Cardiff

Cardiff or Caerdydd as it is called in Welsh is the largest and capital city of Wales and is the 10th largest city in the UK. Cardiff has a population of approximately 350,000 people and has a diverse population due to its history in trade and post-war immigration.

It was only made the capital city of Wales in 1955 and over the last decade has gone under significant refurbishment and development. Cardiff is the heart of Welsh culture, sport and government and has been named the European city of sport twice. It is has a very good sporting reputation for hosting world-sporting events from rugby, motor-sport, triathlons to cricket.

When I moved to Cardiff there was no better way to get to know a new area than to discover it by running around the city. Cardiff is the centre stage of my return to running, after 4 years out due to a neurological disease. I have to say I am falling in love with the city. It’s certainly a perfect place to run whether you like road, trail or park running.

Brecon Cardiff Landscape
Street in Cardiff with brick houses and welsh flag

Runner's Paradise

Cardiff is a very green city there is lots of parks and it’s not far to the Brecon Beacon National Park, mountains and Valleys. Therefore there are a lot of great places to run and it offers lots of different locations for lots of different types of running.

There are two Parkruns in Cardiff and several others in the surrounding towns that are free to enter and run every Saturday at 9am, they are both 5km in distance. The Parkruns are both very popular and there is a real sense of community and support within the Parkrun community.

Check out the website of The Running School. There you’ll find detailed information about several local running clubs you can join for a run, such as Les Croupier, Nike Running Club Cardiff or the Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club, who I run for.

Favourite Routes

CARDIFF BAY

BUTE PARK

ROATH PARK

  • Category: ROAD
  • Start & Finish:

    Kestell Drive Park
  • Distance: 9.5km
  • Duration: 50-90mins
  • Difficulty: easy
Download GPS data
  • Category: ROAD
  • Start & Finish:

    Cowbridge Road East/Bute Park
  • Distance: 8.4km
  • Duration: 40-90mins
  • Difficulty: easy
Download GPS data
  • Category: ROAD
  • Start & Finish: 
    Ninian Rd/Pen-Y-Lan Rd
  • Distance: 5.4km
  • Duration: 25-60min
  • Difficulty: easy
Download GPS data

Must see places

  • Millenium Stadium

  • Cardiff Bay

  • Porthcowl Beach

  • Cardiff wetlands

  • Margam Park

Races

There is a selection of races in and around Cardiff from road and track events to trail, cross country and mountain running. For the full list of upcoming events visit the Welsh Athletic website.

Upcoming

About the Author

I’m Zoe, a runner and chronic pain survivor. I am currently working as an osteopath in Cardiff. I started my blog as a way to share information about different conditioners as well as about my running journey.

When I was 18, I was diagnosed with a rare pain condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I went from being our typical sporty teenager that loved running to being on crutches, having 4 operations in 4 months. The doctors gave me a 3 percent chance of ever having a normal life and I am convinced that education kick-started me in the right direction. I never thought I would be able to run again and now back to running and loving every minute of it, it’s becoming a real addiction. If I can achieve what I never thought was possible then why can’t you? I hope to use my medical knowledge, experience as well as the latest research to help others achieve what they never thought was possible.