Cardiff Half Marathon: the spectators’ must-read guide
More than 19,000 runners will be lining up for the 11th Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday. This year the Cardiff Half Marathon is on 05 OCTOBER 2025
With a 7% growth in registered runners, an extra day of events, more course entertainment, and loads of great food and drink to enjoy, this year’s race is set to be one of the most enthralling for runners and spectators alike.
With an estimated 40,000 spectators cheering on the field last year, there are expected to be even more lining the Cardiff Half Marathon 2013 route.
So, here is our guide of everything you need to know about the big day.
What time does the race start?
The race on Sunday starts on Castle Street at Cardiff Castle, with the wheelchair race starting at 8.50am and elite runners starting off at 9.00am. They will be followed by the main flow of runners leaving at 9.15am and the last runners, from 9.31am.
The start is a five-minute walk from the runners’ village on the lawns outside City Hall and will be clearly signposted.
The first runners are expected over the finish line about an hour later and the last runners around 1.30pm.
The prize presentation ceremony will take place at 11.30am near the finish line.
What route will it take?
2013 Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon Route Map
Once again, this year’s Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon starts from outside Cardiff Castle before winding its way down to Penarth Barrage and across into Cardiff Bay and the Roald Dahl Plass.
Brass bands, choirs, rock bands and spectators will all help bring a carnival atmosphere to proceedings, and as the runners pass through Cardiff Bay up toward Cardiff city centre, they’ll enjoy the welcome sight of the 6-mile marker and the iconic Pierhead building and Senedd.
Roath Park Lake is the next major location for spectators and runners, and at both 10 and 12 miles there are opportunities for spectators to see their loved ones curl round the lake and start heading for home down through Cathays and into the finish straight in Cardiff’s Civic Centre.
What will the road closures be?
Motorists are probably best to try and avoid Cardiff city centre and the route on Sunday morning.
Road closures will operate on a rolling basis from 4am on Sunday. The majority of roads will reopen at 12 noon, three hours after the start. If there are still runners on the course they may be asked to continue on the pavements to allow the roads to be re-opened.
The road closures include:
* From 6am Thursday, October 3 to 6pm Monday, October 7 – King Edward VII Avenue, Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with City Hall Road.
* From 6am Friday, October 4, to 6pm Sunday, October 6 – King Edward VII Avenue (north of its junction with City Hall Road) , City Hall Road, Museum Avenue, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
* And there will be a rolling road closure between 8am until 2pm, however closures times are just for a guideline and are subject to change depending on when the road is safe to reopen:
The route affected is: Castle Street, Cowbridge Road West, Kingsway Eastbound, Wellington Street, Leckwith Road, Sloper Road, Penarth Road, Harbour Drive, Lloyd George Avenue, Herbert Street, Tyndall Street, Windsor Street, Fitzalan Place Southbound, Westgrove, Richmond Road, Albany Road, Blenheim Road, Ninian Road, Lake Road East/West, Fairoak Road, Cathays Terrace, Corbett Road, finish at King Edward VII Avenue.
There is plentiful parking in the city centre, but it is limited in the bay. Runners and spectators are advised to arrive early.
Will there be entertainment for spectators?
Renowned for its fantastic support and buzzing atmosphere, hopes are again high for another well supported race.
Cardiff’s residents regularly come out in support, and with over 40,000 spectators expected to attend and an ever greater focus on entertainment, food and drink, there’s plenty to keep both spectators and athletes happy.
On-course entertainment features throughout the route in locations such as the Cardiff Bay Barrage, Roald Dahl Plass and Roath Park, and the main stage in the Runners’ Village also features a host of great live music from the likes of nine-piece funk group Kookamunga and the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.
What is happening on Saturday?
The all-encompassing Festival of Running weekend now includes the inaugural Welsh Mile Road Race Championships, the Lloyds Bank Family Fun Run, and a host of other exciting events such as the anticipated mascot race and come and try athletic on Saturday.
Based in Cardiff’s Civic Centre, the events take place from 12-4pm and provide plenty of entertainment for participants and spectators alike. The family fun run starts in Cathays Park at 2pm.
What is the route for the Family Fun Run and is it too late to enter?
The 2.4km route loops twice around Cardiff’s Civic Centre, Alexandria Gardens and North Road, and contains plenty of vibrant carnival activity and entertainment to spur on all participants to a fast time.
There’ll be live bands and face painting, Cardiff Blues will be in attendance, and the always entertaining mascot race will follow at 2.45pm.
The entry fee for the event is £7.50 and you can sign up both online (until Friday) or on the day. On completion of the race, each participant will receive a commemorative Brooks t-shirt and medal.
What is the weather going to be like?
Looks like ideal weather conditions for runners and spectators. After a couple of very wet days, the weekend looks like it is going to be warmer, brighter with sunny spells – a repeat of last year.
How can I find out more?
Click onto: http://www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk/
* WalesOnline will be running full coverage, including thousands of pictures, from the event. And Monday’s South Wales Echo will feature a 72-page supplement packed with images and results.
