Cardiff Half Marathon

Cardiff Half Marathon
Date	October
Location	Cardiff, Wales
Event type	Road
Distance	Half Marathon
Primary sponsor	Principality
Established	2003
Course records	Men's: 59:30 (2019) Leonard Langat Women's: 1:05:52 (2017) Edith Chelimo
Official site	Official website
Participants	27,500 (2024)

The Cardiff Half Marathon (Welsh: Hanner Marathon Caerdydd) (previously known as the Cardiff Marathon) is an annual half marathon race held in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff, taking place in October. The event was established in 2003,^[1] initially alongside the Cardiff Marathon, however, due to the increasing popularity of the Half Marathon, the Marathon distance was dropped after 2006. The race was originally organised by the children’s charity Barnardo’s. Now organised by Run 4 Wales, the race has grown to accommodate up to 27,500 runners.

Principality Building Society were the headline sponsor of the event in 2023 and 2024. Wizz Air was the headline sponsor of the October 2022^[2] event, replacing Cardiff University who had been in position since 2016. Lloyds Bank had a multi-year partnership with the event until 2015.

The course has always been predominantly flat, making it ideal for first time runners and professionals alike (elite runners can gain free entry to the race). The race usually takes place on the first Sunday in October and often sells out, so runners are encouraged to register early.

The event has incorporated the prestigious World (2016) Commonwealth (2018) British (2014/2015) and Welsh (Annually) Half Marathon Championships and has held a World Athletics Elite Road Race Label^[3] since 2017. The route includes some of Cardiff's most iconic landmarks, including the Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Pierhead Building and Roath Park Lake.

The race is a part of SuperHalfs, a series of leading international half marathon races including Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Valencia and Copenhagen. Races have been chosen based on their quality, popularity, location and commitments to sustainability. All hold World Athletics (IAAF) labels whilst Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia have all recently hosted the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

The event has grown considerably over the years and now attracts both UK and international runners – it is now known as one of the top events in the British running calendar. It regularly sells out early, with over 27,500 people entering. Previous participants in Cardiff races include Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, GB's most decorated track Olympian Mo Farah,^[4] inspirational adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.

The 2012 Cardiff Half Marathon appeared in the March 2013 episode of Casualty "Brave New World" as the Holby Half Marathon which Big Mac was taking part in.