Cardiff postponed to 2022

The Cardiff Half Marathon was due to be run in the Welsh capital on 3 October and has now been re-scheduled for 27 March, 2022. It is the third time the event has had to be postponed due to the pandemic, the last race being in October, 2019, when the Kenyan Leonard Langat emerged victorious from a field of more than 25,000 runners to win in a course record 59 min, 30 sec.

Run 4 Wales, the company that promotes the races, made the announcement “with deep regret”.
Matt Newman, R4W Chief Executive explained the thinking behind the postponement:

“Run 4 Wales (R4W) has been working closely with the Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council to understand the potential timeline for the safe return of events in Wales, including the Cardiff University / Cardiff Half Marathon (CHM).

“Whilst the vaccine rollout in the UK continues to provide cause for optimism, the situation in Wales remains uncertain, with the Welsh Government currently setting a maximum outdoor event capacity of 4,000, including event-related spectators.

“At present there are also no plans to relax the 2 metre social distancing rules, which provides significant operational challenges for mass-participation event organisers. An event of this scale requires a significant planning phase and we have now entered the critical period. The Welsh Government’s 21-day review cycle means that R4W cannot predict the prevailing restrictions which will be in force this autumn, so a decision needs to be made now.

“Due to this uncertainty and in agreement with Cardiff City Council, circumstances dictate that we must now postpone the 2021 CHM to the spring of 2022. The health and safety of race participants, their supporters, event volunteers and the Run 4 Wales staff team is at the forefront of our decision making and we hope that everyone understands the reasons for this decision.

“Cardiff has the experience of successfully holding two half-marathons in one calendar year and in 2022 an autumn edition will also take place as usual on the first Sunday in October.

“In addition, we will mark the October 3 2021 date with an inclusive new ‘Virtual Cardiff Half’, which will provide an opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about the CHM. This free event will give everyone a chance to walk, jog or run the 13.1 mile distance ahead of the return of the live event in March 2022.”

All runners who had a space in the event have been contacted with more details and entry options.