Runner's World

JUNE 2018 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK 089

SWANSEA HALF MARATHON RACERACE

SWANSEA UK

PHOTOGRAPHS: RUPERT FOWLER

before turning but I still

felt I was in a totally

different race to the first

half. Even though I was

going back on myself

I had no sense that I

was retracing my steps.

Simply by swapping the

road for the trees and

street signs for the

seashore it felt like a new

racing experience rather

than a repeat journey.

My visual guide on the

horizon was the Meridian

Tower the shiny modern

29-storey residential

high-rise with a restaurant

at its pinnacle. It’s the

tallest building in Wales

and so unsurprisingly it

dominated the skyline.

With water stations

manned by scores of

well-drilled army cadets

enthusiastic crowds

strung along the course

and live music along the

bay area I could see

why this race was such

a winner. Little things

impressed me too; having

runners’ names on their

bib numbers meant we

all received shout-outs

along the way while

pacers at a selection of

times ensured there was

someone for runners of all

levels to chase.

As we returned to the

city we snaked through

the Maritime Quarter and

then SA1 the rejuvenated

waterfront area that was

once the city’s docks.

And after our trainers

had echoed across the

sail-shaped Millennium

Bridge which spans the

River Tawe there was

only a mile to go to the

finish. There were no

festivals hog roasts beer

tents or other add-ons

currently popular at larger

races but there were

plenty of volunteers going

about their business with

an air of unflappable

efficiency mingling with

hundreds of runners who

were happily donning

lurid-pink finishers’

T-shirts and inspecting

the contents of their

generous goody bags.

I tried hard to find fault

simply to confirm my

pre-event prejudice but

the only thing I could

come up with was that my

banana was too green. In

truth this race thoroughly

deserves its reputation

and in the years to come it

will surely be luring even

more runners across the

Severn Bridge to join the

plethora of Welsh club

vests already among

those in the know.

The 2018 Swansea Half

Marathon takes place on

June 24. For more info visit

swanseahalfmarathon.co.uk

Most of the course was

as flat as the wicket

Sobers batted on that

day. Only as we neared

Mumbles the pretty

fishing village on the

western fringes of

Swansea Bay was there

the hint of a climb.

With the sea to the left

and inviting cafes pubs

and shops to the right

this area is easy on the

eye and the legs. No

wonder it was a favourite

haunt of one of Swansea’s

favourite sons the poet

Dylan Thomas.

There was the promise

of more stunning beaches

beyond where the coast

curved away towards the

Gower Peninsular. But as

we reached the ice cream

parlour on the prom it

was time to turn.

And this is where I was

pleasantly surprised. I was

running along a cycle path

only a few feet from the

natural sweep of sandy

Swansea Bay. This smooth

path cut through two

miles of delightfully lush

green parkland space.

Through the trees I could

glimpse some of my

fellow runners heading

in the opposite direction

Finishing stats

● 1:00-1:30: 4%

● 1:30-2:00: 40%

● 2:00-2:30: 38%

● 2:30-3:00: 15%

● 3:00-4:15: 3%

THE RUNDOWN

Swansea Half

Marathon

(2017 results)

First man: Dewi

Griffiths 1:04:48

First woman: Claire

Gibbons-McCarthy

1:14:35

No. of finishers:

4867

Last finisher 4:09:49

Like this? Try... Three more Welsh wizards

CHAPARRAL ABERSOCH HALF MARATHON

This popular resort in North Wales

is the backdrop to a race that uses

its sandy beach as a memorable

home straight. The half along

with a 10K and triathlon sprint

make up a unique Triple Crown

series of summer events. The half

is the last of the three; the irst

two take place in June.

North Wales September 22

abersochtriplecrown.com

WALES MARATHON

With climbs galore this is not a

race for runners who dislike our

sport’s ups and downs. You’ll

encounter the irst ierce hill soon

after you leave the seaside town

of Tenby. Then it’s on to historic

Pembroke before you loop back to

the town where you began. It’s a

toughie but the scenery is a joy.

South Wales July 15

thewalesmarathon.com

ANGLESEY HALF MARATHON

After crossing the magniicent

Menai Suspension Bridge a

glorious run along the island’s

coastline leads you to Beaumaris

Castle before you return the

way you came on a course that

somehow manages to be both

undulating and fast. Try not to be

distracted by the views.

North Wales March 3 2019

alwaysaimhighevents.com