since 2003. Runner • A number of celebrities were involved – including Radio 1 Michael Harry, who has run every race and has all the DJ Scott Mills, Presenter Gabby Logan, Welsh Paralympian medals to prove it unveiled the design of the 2018 medal Oliva Breen, Actor Mark Lewis-Jones, Welsh Paralympian before being awarded a lifetime pass. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Presenter Lowri Morgan, Commentator Rob Walker, Welsh rugby’s JJ Williams and • A Training Run Series took place in the lead up, open to Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas – the Welsh Government Minister all and free to attend with four, six and eight-mile runs for Culture, Tourism and Sport. taking place in various locations across South Wales. THE RUNNERS VIEW The fantastic event experience on offer is what makes the race so loved by the running community. Cardiff University researchers designed the post-event survey, which received over 4,800 responses. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 97% % % 93 99 % % % Rated the medal Would run Approved of the 86 95 99 as good or again route Rated course Thought the Gave a positive excellent entertainment as race was good rating of good or excellent value for money the overall experience The Cardiff University School of Geography & Planning will be using survey findings to conduct research into the travel impact and sustainability of the race, and improve future planning. The Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon weekend is more than just 13.1 miles on a Sunday morning, kicking off with Saturday’s Festival of Running. It offers something for everyone with a programme of events for all ages, with a focus on family and community. Thousands took part in events including… Give- Wales’ aways Largest Mascot Family Toddler 3K Club Races Games Fun Run Dash Races SOCIAL IMPACT Recycling & Sustainability Volunteering A focus was placed upon recycling and sustainability by event Dubbed the “Extra Milers”, and coming organisers to improve recycling rates and reduce the event’s carbon from all sections of the community – an footprint. Water sponsor Brecon Carreg and Recycle 4 Wales once 800 strong team of volunteers were again lent their support with the collaborative ‘Run, Refuel, Recycle’ vital in the staging of the event. campaign. Pre-event instructions, on-course drop zones, improved signage, branded bins and recycling champion volunteers helped direct Many volunteers come back every people towards recycling bins with discarded items. year, and find it a great way to have fun, make friends, gain experience and enjoy the electric atmosphere of race day. A record 96% of waste thrown away at the event was recycled. 97% of runners said they recycled an item at the event or took rubbish home. SOCIAL IMPACT Fundraising Economic Impact The race, which is Wales’ largest single With 25,000 half marathon entrants day of fundraising appeals to runners and tens of thousands of spectators of all abilities; from top elite athletes attending events over the weekend, the to those attempting their very first half race continues to provide a significant marathon in support of a special cause. boost to the local economy. The fundraising element has grown A Cardiff University research study significantly in recent years, with a record found that runners spent £2.5m 33% of 25,000 entrants running for during their visit to Wales for the event a good cause and in excess of £3 million in 2017, with similar numbers expected raised in 2018. in 2018. 6 SOUTH WALES ECHO MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018 MONDAY, OCTOBER 8,2018 @WalesOnline Cardiff Half Marathon 2018 facebook.com/WalesOnline MEDIA REACH facebook.com/WalesOnline MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018 SOUTH WALES ECHO 7 Cardiff Half Cardiff Half Marathon 2018 Print Marathon £2M • South Wales Echo – Front page news Online & Television 2018 Advertising with 12-page souvenir pull out Value Event day coverage from… • Regional press – Western Mail, South Wales Argus, South Wales Evening Post • Nationalpress – Daily Mail, Metro, SECURE YOUR Sun, Express, Guardian SPACE FOR 2019 REGISTRATION FOR THIS SELL OUT RACE OPENS TOMORROW, #RunTheDiff WITH DISCOUNTED ENTRY AVAILABLE TO THE FIRST 5000 PRE-REGISTER NOW AND BE FIRST IN THE SUNDAY 06 OCTOBER Sign up at www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk QUEUE • Sporting press – Athletics Weekly, Fast Running @athleticsweekly ACTION COMMONWEALTH HALF MARATHON CARDIFF, OCTOBER 7 PICTURES: RUN 4 WALES • Almost 20,000 runners took to the Cardiff streets International press – elite Jack Rayner: a huge personal best secured him the Commonwealth title race coverage from across the Commonwealth • Local media outlets across the UK yards to the marathon, so the field I’ve ever raced in. I faced a victor’s nationality provided a Juliet Chekwel: victory few of them in the World Cross for the Ugandan very definite nod to history. Country Championships last “I knew it would be tough after year and they smashed me.” looking at the start list because As well as producing the two a lot of them had run 62, 61 individual winners, the event was and even 60 minutes,” said a great success for Australian Rayner, who came very close to and Ugandan runners in general.