Links

Adventure Racing

Questars Adventure Race Series: The Questars Adventure Race series involves trail running, mountain biking and an optional kayaking stage. Questars races appeal to everyone from beginners to experienced adventure racers.

Cardiff Races

Atlantic College 10K: held at St Donats Castle, Llantwit Major in April.
Cardiff Blackweir Time Trial: Free to enter 5k in Blackweir/Bute Park on Saturday mornings.
Cardiff Half Marathon: 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.

Charities

Cancer Care Cymru: A charity dedicated to providing specialist oncology nurses to work alongside NHS staff and others who provide cancer services within Welsh hospitals.
Cystic Fibrosis Trust: Cystic Fibrosis is the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited disease.
Guide Dogs Superhero Running Team: Offers a support package with incentives for raising money and guaranteed charity places in some large races.

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). CF24 4JA. (2km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
DTR Llanishen: Run by Carolyn Harries who worked with Steve above for 10 years before opening her own practice. 17A Station Rd. Llanishen
Judy Clover Alexander Technique: Many performers, such as musicians, actors, singers and athletes, practice the Alexander Technique because they know that it enhances their performance, helps prevent injury and enables them to maximize their potential in every way. 26 Roath Court Road, Roath. CF24 3SB. (2km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Loretta Daley: Long time runner (and a member of course) with a good knowledge of running and associated injuries. 02920 319 145/07947 124 964. 74b Station Road, Llandaff North. CF14 2FG. (5km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Martin Haley: Always good value, because you get his undivided, hands on attention throughout the session. Ph: 01446 722 214. 4 Rhodfa Felin Barry. CF62 6LX. (11km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
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. (0km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
The Chiro Practice: Backrubbers recommended by Matt Townsend. 1-3 Museum Place, Cardiff. CF10 3BD. (1km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
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, Swansea. SA1 1SW. (54km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Vicki White Sports Massage: Massage will help to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility, to prevent injuries and, in the case of sports people, prepare for peak performance. Sports massage can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete, a once a week jogger or just physically active. Physio Matters, 87 Catherdral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff. CF11 9PG. (0km from Cardiff.) Google Map.

Clubs

Abergele Harriers: Small North Wales club with something to offer everyone.
Bitton Road Runners: Bitton Road Runners is a running club based in the east of Bristol which caters for all running abilities. ’We recognise that not everyone wants to run competitive races, but that people look to running to provide a basic level of fitness, and even a social scene to go with it.’
Bournville Harriers: ’[A] relatively small, new club in Birmingham’ - site has recent results, photos, and race entry information.
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.
Bristol & West AC: Not to be confused with the Building Society.
British Milers Club: ’The great majority of Britains best middle distance runners are BMC members and there have been some notable references in autobiographies of BMC races. Brendan Foster mentioned that winning a BMC mile at West London gave him a chance to get into a trials race that he thought he had missed. Steve Ovett described his elation at breaking four minutes for the first time in the BMC organised Brigg Mile. Sebastian Coe never forgot going to Stretford aged 19 with a time of 1:52 for 800m and coming home with a PB of 1:47.7’
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.
Chepstow Harriers: Organise the Offa’s ’Orror and the Rose Inn Series. Based at Chepstow Leisure Centre in South-East Wales, at the bottom end of the Wye Valley.
Chippenham Harriers 83: Wiltshire-based club which started like so many in the running boom.
Cirencester AC: Based in the Cotswolds and has a current membership of 80 Senior members ranging between 17 and 70 and 30 Junior members between the ages of 11 to 17 and a successful Triathlon group
Dudley Kingswinford Running Club: Organise the Dudley Kingswinford 10k, ’the largest mid-week evening road race in the Midlands’ and a good place for results and race photos.
Dulwich Runners: A friendly road and XC running club based in Dulwich, south London. We have approximately 250 members of all abilities who compete in road, XC, multi-terrain, fell and track races. New runners are always welcome, however fast or slow.
Great Western Runners: Organise the Towpath 10k series - which usually sells out before the first race!
Penarth & Dinas Runners: Social running club based in Penarth, who organise the Porthkerry Plod and the Cosmeston Relays.
Pontypridd Roadents AC: We are a small but thriving running club based in Pontypridd with over 60 members from all parts of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr and Bridgend.
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!’
Serpentine: Central London’s Running Club. Very thorough site with a well-written FAQ and articles on running.
Sole Sisters: Sole Sisters is Bristol’s only all women UK Athletics affiliated running group based in North Bristol which offers support to beginners as well as more experienced runners.
Sospan Road Runners & Power Walkers: Sospan is the Welsh transliteration of ’saucepan’: Llanelli Town was once one of the biggest producers of saucepans. When the running club was founded the members wanted a name that would reflect where they came from and what they did and decided to call themselves Sospan Road Runners rather than Llanelli Road Runners.
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.
Stragglers: Originally called ’Sweat Shop Striders’ but adopted ’Stragglers’ instead!
Stubbington Green Runners & AC: Based in Stubbington village, between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the South coast of England and has 400 members and a good social scene.
Taf Running and Orienteering Team (TROTs): Nothing to do with Lev Davidovitch Bronstein or icepicks.
Team Bath AC: Partnership of City of Bath AC and Bath University. Still organise the Bath Hilly 10 and regulars in the Gwent Leagues and the Castles.
Thames Hare and Hounds: ’Based on Wimbledon Common in South West London, Thames Hare and Hounds is the oldest cross-country running club in the world. Our large membership is made up of runners of all ages and abilities. We enjoy a full program of training, racing and social events, at all of which newcomers are very welcome’
Vale Royal AC: ’Vale Royal Athletic Club ... is situated in the heart of Cheshire, in the north west of England[;] with the main towns being Northwich and Winsford, but [it] attracts athletes from all over the county. The club has over 300 members [who] share a love of running, jumping or throwing ... [A]thletes from the junior and senior sections of the club represent... their Country, North of England and County at major athletics events.’
Weston AC: Promote road and trail running in Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area. Organise the Weston Prom series and many longer races.
Wimbledon Windmilers: ’Yes, that’s Windmilers, not Windmillers. We run like the wind, we run for miles. True, we do often meet at the Windmill, though.’

Cross-Country

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

Cycling

Bike for All: ’Bikeforall.net is a filter, listing the useful bike stuff on the internet, ignoring the duff. There are some excellent sources of information out there, if you know where to look.’
Bikely: Put very simply, Bikely helps cyclists share knowledge of good bicycle routes. Bikely is very young right now. What it needs more than anything is people like you to submit your favorite bike paths.
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.
CTC - the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation: Was once the Cyclists’ Touring Club but seems to prefer the mystery of an acronym.
How to Not Get Hit by Cars: ’This page shows you real ways you can get hit and real ways to avoid [being hit].’
Kudu Bikes: online and real bike shop in Hawes North Yorkshire. 1 Raynes Court, Charcoals Way, Upper Wensleydale Business Park, Hawes, N.Yorks. DL8 3UW. (327km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Le Tour: Haven for cycling junkies.
Nicole Cooke: Women’s Tour de France winner 2006.
ProBicycle: US cycling advocacy site: Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable.
Sustrans: Claims to be the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, though I’m not aware of any others.

Event Photographers

DigiMoments.co.uk: Covers large events, mostly in the South East of England.
ProSport Photos: General sports photo agency. Concentrates on events south and West of London.
Rikko2Photo: Lesley Richardson takes pictures of large events including the National Road Relays, and Masters Internationals. She sells some to Athletics Weekly and the running magazines.

Fell Running

Fell Runners Association: Strictly, the English Association, but fairly up to date with races in the UK.
Welsh Fell Runners Association: [A]n independent organization providing the following services to fell/mountain runners in Wales - an annual race calendar, regular Newsletters (minimum 3 per year), website, Open Championships, insurance for members (including Race Organisers)

General Portals

Active.com: Like a magazine, but free.
BBC Sport/Athletics: The best-written, and most informed, athletics coverage online.
Chasing Kimbia: Follow the lifestyle and training of a small group of elite marathoners as they prepare for the Chicago and New York City marathons. Managed by KIMbia Athletics and sponsored by New Balance, these athletes have left their families in Kenya and Tanzania to train together and live together in Boulder, Colorado.
City Runs: Now includes Cardiff - just!
Entry Central: An online agency for race entries.
Gmaps pedometer: Useful resource (maybe!) for calculating how far your routes are. (Possibly shorter than you expect.)
Good Run Guide: A database of surveyed, scenic training Runs with detailed maps, guides and directions designed just for runners.
Hal Higdon: Author of Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide.
Marathon Guide: ’At the core of MarathonGuide.com is the web’s largest directory of US Marathons and International Marathons. Find dates and contact information here, links to news and information, and (coming soon) race records and course information for each race.’
Motion Based: MotionBased is a web application that translates GPS data into functional analysis and online mapping for endurance and outdoor athletes. Maps seem to cover the UK in detail.
Runners’ Medical Resource: The product of a joint arrangement between leading UK Road Races and Triathlons including the Flora London Marathon and the BUPA Great North Run. These events have combined forces to create a unified stance on medical issues relating to running and triathlon events.
Running Commentary: Running Commentary Part blog, part forum. I found this looking for info on a race and found a stack of race reports.
Sports-Fitness: Actually called ’Sport-Fitness Now’ but that is too embarrassing.
The Running Bug: [U]seful tips and advice, ... running news and interviews with professionals and celebrity runners.
UK Running Track Directory: A complete list of tracks in the UK, with links to maps, diagrams, and in some cases decent photos. Also has probably the most comprenhensive list of UK running clubs.

Magazines

myRace: "The Running Magazine for Scotland." New running magazine in Scotland (but you guessed that). Nice to see someone having a go at the complacent market. Looks a bit amateurish (the cover even features a competitive looking bloke rather than an ahem fit woman), not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Runner’s World: Site has a detailed race calendar but no articles. Some might say that there’s no reason to buy the magazine now. The forums tickle Tim O’Sullivan.
Trionium: Irregular Running and Triathlon Magazine (3 issues since August 2005) started ’[a]fter encouragement (and ideas) from RW web threads.’

Marathon

London Ever Presents: The ever-dminishing band which includes Jeff Aston.

Organisations

AIMS: Association of International Marathons and Road Races. I’m not exactly sure what they do apart from distrubute the magazine you seem to get with every big city marathon, but the site includes a comprehensive calendar of major international marathons.
Athletic Association of Ireland: The Irish One.
Athletics Association of England: Has useful things like entry forms for the stage races in Sutton Park, and some results.
Athletics Association of Wales (AAW): All the gen from grassroots to Olympic level.
British Masters Athletic Federation: promotes many national championships annually including track and field, road running, cross-country, and indoor. The site includes fixtures, results, rankings and records.
British Milers Club: Specialist club for middle and long distance athletes and coaches.
British Olympic Association: Probably on the ambitious side for most users of this site. (It’s also just a tad slow to load)
International Amateur Athletic Federation: For an international body, this site is curiously monoglot. At its best during major competitions.
London 2012: Mostly promotional feel-good guff for now, but may get better.
Open Athletics: Open athletics is an organisation for the promotion and development of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT) athletics in the broadest sense - including track and field, fell and trail running, and race walking.
Power of 10: Really just UK:Athletics going for a trendier look.
Scottish Athletics: The most informative of the British national sites: has a clear race diary, news section, and performance data.
UK Athletics: They’ve dropped the .org in favour of .net, presumably as a reference to the seemingly defunct www.athletics.net site which stopped being updated ages ago. Promises more than it delivers, and doesn’t seem to have any consistent navigation, though this may be because the site, like the organisation, is being redeveloped. Again.
UK Sport: invests approximately £25 million of Lottery funding each year in the country’s top sportsmen and women.
Welsh Masters Athletic Association: Athletics for men & women over the age of 35.

Other

Every Trail: With EveryTrail, sharing your trip experiences has become a lot more fun: using a GPS device you can easily plot the exact path you traveled on an interactive map.
Running Crazy: ’[H]ave designed breaks away to low cost flight destinations where there are well organised events’

Personal Pages

David Lloyd: A now-old parody of Iwan Thomas’s site (which has gone to be better place, joined the Choir Invisible, etc)
Helen Tucker: British National Olympic Distance Champion 2006.
John "The Penguin" Bingham: Runners’ World contributor. ’Looking up, I see the finish banner and clock. I pick up the pace, releasing the energy I’ve been saving for the final kick. I am gasping for air; my heart is pounding. I am going to have a PR. I am going to break 30 minutes for 5-K.’
Nicole Cooke: Women’s Tour de France winner 2006.
Owen.Org/Running: Serpentine member Owen Barder’s personal running site.
Runners Life: [A] running website following the running lives of 6 athletes in 2009 including Cardiff-based Simon Jones.
Steve Speirs: Former Cardiff boy who ran the Barry Half before he moved to the USA.
The Lean, Mean Runner Bean: Website of Axe Valley Runners’ Garry Perratt. Contains some fine articles on distance running (not all by him)

Results and/or Diaries/Calendars

Runner’s Web .co.uk: Main strength is the page on charities, of use to anyone trying to sneak a late place into the London Marathon, Great North Run, etc. Or just feeling generous.
Running Diary: Searchable database.
Sportsoft Race Results: Emphasis on the North West.
UK Results: John Schofield’s regularly updated and detailed site.

Shops and Products

Achilles Heel: Very nice accessibility-oriented website for Glasgow’s Running Shoe Specialists.
BoobyDoo: Online sports bras from all leading brands.
Bourne Sports: General sports shop which has a large running and athletics department. Their page on Choosing your style of Running shoes is very good. 36-42 Church Street, Stoke on Trent. ST4 1DJ. (182km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Fitness Footwear: Fitness Footwear Ltd, are a Hertfordshire-based company with a shop and website dedicated to selling top-brand footwear. We are one of the first UK retailers to offer the sought after Chung Shi range [very expensive!- DW]. 22b London Road, Woolmer Green, Herts. SG3 6JP. (212km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Foot Traffic: Online running shop with neat shoe recommendation form (based on sex, weight, arch, running style, and preferred surface) and very thorough ’jargon buster’ pages. 463 Blackburn Road, Bolton, Lancs
Foska.com: Cycling jerseys and running vests in Coolmax and interesting designs. If you’re a beer drinking Marmite eater (as I am), anyway. 19 Dacre Street, London. SW1H 0DJ. (212km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Fox River Socks: Really comfortable, wicking socks made by an environmentally friendly company.
Girls Run Too: Online specialist women’s running shop.
Inov-8: Off road shoe (mainly) manufacturers.
Joe Jogger: Cheap shoes. Expensive postage.
Kudu Bikes: online and real bike shop in Hawes North Yorkshire. 1 Raynes Court, Charcoals Way, Upper Wensleydale Business Park, Hawes, N.Yorks. DL8 3UW. (327km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Moti: Running, fitness, and triathlon shop in Roath.
Mueller SportsMed Online: Dedicated to selling Mueller products, one of the leading sports medicine brands. We have a full range of Ankle Supports, Knee Braces, Wrist Supports, Arm Supports, Back Supports and Braces, First Aid and sports accessories including tapes and wraps, plus hot and cold therapies including instant ice packs.
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. (1km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Run in the Sun: Specialist coached and fitness running holidays in Spain. Our fitness and marathon training weeks/race weekends, for beginners to veterans are tailored for singles, groups, club runners and their partners at running holidays.
SBR [Swim Bike Run]: The official retailer of the London Triathlon. Stores are located in Windsor, Oxford and Northampton.
Sheactive: General sports shop for women which even organises a ’no-stress free Runclub for a friendly and social way to improve your fitness, burn calories and improve your cardiovascular system’
Skins: ’Skins™ is body-moulded compression performance equipment manufactured from the finest Lycra and Meryl Microfibre, scientifically engineered to provide support and muscle alignment to the smart-fabric covered area of your body. Skins™ will definitely change the way that you train and play as well as speed your recovery. You will feel fresher after heavy bouts of exercise and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) will be minimised.’
Sweat Shop: Founded by 1956 Olympic Steeplechase gold medallist Chris Brasher, Sweat Shop "was created to provide a unique environment for people passionate about their sport and fitness"
The Running Shop: Nice looking site offering generous discounts on older lines.
Thorlo Socks: Thorlos protect the fat pads (on your feet) from shearing forces by transferring these forces from the fat pads to the cushion fabric of the Thorlos; and where fat pad degradation has already occurred, Thorlos’ engineered cushion fabric helps replace the function of the natural pads.
Total Fitness Nottingham: Triathlon and Running Specialist based in Nottingham.
Tredz: Online shop with outlet in Cardiff. P&P free on all goods. Penarth Road Retail Park, Penarth Road (opp Porsche garage), Cardiff. CF11 8EF. (0km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
TriandBike: has a substantial product range covering more than 180 brands including Giant, Orbea, Ridley, Shimano, Ironman, Speedo and Mizuno.
TriandRun: London’s Premier triathlon retail store.
Up & Running: have shops across the country, including franchises; and a succesful internet sales operation that complements the retail outlets.
Up and Under: [Suppliers of gear for] Bouldering, camping, canoeing, caving, climbing, fell running, hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, mountain marathons, Nordic walking, travel, trekking, walking. 490 Cowbridge Road East, Victoria Park, Cariff. CF5 1BL. (3km from Cardiff.) Google Map.
Wiggle: Extensive online range (mostly of heavily discounted last year’s stock). Beware the excellent copy-writing which makes items too few people would buy at full price sound indispensable.

Statistical Sites

Association of Road Racing Statisticians: Not to be confused with the Army Rumour Service or other homonyms. "[F]ocuses on elite distance running at distances 3000m and longer"
Athletics Data: UK ranking list ’compiled by a team of statisticians led by Tim Grose’ kept up-to-date with results from Athletics Weekly and other sources.
athletics-results.co.uk: Athletics Results in the UK.
The Science of Sport: Fascinating blog by two PhD level sports scientists and qualified coaches (one in cycling, the other in running)

Training

Arthur Lydiard Foundation: ’The Lydiard Foundation, an international collaboration between some of the world’s most successful coaches, fitness experts and health professionals’ promotes Arthur Lydiard’s ’system ... based on a balanced combination of aerobic and anaerobic running’
Mark McKay Training: Mark is the only British athlete to have ever represented Great Britain at both Elite Cycling and Elite Duathlon World Championships.
Momentum Sports: [O]nline interactive running training and advice from qualified coaches.
Powering Muscles: [An] online nutrition information resource for athletes ... [provides] sports nutrition tips from leading experts, cutting-edge interactive tools, frequent sports science updates.
Richard Allen Fitness: Richard is the only person to have won 9 national championship titles covering every triathlon distance and duathlon.
Running For Fun: Advice on running aimed mostly at total beginners.
The Running Advisor: Whether you are newcomer to running, a weekend warrior with the goal to complete your first 5K road race, a seasoned marathoner seeking to set a new personal record, or anywhere in between, you’ve come to the right place!

Triathlon

220: Triathlon magazine with forum and race listing.
Cardiff Junior Triathlon Club: Open to 8 to 12 year olds and meets at Maindy on Mondays and UWIC on Wednesdays.
Helen Tucker: British National Olympic Distance Champion 2006.
Mark McKay Training: Mark is the only British athlete to have ever represented Great Britain at both Elite Cycling and Elite Duathlon World Championships.
Slow Twitch: Published by Dan Empfield who founded Quintana Roo bicycles/wetsuits and sold the company to Saucony.
Tri247.com: Not the official British Triathlon Association site, but the one with race details and results - in short, the useful triathlon site. Simple, clear, and thorough.
Triathlon Wales: Self explanatory.

Women's Running

BoobyDoo: Online sports bras from all leading brands.
Girls Run Too: Online specialist women’s running shop.
Running 4 Women: Product reviews, health advice, and events.
Sheactive: General sports shop for women which even organises a ’no-stress free Runclub for a friendly and social way to improve your fitness, burn calories and improve your cardiovascular system’
Sole Sisters: Sole Sisters is Bristol’s only all women UK Athletics affiliated running group based in North Bristol which offers support to beginners as well as more experienced runners.
Women’s Running Network: Since 1998 the WRN has grown from a handful of members based in Exeter to a large organisation with groups all over the country. The success says Pauline is based on a simple philosophy: "Giving all women whatever their age, size or ability the opportunity to run together to improve their health, fitness, confidence and safety."

This site is dedicated to the memory of Phil Ellis who killed himself in 1999. If you are, or know of someone who is, in a similar frame of mind, please take the time to read this.

Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got/Till it’s gone Joni Mitchell

Last updated 31 May 2009

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