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The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by accredited measurer Mike Burns (UK Road Running Course Measurement).

The course consists entirely of good quality tarmac paths.

Please remember that Cardiff Blackweir parkrun uses shared paths along The Taff Trail and within Bute Park. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to to enjoy the event.

We recommend that all participants arrive for the race by foot, bicycle or moped. We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint and any help you can provide in this regard is appreciated. The start is a short walk from public transport routes.

Course Safety

The Cardiff parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the run as safe as possible, so runners, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please vist the volunteer page for more information.
Take care near roads and car parks - some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the run, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
When running, take care on uneven surfaces - whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other runners, pedestrians, children, deer, dogs, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
Runners with dogs are welcome, but please keep dogs on a short lead and under control throughout the event.
Runners pushing buggies are also welcome, but please take extreme care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners.
Please make sure you’re fit enough to run 5k (3.1 miles) – if you’re in any doubt, please consult your doctor.
Remember to warm up before the run.
If you see a runner with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
If you’re watching, keep clear of runners on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Cardiff parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help athletes compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different race distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see the Running For Fitness website.

Course Map

View Cardiff parkrun in a larger map

Getting There

Location
O/S Grid Ref: ST 163 782
Lat/Long: 51°29'50.06" N, 3°12'25.16" W

By Bus
There are choices of routes that will take you within easy reach of the event. The Bay Circle 1 or 2, or alternatively U1 or U2. The nearest bus stops are UWIC or Tesco extra – both on Western Avenue (A48). Walk along Western Ave to the River Taff and then down the steps on to the Taff Trail, the Start/Finish area is on the Taff Trail along side the Tesco building.

By Foot
From the City Centre/Cardiff Castle walk through Bute Park heading North along the Taff Trail – following the River Taff. The Start/Finish area is on the Taff Trail along side the Tesco building (before you reach western Ave – A48). From Western Ave (A48) - Walk along Western Ave to the River Taff and then down the steps on to the Taff Trail, the Start/Finish area is on the Taff Trail along side the Tesco building.

By Car
You need to aim for Western Ave (A48), the section between the Gabalfa Flyover (A470) and Llandaff Cross (A4119) (Western Ave and Cardiff Road) you have a choice of 3 Car parks (please check for any parking restrictions or charges):

Llandaff Rugby Club (postcode CF5 2AZ)
UWIC (postcode CF5 2YB)
Tesco Extra (postcode CF14 3AT)

Llandaff RC and UWIC are approx 500m walk from Start/Finish, whereas Tesco is adjacent to the Start/Finish – but you will have to walk through the Car park onto Western Ave. From all Car parks walk along Western Ave to the River Taff and then down the steps on to the Taff Trail, the Start/Finish area is on the Taff Trail along side the Tesco building.

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