Cardiff Half Marathon
Sun 6 Oct 2024 Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK

Cardiff Half Marathon

An iconic road race around Wales' capital offering a flat course from the castle to the marina and over the Cardiff Bay barrage! Family races, huge crowd support and Runners' Village.

Get charity place
  • Sun 6 Oct 2024
Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

Cardiff Half Marathon

10:00

£45

Age 17 & over

  • 13.1 miles road running

Overview

Recognised by World Athletics as one of the best half marathons in the world and a member of the global SuperHalfs series, Cardiff Half is now one of Europe’s most prestigious half marathons attracting 27,500 runners of all abilities alongside world-class athletes. Starting at the castle, the half marathon route takes in city landmarks before crossing the barrage and heading to Cardiff Bay on a mostly flat course.

Highlights

  • A World Athletics Elite Road Race

    The only half marathon in the UK to have this credential.

  • Part of the SuperHalfs series

    A prestigious global series of half marathons including Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen and Valencia.

  • UK's second-largest half marathon

    Following the Great North Run, and attracting 27,500 runners.

  • Iconic landmarks, historic buildings and beautiful scenery

    Flat routes feature the castle, marina and the very exciting Cardiff Bay barrage!

  • Weekend festival for all

    Runners' Village, live music throughout and huge spectator support.

Event video

  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Spectators
  • Traders at event
  • Wheelchair users

Families

The event offers a full weekend of activities, with a host of family-friendly activities at Saturday’s Cardiff Half Junior preceding Sunday’s half marathon.

Event village

Event Village on City Hall Lawns is the perfect place to meet fellow runners, say good luck to loved ones, leave baggage safely stowed in the baggage tents and make your way to the start line before the race. It’s also the perfect place to to relax at the end of the race and reunite with friends and supporters.

Relax, recuperate and celebrate your success with a well deserved post-race massage.

Once you’ve had your soothing massage and you’re feeling a little livelier, you can also enjoy the best of our live music stage and entertainment programme.

Win accessories and prizes, browse Official race merchandise or check out footwear and accessories from HOKA, and for any queries about the race, the Event Information Desk is there to help.

Get involved with a number of interactive come and try sports or visit one of our sponsors and charities who will be showcasing their products, services and causes.

  • Bag storage
  • Bar
  • Cafe
  • Changing facilities
  • Coast
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Cardiff Castle
Castle Street
Cardiff
South Glamorgan
CF10 3RB
UK

Tuck into some tasty street food or kick back with a well deserved celebratory drink – with a wide choice of vendors to choose from. 

  • Cut off time
  • Distance markers
  • Entertainment
  • First aid
  • Flat
  • Marshals
  • No headphones
  • Out and back
  • PB
  • Sweeper
  • Traffic free
  • Water stations

The race starts outside Cardiff Castle on Castle Street. The race will finish on King Edward VII Avenue. The event village is at City Hall Lawn outside Cardiff’s City Hall.

Cardiff Half Marathon route map
CARDIFF HALF MARATHON ROUTE MAP
Flat course from the castle to the marina and over the Cardiff Bay barrage!

  • Carbon offset
  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy

With a socially responsible business model at the core, this event delivers ambitiously green, sustainable and low impact events.

Sustainability policy

  • Reduce plastic use including plastic-free goody bags
  • Minimise waste
  • Avoid unsustainable materials including medals made from recycled materials
  • Achieve 90% recycling rate
  • Carbon off-setting initiative
  • Educational and behavioural change in the office and at the events themselves
  • Encourage sustainable travel
  • Reduce litter in the local environment

  • Cash prizes
  • Chip timing
  • Eco goody bag
  • Eco medal
  • Event app
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Training plan
  • Vouchers

Included

  • A posted race pack including a race weekend brochure, spectator guide, running number and timing chip.
  • A high standard of event organisation, with a fully marshaled, closed road route.
  • High-quality finishers medal to commemorate your achievement
  • Optional technical finishers t-shirt or Climate Action Fund donation
  • Access to helpful training advice and support via the event website and e-newsletters.
  • Access to the event facilities, including toilets.
  • Course entertainment and live music across the route.
  • Water and nutritional products available at energy stations along the route.
  • Use of the Run 4 Wales app to live track your performance.
  • A finish time SMS at the end of the race (if you have submitted your mobile number).
  • Access to Event Village with retailers, street food and live entertainment.
  • Predicted finish time pacers in every start wave.
Cardiff Half Marathon March 2022 medal
CARDIFF HALF MARATHON MEDAL
From a previous edition.

Every year thousands of runners take part in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charities it gives the runner advantages too, from supporting a cause that is close to your heart to securing a place in this highly sought-after event and much more.

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

  • Fundraising support

    Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous runners.

  • Training support

    Whether this is your first run or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and Olympic champs.

  • Branded running kit

    When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too.

  • Support on the day

    When you're partway through your run and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Many charities set up a cheer station along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past!

  • Post-race recovery

    Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

  • Exclusive social groups

    You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.

What are charity places?

Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event, especially if general entries are closed.

Running a half marathon and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?

Charity places

These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity, complete the form and follow the instructions.

Children

Sands

Reducing the number of baby deaths.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£300

International

CAFOD - Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

CAFOD is there, wherever the need is greatest to ensure that no one is beyond reach.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£400

Children

NSPCC

Every childhood is worth fighting for.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£300

Dementia

Dementia UK

Providing specialist dementia support for families through their Admiral Nurse service.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Exclusive social group
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£200

Heart

British Heart Foundation

Coronary heart disease is the UK's single biggest killer but the BHF is leading the fight against it.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£250

Animals

Dogs Trust

Running rehoming centres to save over 16,000 abandoned dogs annually.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£250

Free sign up Homelessness

Missing People

The only UK charity that reunites missing children and adults with their loved ones.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£300

Animals

Cats Protection

For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£250

Mental health

SANE

Supporting those affected by mental illness to change mental health for good.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£250

Health and Medical

Parkinson's UK

Find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinsonโ€™s.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£300

Children

Barnardo's

Transforming the lives of vulnerable children & young people in the UK.

  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Training plan
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Free massage
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£5

Fundraise
£200

Children

Dreams Come True

Making dreams come true to bring joy to seriously ill children.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Heart

Heart Research UK

Funding pioneering medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£200

Free sign up Human rights

Stonewall

Working and campaigning to achieve equality for all LGBTQ+ people.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising incentives
  • Training plan
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Pre-event meet-ups
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£300

Health and Medical

Epilepsy Society

Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

  • Age 17 & over
  • 27500 places
  • Entries open
  • Charity entries open
  • Charity places
  • Enter online
  • Event merch available
  • Race pack by post

Entry fees

Entry fee

£45.00