Our Elite Athlete Programme attracts leading athletes from across the UK and worldwide to compete.
Our elite races attract leading domestic and international athletes, as well as significant media coverage.
R4W Race Director and Olympic Marathon Runner Steve Brace has devised courses across events with fast times and elite athlete performance in mind.
We have hosted several Championships in the sport of athletics across multiple distances and disciplines including the Welsh 10KM Championships, Welsh Half Marathon Championships, Welsh Trail Running Championships, British Half Marathon Championships, Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships, World Half Marathon Championships, World Trail Running Championships and the World Mountain Running Championships.
The Cardiff Half Marathon has hosted several of the world’s top five fastest athletes over half marathon including women’s record holder Edith Chelimo who became the fifth fastest athlete of all time in the race with a time of 65:52. The Newport Marathon and our 10K Series events see top British and European athletes compete.
For more information about elite race entry, prize money and entry criteria for any R4W event please contact Alex Donald, Elite Athlete Manager or click here to apply.
Noteworthy Competitors
The Cardiff Half Marathon, our flagship event, has welcomed some of the world’s top elite athletes and a competitive wheelchair field. Noteworthy former competitors include medallists from major championships:
JOHN KELAI
2010 Commonwealth
Marathon Champion
FLOMENIA DANIEL
2014 Commonwealth Marathon Champion
CYBRIAN KOTUT
2016 Paris Marathon Champion
JAPHET KORIR
2013 IAAF World Cross Country Champion
FILEX CHEMONGES
Ugandan National Record Holder for the Marathon
AZMERA AREHA
10th Fastest All Time Female Marathoner (2:18:33)
JOSPHAT BETT
2014 Commonwealth Games 10,000m Silver Medallist
WILSON CHEBET
Former Rotterdam Marathon Record Holder
COURSE RECORDS
CARDIFF HALF MARATHON
- Male – Leonard Langat, Kenya, 59:30 (2019)
- Female – Edith Chelimo, Kenya, 65:52 (2017) – UK All Comers Record
WORLD HALF MARATHON
- Male – Geoffrey Kamworor, Kenya, 59:10 (2016) – UK All Comers Record
- Female – Peres Jechirchir, Kenya, 67:31 (2016)
VELOTHON WALES (174KM)
- Male – Ian Bibby, GBR (JLT Condor) 4:09:47 (2017
CDF 10K
- Male – Alfred Ngeno, Kenya, 28:33 (2023)
- Female – Charlotte Arter, Great Britain, 32:45 (2019)
NEWPORT MARATHON
- Male – Dan Nash, GBR, 2:19:46 (2023)
- Female – Rebecca Gallop, GBR, 02:44:07 (2018)
CARDIFF BAY 10K
- Male – Omar Ahmed, GBR, 28:42 (2021)
- Female – Charlotte Arter, GBR, 32:49 (2019)
NEWPORT HALF
- Male – Ronnie Richmond , GBR, 01:07:15 (2024)
- Female – Lizzie Dimond, GBR, 01:22:11 (2024)
NEWPORT 10K
- Male – Omar Ahmed, GBR, 28:35 (2023)
- Female – Hannah Irwin, GBR, 32:58 (2024)
PORTHCAWL 10K
- Male – Omar Ahmed, GBR, 29:08 (2024)
- Female – Lily Partridge, GBR, 33:57 (2023)
BARRY ISLAND 10K
- Male – Dewi Griffiths, GBR, 29:48 (2018)
- Female – Lily Partridge, GBR, 34:32 (2023)