Cardiff 5k

A frequent fixture for our club championship, Cardiff 5km Race for Victory.   A flat, fast event that takes over the streets of Whitchurch, Llandaff North and Gabalfa on a Sunday evening.   It's completed by nearly 2,000 runners and probably double the supporters. 

It's a 7pm start so most of us spent the day Sunday wondering how much or how little to eat!   There were eight White Rockers taking part in the run, with others coming down to support, so we met at St Mary's Church gates for a team picture before the start of the race.        

We headed to the pens around 10 mins before the start and it was already jammed with runners eager to test their PB ability.  Nessun Dorna was sung live, flames blasted around the start line and a drone was filming above - tension was mounting.... and then we were off!

We were supported around the entire course which had closed roads via a two-hour rolling road block.  It felt great to run on streets which are usually pavement worthy only.  

Nearly 4k in, you re-join Merthyr Road and you can see the stage and feel the atmosphere at the finish.... to then be taken on a round trip up Bishops Road and back down Church Road.  That last bit felt long but it was great to take that right turn back in front of the Plough and see the last 50 meters to the finish line.

Our rapid runners achieved the following times:

Henry Wright - 17:57

Cai Llewelyn Jones - 19:33 (PB)

Phil Mears - 23:24

Alan Vaughan - 23:42

Heidi Blackmore - 25:12 (PB)

Leanne Donovan - 25:57

Nicholas Drage - 27:29

Steve Fairhurst - 31:06

All in all, it was a great evening.  The weather was kind, the streets were fast and the support was outstanding.   I highly recommend this fantastic event.