A Weekend of Half-Marathon Success in Cardiff and Manchester

My Cardiff Half Marathon experience — and a round-up of Meirionnydd Running Club’s results by Adrian Fillingham

Cardiff: my race

This was only my second half marathon and my first SuperHalfs event. With more than 29,000 entrants, the atmosphere in the Welsh capital was electric.

Having entered with an estimated finish time of 2:45, I started near the back of the field. The toughest part of the day was waiting around 40 minutes to cross the start line. Once I was moving, however, there was barely a stretch of the course without spectators, well-wishers, banners or music. DJs, drumming groups, saxophonists, ukulele players and choirs all added to the occasion. I had deliberately chosen to run without headphones, and I was very glad I did because there was so much to take in.

I ran well for the first 10K, but then my lack of training began to show. Because of injury, I had not run more than 6K in the previous three months and had only just covered a half-marathon distance in total across the final two weeks. I knew my hoped-for sub-2:30 finish was out of reach, but I still wanted to hit my entered target of 2:45.

By the final 3K my legs had gone, and it took all my mental stamina to keep moving. Anyone who knows the course will also know that, while the climb at 12 miles is modest compared with the hills we regularly run, it feels like a mountain on tired and sore legs.

I pushed through, willing myself to keep going, and finished in 2:47:14 — just outside my target, but a new personal best and a time I am proud of while still only 95% recovered from injury.

Club results in Cardiff

I was not the only Meirionnydd runner on the course, although my fellow Goats were a long way ahead of me.

·       Dion Griffith was the first Goat across the line in a fantastic 1:16:36, finishing 143rd overall — an outstanding achievement.

·       Dai Lazarus, running for Cardiff University and raising money for charity, finished in 1:53:56.

·       Geraint Jones followed close behind in 1:58:56.

It was a great race, with an amazing atmosphere and beautiful sunshine in the capital. Cardiff delivered everything I had hoped for: a challenging personal test, superb support and a finish I will remember.

Da iawn i bawb!`

Club results in Manchester

There were outstanding performances from the Goats at the Manchester Half Marathon too. Owen produced another exceptional run, recording a massive personal best of 1:04:22. The performance set a club record and strengthened his claim as one of Wales’s leading distance runners, with first place in the 5K rankings and second in the half marathon.

Russell Bentley also ran an excellent 1:08:11, while Martin Green finished in 1:14:24 and Mike Holroyd crossed the line in 1:16:51. Together, the Manchester results made it a remarkable day for the club.

A weekend to celebrate

From my own hard-earned personal best in Cardiff to the superb club performances in both cities, this was a weekend that showed the strength and spirit of Meirionnydd Running Club. Congratulations to every Goat who raced, supported or followed the action