{"id":33871,"date":"2025-02-27T15:56:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/?p=33871"},"modified":"2025-02-27T15:56:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:56:57","slug":"cardiff-parkrun-return-but-on-the-actual-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/2025\/02\/27\/cardiff-parkrun-return-but-on-the-actual-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff parkrun – Return But on The Actual Course"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We headed to Cardiff parkrun<\/a> as a family. Our one son has ran the course before, two of us have run the alternative Cardiff parkrun<\/a> course, and the youngest two have never been to this event before.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cardiff<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Blackweir, Taff Trail, Cardiff, CF14 3AT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Cardiff parkrun Differed from the Last Time we Visited<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Main Course as Opposed to Alternative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When we attended Cardiff parkrun before it was on the alternate course – which is 2 laps and a bit further away. The actual course for Cardiff parkrun is right next to the big Tesco Extra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cardiff parkrun Alternative Course<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is also accessible by bicycle and there were a lot of people travelling by bike when we arrived. In fact lots of the volunteers repeatedly had to tell people to clear the path and make way for bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When we went before not only did we do the alternative course, but it was also New Year\u2019s Day. That meant a big difference in numbers – previously there were 572 – whereas this time there was 936!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"don't<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The course is for road shoes, but we ended up having to go on the muddy grass to move over for the other park users before it started (mainly for this reason and just the huge numbers). Admittedly other people also went on the mud to overtake too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briefing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The briefing was a lot quieter however- and there were volunteers holding \u201cquiet\u201d signs. Obviously there were a few people talking but it was much easier to understand what was being said today. Including milestones and the importance of keeping right.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Quiet<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Getting into position just wasn\u2019t possible and we really had to just start wherever we could get in a gap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thin out and Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The alternative course is two laps and this was just one – although it\u2019s a bit of an out and back so there was a small amount of time when the fast runners were heading in the opposite direction and the keeping right was even more important. In saying that it was really about using your initiative too – as the public didn’t stay to one side.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Caution<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Although it probably thins out a lot more than the alternative course, the finish funnels felt more spread out and easier on the alternative course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Family Cardiff parkrun Stats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coming back from injury, and having to start too far at the back, our son came in 80th<\/sup> position, with a time of 20:19. He initially went out with his brother, lost him, then slowed to wait for him. Next he decided that he wasn\u2019t going to find him so decided to just run on ahead and finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youngest got his passion back and finished in a respectable time of sub 26, not far ahead of his dad. Both his dad, and myself, got Cardiff parkrun course PBs. It felt very overwhelming the sheer amount of people overtaking in the last 1km or so and I gave up and walked about 3 or 4 times. I had run the first 3km in 15 minutes 49 too! Just thinking about the fact people had finished already tired me out!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"boys<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Finally, our son who doesn\u2019t regularly do parkrun got a new parkrun PB of 22m 34s – beating his previous time of 23m 07s which he achieved back in the summer of 2017! Plus this was faster than our youngest son\u2019s PB – putting him back as second fastest runner in the family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff parkrun Stats Event 812<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

936 people came to Cardiff parkrun. There were 484 males, 388 females and 64 unscanned. An incredible 47 people did their first ever parkrun. These included a variety of ages including those from junior up to 75-79!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus there were a further 130 tourists and 108 PBs were achieved. Big thanks to the 51 hi-vis heroes!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cardiff<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Parkrun is such an inspirational community and it is great to be able to exercise alongside those with all abilities. Today\u2019s results had two young individuals really stand out to me in the JM11-14 category, both achieving times of sub18! In fact the one won\u2019t be long before he gets sub 17 I don\u2019t doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sub Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n