PHOTOS-Cardiff Half Marathon 2011

Sunday 16th October was the date for the 2011 Cardiff Half Marathon. This year taking in a new route which does actually run the full 13.1 miles (unlike last year’s route which was half a mile too short! ooops)
Beginning outside the old Welsh Assembly building ‘Crickhowell house’ 15,000 waited with anticipation to make their way around the course which snaked via Atlantic Wharf, City Centre, Leckwith and back via Cardiff Bay.

Just minutes to go before the official start at 9am and people were still stocking up on last minute fuel and taking the final trip to the toilets! (The queues were quite long for both!)




Just before 9am the wheelchair race began with huge support from the many thousands of people that had turned up to show their support to the runners and their charities.

Jamie Baulch then began a countdown from ten to zero with the main race beginning bang on 9am. The 15,000 extremely eager runners began their early Sunday morning workout.
(This was less than 24 hours after Wales’ contraversial defeat against France in the Rugby World Cup! So hopefully not too many sore heads!)



Initially the weather was quite overcast, dull, a bit of moisture in the air, but literally just as the starting gun went off the weather improved, the sun broke through and the chill was taken out of the air. The lead runners made their way past the Millennium Centre complete with their own camera crew!

The Cardiff Half Marathon attracted runners from across the UK and the world! The race has become a regular in the runner’s diary and is really gaining it’s reputation as a serious challenge.


Many parts of Cardiff were closed from 9am until 12pm midday to allow the runners to enjoy the wonderful sights that Cardiff has to offer. They took in the wonders of The Millennium Centre, Cardiff Castle, City Hall and Museum and a great panoramic of Cardiff Bay.



Even though the road closures were well advertised in the local press, letters to households and even road signs at affected locations for the last few weeks it was unbelievable the amount of people that got caught up in the jams and couldnt find an alternative route.


There were a few vehicles at Westgate Street waiting for the marathon to finish where the marshall wouldn’t allow them through as it would be dangerous to the runners. Some vehicles ignored the marshall and just stupidly drove into the stream of people and effectively joined the 100’s of runners crossing Canton Bridge into Cathedral Road. Some of the runners looked on in total disbelief that they were putting themselves out to raise money for charity and some impatient people couldnt wait and gatecrashed the marathon with their vehicles.
I don’t see why the marshall didnt inform them that they could’ve gone back down Westgate Street, Tudor Road, Clare Road etc rather than letting them wait in a queue in Westgate Street. I can imagine it wouldve been frustrating but the marshalls should offer an alternative route.

Kenyan Edwin Kiptoo completed the 13.1 mile course in a quick 1:03:27. Apart from the serious runners most seemed to be running for charity and donning costumes and having a really good time.




Just incase you have Googled the term “Cardiff Half Marathon” for some photos and ended up at my blog then here is a quick slideshow up of some of the images taken from the 2011 Cardiff Half Marathon.

The full set can be viewed at:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djleekee/sets/72157627904981370/with/6249458782/

Or press the play button below to view a slideshow.
Vodpod videos no longer available.