The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run is returning to the Welsh capital this weekend, just 8 months after the last edition of the 10K race in September 2021. The last race was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and held in autumn for the first time, but the 2022 edition is returning to a springtime slot this Sunday, 22 May.
Over 5,000 10K runners, junior race participants and spectators are expected to descend on the Welsh capital for the event.
When is the Cardiff Bay Run?
The event takes place this Sunday 22 May. The 10K race will start at 11:00 and a series of Junior races kick off from 09:45.
Where is it happening?
The event is based in the Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay. The Junior races start and finish in the Oval Basin whilst the 10K starts on Lloyd George Avenue and finishes in the Roald Dahl Plass. The event village is situated on the waterfront near the Pierhead Building.
Can I still enter?
Registration for all races are now closed and no on-the-day entries will be available.
Where does the 10K race go?
The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run boasts a stunning 10K course around Cardiff Bay.
The route takes in all of Cardiff Bay’s most iconic landmarks, starting on Lloyd George Avenue and passing the Wales Millennium Centre, Mermaid Quay, the Pierhead Building, Senedd, Porth Teigr and the Cardiff Bay Barrage before finishing in Roald Dahl Plass.
What Junior Races are taking place?
There are three Junior races takes place. The Future Challengers Mile has been designed for competitive young club athletes looking for an accessible opportunity to compete. The traditional, no-pressure Fun Run is a 2K race suitable for adults and children of all ages. You don’t need to run the whole way, and fancy dress is very much encouraged. There’s also an adorable Toddler Dash on offer for the youngest of competitors.
What is the weather foreacast?
Good running conditions are forecast for Sunday morning, but it might start to feel a bit warmer as the bulk of runners finish the race at midday. It will be a dry day with sunny intervals. Temperatures are forecast to hit 19 degrees by the afternoon.
What is the best way to travel to the race?
Cardiff Bay is easily accessible by foot, bike, public transport or car. It’s a 20-minute walk from the city centre and is served by regular buses and trains (via Cardiff Queen Street Station). Arriving by train, you can be in Cardiff at 09:04hrs, 09:34hrs, 09:59hrs.
There are very limited parking options in Cardiff Bay because of the road closures in place for the event, so car sharing is encouraged, and we recommend parking in the city centre (which is a short 1-mile walk or warm up jog from the Bay).
For those arriving by bike, there will be a free bike park available at the top of Roald Dahl Plass outside the Wales Millennium Centre, opposite the water tower.
For travel and parking advice click here.
Will there be road closures in place?
Some road closures will be in operation to facilitate the safe passage of participants. A list of road closures and interactive google map to help plan your journey can be found here.
Is there an elite race?
Top athletes from across the UK are set to take part. Dewi Griffiths (28:27) will face defending Champion, Omar Ahmed (28:39). Ahmed stole his course record for the Cardiff Bay event in 2021 to claim victory ahead of Kadar Omar and of Abed Teweldebrhan who will also be in action on Sunday.
Olivia Tsim (33:58) of Pontypridd Roadents will be an overwhelming favourite in the women’s race and is also a recent Welsh Champion for 10K after claiming the title last week in 35:44.
Wheelchair racing stalwart Richie Powell has claimed victory in Cardiff Bay many times in the past and will be in action once again this weekend.
A full elite preview can be seen here.
Will there be atmosphere around the route?
There will still be a fantastic atmosphere in Cardiff Bay, with spectators expected to turn out to support. There will even be a Velindre cheer station on route.
Will money be raised for charity?
Velindre Cancer Centre are the Lead Charity of the event for the second time, with hundreds of runners expected to be fundraising for the Hospital of Hope on Sunday. Amongst the army of fundraisers, a team of ‘All Stars’. Made up of past and current patients will be taking part.
There are also large teams of fundraisers from the British Heart Foundation, striving for a world without heart and circulatory diseases.
I hear the event is celebrating a birthday?
Run 4 Wales, the organisation behind events like the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run and Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon turned 10 earlier this month. To celebrate, they’ve launched a ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ campaign with random activities planned all over Wales! The next will take place at Cardiff Bay Run, where a random finisher will be handed a golden envelope and a very special prize.
It is also the fifth birthday of the event. The Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run (previously known as the Cardiff Bay 5 Mile) became a 10K race five years ago in 2017. Event organisers Run 4 Wales celebrated five of the best moments in the history of the race to mark the occasion here.
What else is going on?
Brecon Carreg are the headline sponsor of the event for the fourth time. They use their association with the race as a vehicle to promote recycling, sustainability and the fight against plastic waste. A 30-strong team of Brecon Carreg ‘ploggers’ (the act of litter picking whilst jogging) will be taking part in the 10K, collecting litter as they go.
What will runners receive when they finish the race?
Every 10K runner will receive a commemorative medal and event t-shirt upon finishing the race.
The medal this year features the ‘People Like Us’ statue, which is situated on the waterfront in Cardiff Bay. It represents the people who lived and worked in the area, then known as ‘Tiger Bay’ in the days when it was a thriving commercial port.
The medal will form a matching set with medals given out at other 2022 events in the Healthspan Wales 10K Series including the Healthspan Porthcawl 10K, ABP Barry Island 10K, ABP Newport Wales 10K and R4W Virtual 10K.
The race t-shirt this year includes a unique image of the tiger graffiti that the runners pass on the 10K route at the Cardiff Bay Barrage Skate Park.
A group of staff, patients and supporters from Lead Charity Partner Velindre were on hand to help reveal the designs. You can see images from the photo shoot here.
Can you track runners 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.
Are there any inspiring stories?
Every runner has a motivation to take part and there are plenty running for good causes this weekend. One such example is John Rees from Porthcawl, who will be taking on the 10K two years after he was given a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis and just 12 months to live.
You can read his inspiring story 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 08:00am in the Event Village near the Pierhead Building on Sunday morning. Information about what to do if your race pack has not arrived can be found here.
