Take three top Welsh runners – in both the men’s and women’s race – blend in some spicy rivalry, food stalls, live music and a mellow Bank Holiday weekend vibe, and you get the growing appeal of the Cardiff 5K Race For Victory. Owen Morgan looks ahead.
Three of Wales’ Gold Coast Commonwealth Games stars are set for a Bank Holiday showdown on the streets of Whitchurch this Sunday evening.
The Cardiff 5K Race for Victory will once again double up as the Welsh 5k Road Championship – a title which has attracted a top quality field.
Defending champion Tom Marshall, of Cardiff AAC, who ran the 1500m in Australia, will go up against fellow Cardiff athlete Ieuan Thomas and Swansea Harrier Jonathan Hopkins, who both competed over the barriers in the 3000m steeplechase.
The three athletes are all in bullish mood ahead of the event which has attracted an entry of 2,000 runners of all abilities.
Marshall, the course record holder, said: “I can’t wait to be back to defend my title at the Whitchurch 5k. It’s an event that is done right, with great entertainment, a quick course, and friendly people.
“I have a feeling this year will be a lot tougher with Hoops, and Ieuan, but I’m not there to make their lives easy.”
World Championship steeplechase finalist Thomas said: “Tom’s the two-time defending champ and beat me to the title the last time I ran in Whitchurch.
“Johnny took me down on the Gold Coast. Does that make me the underdog? Absolutely not. I’m the only one of the favourites who knows what it feels like to dip under the 14-minute mark. I may not be able to out-kick the milers, but I sure can outrun them!”
Hopkins, who finished sixth in the Gold Coast steeplechase, a place ahead of Thomas, has the fastest 5k time of the three athletes this year, running a personal best of 14m 05sec in Armagh in February.
The Swansea Harrier said: “Looking at my racing schedule post-Commonwealth Games, it was the ideal place to get myself back going for the 2018 track season. The field is strong at the front which makes the race exciting.
“Competition motivates me more than anything and I’m looking forward to battling it out with Tom and Ieuan on Sunday.”
The Commonwealth games trio will have plenty of competition from the likes of Cardiff AAC’s Carwyn Jones, who was third last year, and Abed Teweldebrhan, of Newport Harriers, who was third in last week’s ABP Newport 10k behind Thomas.
The women’s race looks likely to be equally hotly contested with Swansea Harrier Alaw Beynon Thomas, who won last year’s race in a time of 16:56.35, facing a stern challenge from Cardiff AAC pair Clara Evans and Charlotte Arter.
Evans finished second in the Llanelli Half Marathon back in February, while Arter recently represented Great Britain at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, and won the Brighton 10k in a PB of 32.17.
Arter said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to racing again at Whitchurch, it’s been three weeks since I raced at the Brighton 10k and it’s a good chance for me to turn my legs over a little bit quicker ahead of the Highgate 10k in a few weeks’ time.
“This will be the first time I’ve run the Whitchurch 5k, and I’m really looking forward to it – the event is very well set up and it’s going to be a lot of fun racing around the streets of Whitchurch.
“Training has been going well, and I’m relishing the chance to test my fitness once more on Sunday.”
As well as chasing local bragging rights, the main contenders will also have one eye on selection for Great Britain’s team for the European Championships in Berlin this August, says national endurance manager Chris Jones.
“Charlotte will look to use the 5k as preparation for the Highgate 10k on May 19 where she’ll be looking to qualify for the Great Britain European Championships team,” said Jones.
“For the boys, it’s a rebuilding phase after an intense period during the Commonwealth Games. This is an exciting opportunity for them to race each other on the road, before their thoughts turn back to the track, and hopefully pushing for European selection, especially Jon and Ieuan in the steeplechase.”
The Whitchurch event, which is in its third year has become a firm favourite amongst elite athletes, club members and fun runners from the age of 11-years-old upwards.
As well as the race itself, which starts at 7pm, there will be plenty on offer to entertain runners and spectators alike, including live music, street food stalls, and a supercar parade.
The race will be started by BBC Wales weather presenter, Sue Charles, a regular at Cardiff Parkrun. To view the course, click below: