The 21st edition of the Principality Building Society Cardiff Half Marathon is taking place in the Welsh capital on Sunday 6 October.
The event is set to be its biggest yet with more than 29,000 people registered to take part across Saturday’s junior races and main event – and its highest ever number of international runners.
The theme for this year is ‘A Race For Everyone’ and will be celebrating everything that makes the city so great – the diversity of its people.
When is the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon 2024?
The Principality Cardiff Half Marathon returns to the Welsh capital on Sunday 6 October. It starts on Castle Street from 10am.
Can I still enter?
All races have now sold out and no on-the-day entries will be available.
What is the route of the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon?
The route will take runners past the capital’s most iconic landmarks. It starts outside Cardiff Castle, past Principality and Cardiff City Stadiums. Runners will take in Penarth Marina, before crossing the barrage and heading to Cardiff Bay past the Norwegian Church and Wales Millennium Centre. A loop of Roath Park lake is completed before the grandstand finish in Cardiff’s beautiful civic centre.
A map of this year’s course can be found here.
What is the theme for the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon?
This year’s Principality Cardiff Half Marathon is taking strides to ensure it represents the Wales of today, and has been encouraging people of all ages, running abilities and backgrounds to get involved. While thousands get behind the Cardiff Half each year, it wants to shine a spotlight on what makes the Welsh capital one of the most welcoming places in the UK – the diversity of its people. That’s why this year’s race theme is ‘A Race For Everyone’. Race organisers have been working to ensure the 21st edition of the event is its most inclusive yet – engaging with people from a diverse range of demographics – across different ages, genders, religious beliefs, ethnicities, sexualities and disabilities – to get involved as runners, volunteers and spectators.
Will there be pacers?
Pacers will be running in all of the starting pens with sail flags that correspond with the following times: 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, 3:00, 3:30 and 4:00. They’re a friendly bunch, so keep an eye out for them in your pen.
Are there toilets?
There are toilets at the start of the race, in the Event Village, within the first mile of the race and around the course at all drink stations.
Will water and energy products be provided?
Brecon Carreg will be on hand around the route to supply water, while HIGH5 will supply energy gels. Lucozade will also be available at mile 9 and the finish line. Look out for the Brecon Carreg ploggers too who will be at the back of the race, collecting litter as they go.
How many people will be taking part?
The race has sold out for the seventh time. More than 29,000 spaces have been sold for the events across the weekend including the Junior races on the Saturday and the half marathon on the Sunday. The half marathon sold out in record time, with 27,500 people signed up.
Will there be an elite race?
The event holds a coveted World Athletics Elite Road Race label and attracts some of the world’s fastest athletes. The race will feature a strong elite field with runners coming from nations including Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Tanzania and Australia.
Find out more about the elite runners taking part here.
Will there be a wheelchair race?
An elite wheelchair race will take place on Sunday 6 October at 09:50am. Jade and Callum Hall both head up the men’s and women’s field.
Will there be a children’s race?
The Cardiff Half Junior takes place on Saturday 5 October. A full day of family-friendly activities are planned including a Toddler Dash at 10:30am and a Future Challengers race at 11am for talented young athletes and junior club runners. A family-focussed Fun Run then starts at 11:45am. Expect fancy dress, fun and festivities. NSPCC will also be hosting zoo yoga at 11am and a story time session at 11.25am both taking place at its stand in the event village on the Saturday.
How much money does the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon raise for charity?
Over £3 million is raised each year via partnerships with over 120 charities.
What is the SuperHalfs?
The Cardiff Half is part of the SuperHalfs – an international half marathon series including races in Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Valencia, Copenhagen and Cardiff. It challenges runners to complete the six-race circuit in 60 months in order to earn a ‘SuperMedal’ and other exclusive prizes.
What is the weather forecast?
The long-range weather forecast is predicting good running conditions. The day will be bright but cloudy with some light showers. It is predicted that temperatures could reach 16°.
What is the best way to travel to the race?
Competitors are encouraged to plan their journey in advance and be aware that some road closures will be in place on the morning of the race.
With so many participants and spectators travelling to the city over the race weekend, one of the most reliable, stress-free and cost-effective ways to travel and avoid congestion is by travelling in advance of race day and making a weekend of it.
This year Transport for Wales have announced earlier services on race day, giving thousands of runners the opportunity to catch the train in for the start for the first time ever.
More information on event day travel can be found here.
Is there parking?
There is a park and walk facility at Cardiff City Football Stadium on Leckwith Road, but all spaces for this have been pre-booked. To encourage sustainable travel, discounted spaces have been offered to coaches and minibuses. There will also be a free bike park in Gorsedd Gardens in front of National Museum Wales for those choosing to cycle to the event.
Will there be road closures in place?
There will be a number of road closures in place on race day to facilitate the safe passage of participants, so please allow extra time when traveling and plan your route in advance.
A map of road closures can be found here.
Will there be atmosphere around the course?
There will be lots of course entertainment to help make the 13.1-mile experience as exciting and atmospheric as possible. Drum Runners will be outside the Oyster Catcher in Penarth, Batala Bristol at the Cardiff Bay Barrage and a Ukelele Band at the Norwegian Church. There will also be Samba Galez in Roald Dahl Plas, the Welsh Air Ambulance Choir at Lloyd George Avenue North and the Cardiff Uni Brass Band on Newport Road. Accordia will be outside Albany Road Baptist Church, Tune Trucks will be at the Pen Y Lan Community Centre (and in Corbett Road) and the Rock Choir at Lake Road West. The Cathays Brass Band will be at Cathays Social Club and Rock N Soul outside Cathays Cemetery.
The Principality Rainbow Roundabout will also be back again this year which runners will pass twice between miles 10 and 12. The course fixture which became a runner favourite after it was introduced last year is put on by Principality Building Society and Pride Cymru.
A number of drag acts will take to the stage here with performances from:
- 10:30am – 11:15am: Catrin Feelings
- 11:15am – 12pm: Gigi Spot
- 12:00pm – 12:45pm: Mary Golds
- 12:45pm – 1:30pm: Justin Drag
- 1:30 – 2:15pm: Chae with a C
What else is going on?
For the first time Principality Building Society are bringing a quiet space to the event village. The space is a chance for runners and spectators to get a moment of calm before, during and after the race.
Where’s the best place for spectators to support?
The Cardiff Half spectator zones give everyone the best possible opportunity to see their loved ones. Head down Castle Street, away from the city centre and towards the River Taff for the best chance to catch your loved ones after they have crossed the start line.
Head to Corbett Road for great views of the closing stages of the race on either side of the road, big screens, music and prize giveaways.
Tiered standing terraces give spectators a fantastic view of their loved ones over the finish line on King Edward VII Avenue.
You’ll want to head down early to grab yourself the best vantage point.
Who organises the event?
The event is organised by Run 4 Wales (R4W), a not-for-profit charitable trust set up to manage and deliver major sporting events in Wales.
Established in 2012, R4W has grown into one of the UK’s best-known mass participation event organisers, driven by a desire to deliver world-class events with a positive social agenda. Its events provide a platform to champion mental health, women’s running, community regeneration, diversity, volunteering, fundraising and environmental sustainability, with surpluses invested into grassroots sport and community projects through its charitable foundation.
In 2023 R4W announced an innovative new partnership with London Marathon Events, bringing together the leading mass-participation events organisations in England and Wales. Together, R4W and LME are working together to increase their impact, especially in inspiring more children to become active and broadening further the diversity of participation in its events.
What will runners receive when they finish the race?
All finishers will receive a commemorative medal and a t-shirt. This year over 3,000 runners have opted out of receiving a t-shirt, enabling R4W to donate the fulfilment fee to a Climate Action Fund that exclusively supports sustainable development projects and green initiatives. Since the scheme was introduced, over £38,000 in donations has been awarded to projects including Size of Wales, Stump up for Trees, The Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru, Canolfan Waunfawr, Project Seagrass and the Railway Gardens Project.
Can you track runner 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.
If you’re taking part and have any questions or issues, the Event Helpdesk will be open from 7.30am on Saturday 5 October and from 7am on Sunday 6 October.
Information about what to do if your race pack has not arrived can be found here.
