Cardiff: A Good Place to Run?

Runs

Popular places to run in Cardiff include Roath Park (Google Map) which provides a straightforward circuit largely unbroken by crossing roads, and has excellent streetlighting and Bute Park (Google Map). The Taff Trail starts behind Cardiff Castle, and runs up both sides of the river, stretching all the way to Brecon. Here you can run on grass, away from traffic fumes and the risk of being run over. However, where you run depends too much on how far you want to go and where you start from for this site to offer useful advice. You could join us for a run.

Races

Apart from the race we organise, Cardiff once again has a decent selection of competitive events, after a fallow period at the end of the 90s. While the other Cardiff running clubs’ events all ran into problems with police permission, professional organisations have filled the breach.

Atlantic College 10K

held at St Donats Castle, Llantwit Major in April.

Cardiff Marathon and Half

Organised on behalf of Barnardo’s.

City of Cardiff 10k

has been going for years, with a variety of eponymous Sponsors (the present one is HSBC). It’s always organised by Cardiff AAC’s Graham Finlayson, and it usually draws some fine Kenyans (and good performances from John Mayock, who lived and worked in Cardiff for a few years) as well as often hosting the UK inter-regional championships.

Self Trancedence Series

2, 3, and 4-mile races held in May, June, and July in Pontcanna Fields.

Tracks

Cardiff has three 400m all-weather tracks.

Leckwith

(029 20 225345) opens 9am and closes at 9:30pm during the week, 5:30pm at weekends. It is floodlit at night. Despite being a nice building with good changing rooms and showers, a first rate gym, and patronized by Linford Christie’s training group at one time (they’ve since migrated to the indoor track below), it is an under used facility: you’ll never have to worry about crowding. UK Running Track Directory entry.

UWIC

at Cyn Coed has outdoor and indoor tracks, plus a gym and a pool. These are owned by the University of Wales, Institute of Cardiff (UWIC) so access is sometimes restricted. It is also more expensive. UK Running Track Directory entry.

Jenner Park

home of Barry Football Club. This is opened for members of Barry and Vale Athletic Club only, on Wednesday evenings. UK Running Track Directory entry.

Gyms

Leckwith

(see above) has a weights room, called Strides.

The Welsh Institute of Sport

(WIS - 029 20 300500) at Sophia Gardens has gyms, squash courts and a pool for members. Its fitness classes are open to all. Kevin Fulthorpe takes these on Tuesdays (7:40), Wednesdays (5:30), and Fridays (6:00 and 7:00). There is also a splendid Sunday class (7:00 pm)

Pools

The following are all council operated, and are leisure centres unless otherwise stated. The area code for Cardiff is 029.

Centre	Phone	Centre	Phone
Eastern	20 796 616	Maindy Pool/Cycle Track	20 529 230
Fairwater	20 552 210	Pentwyn	20 549 211
Heath Sports Centre	20 755 607	Western	20 593 592
Llanishen	20 762 411

UWIC and Sophia Gardens also have pools.

Chiropractors and Physios

DTR Cathays

Steve Cannon’s deservedly famous establishment. The walls are hung with the signed pictures of the stars of sport he’s put right. Comparatively expensive, but he seems to know everything and everyone, and has enviable the knack of talking in just the right way to each client, plus all the latest techy things. 220 Cathays Terrace (Crwys Road end), Cardiff. CF24 4JA

DTR Llanishen

Run by Carolyn Harries who worked with Steve above for 10 years before opening her own practice. 17A Station Rd. Llanishen

Martin Haley

Always good value, because you get his undivided, hands on attention throughout the session. Ph: 01446 722 214. The Business Centre, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Barry .CF63 2AW

Physio Matters

’First-class physiotherapy, sports massage and podiatry services.’ Used by many people I know (including me). 87 Catherdral Road, Pontcanna Cardiff. CF11 9PG

The Footbed Clinic

Mick McGeoch says, "Chris Sharp is an excellent gait analyst and his knowledge of the footwear market is superb. I’ve been going to Chris for 12 years and have referred countless club members.". 3 Burrows Place, Maritime Quarter, SwanseaSA1 1SW

Other Clubs

Brackla Harriers

Organise the Merthyr Mawr Christmas Race the week before Christmas each year.

Bridgend AC

Probably the Best Cross country Club in Wales. But not as good as they used to be.

Cardiff Triathletes

Triathlon club which offers professional swim coaching at very reasonable prices (if you attend regularly) and organises the Cosmeston Lakes open water triathlon and a Try-A-Tri.

Pegasus Running Club

’Based on the west side of Cardiff at the Western Leisure Centre, [they] can be found limbering up every Wednesday at 6:45pm for 7pm. Training routes often take in the splendid scenery of West Cardiff and surrounding areas, including St Georges, Michaelston-Le-Pit, Petertson Super Ely, and Wenvoe. Summer runs are something to experience!’

San Domenico

’A road running club based in the east of Cardiff, particularly handy for those living in Rumney, St Mellons, Llanrumney, Roath, Penylan and Castleton to name but a few!’

South Wales Orienteering Club

An active friendly orienteering club covering the former counties of Gwent, South Glamorgan, eastern Mid Glamorgan and southern Powys. This is from Bridgend in the West, to Chepstow in the East and Brecon in the North.

Cross-Country

Gwent League

The cross-country league for South Wales and the South West. Very few races in Gwent though.

Cycling

Cardiff Cycling Campaign

Not just another cycling club! [They] campaign to improve the lot of cyclists in and around Cardiff.

Cardiff Jif

Busy cycling club based in Cardiff, Wales, ... active members [are] involved in road, track, cross and mountain bike racing.

Muddybum Bikes

’Muddybum bikes is the newest specialist mountain bike shop in South Wales. The new shop will be found in Rhiwbina, North Cardiff, half a mile from junction 32 of the M4 and just off the A470. We are fortunate to have some superb biking on our door step with Caerphilly mountain a short ride from the shop and within a 30-45 minute drive from the mountain biking hubs of Cwm Carn, Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and Afan Argoed (voted one of the top 10 places to mountain bike in the world - What Mountain Bike?)’. Shops opens 19 August. 5A Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff. CF14 6LT

Shops and Products

Run and Become

Specialist running shops in London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. Usually insist you try out shoes before buying (doesn’t apply to mail order though). Extensive range of brands and specialist event shoes as well a kit for all weathers. 12 Wood Street, Cardiff. CF10 1ER

Triathlon

Cardiff Junior Triathlon Club

Open to 8 to 12 year olds and meets at Maindy on Mondays and UWIC on Wednesdays.

Why Is this Page Here?

I remember at the Forest Farm 5 (now defunct) years ago, there was a guy who went for a run from his hotel, came across the race, went back for some money, and took part. The internet is obviously useful for finding races elsewhere, anyway, but I thought that if you’re not lucky enough to come across an organised event, we could at least provide some pointers.

We meet on Thursdays.