HSBC Cardiff 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (246 votes). | The big picture (246 votes) | | Overall score | | 74% | | How many would do it again? | | 86% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 76% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 70% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 57% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 77% |
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2011 race reviewed by: Jon Sliczny
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: September 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Zip B.
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Superb course.
Date of review: September 20, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: John Sutherland 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good race poor organistation
In full: I'm a club runner and received a discounted entry fee. However, I was disappointed to find out this meant getting a cheap cotton t-shirt instead of a technical t-shirt. Had I know this I would rather have paid the full fee.
I have run this race twice before and thought it was well organised. However, this year the start section was poorly marked into sections, there was no water station, it seemed to be a help yourself to goody bags at the end, and lots of people standing about blocking the exits. On arriving home I was further disappointed to discover I had no medal! I really enjoy this run but this year felt it was badly let down by organisation.
Date of review: September 14, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Aled Jones 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor organisation for an expensive event
In full: As others have commented a good course is let down by poor organisation - no water, no medal, no photo. Only redeeming factor is that entry fee goes to a number of good causes which accounts for why I might do this again next year. The main problems can easily be fixed with a bit of forward planning and listening to feedback
Date of review: September 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mark Edwards 9
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great run on a great course!
In full: As usual a cracking race over a glorious course with good organisation. The atmosphere was excellent and the course the best ever, with many of the old twists and turns ironed out and almost completely flat. Some have complained about the organisation, but I did not have any problems. There could have been a larger baggage storage area and more toilets, but this is the case with most races. The only obvious problem was the lack of water on the course which I believe was down to the water supplier pulling out just prior to the race. Luckily it wasn't particularly hot. The race t-shirt included in the entrance fee was a proper running shirt not a cheap cotton effort, and the medal was excellent quality. The race cost is quite high, but I feel is justified by the quality of the medal and shirt, and it is a charity race at the end of the day so no one is profiting personally. Looking forward to the Cardiff 10k 2012.
Date of review: September 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Charlotte Addicott
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Potential to be a great race, let down by poor organisation
In full: It's such a shame as Cardiff 10k has the potential to be a really great race but is let down by a few, easily fixed, problems:
There weren't enough toilets for the number of runners taking part resulting in long queues and people missing the start of the race
Despite the mention of time zones in the race booklet these weren't easily identifiable or enforced resulting in the usual suspects starting too near the front and walking within 2 minutes. Cardiff could take a leaf out of Bristol's book and have different colour bibs that allow you access into the right zone
There was no drinks station out on the course and no mention of this prior to the start of the race even though one was marked on the course map
The finish area was badly laid out with people milling around in all directions. Some sort of funnel system would be easy enough to implement to keep people moving in the right direction after the race and collect goody bags
The goody bags were hit and miss. A friend had 2 medals in theirs but some people had none.
On a personal note I was really disappointed with the fluorescent pink T-shirt I got and was even more disappointed when I realised other women had navy and red. It's a total waste of money including them if no one will wear them again because they're a rubbish colour, I'd rather pay a lower entrance fee. (I know that's a really girly complaint)
The organisers could also keep costs down by putting the T-shirts in the goody bag rather than posting them.
The results are still not on the website the following day, Bristol had theirs up the same day.
The positives are a lovely flat, scenic course with good PB potential and good support.
I would do this race again as it's my local race and I want to support it but it would be great to see it better organised and worth the relatively high entrance fee. If it's there's no improvement next year I would (reluctantly) be inclined to just do the Bristol and Swansea 10k's.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Christopher Hawkins
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great little race but has room for improvement
In full: I ran this race with my fiancee who was a first time runner looking to break into some smaller races and the Cardiff 10k was the perfect candidate, along with it's support for Kidney Research.
Everything from the race packs to the free tshirts made for a great build up to the race along with the setup on the day. A light friendly atmosphere, with some fantastic hosts in the form of Max Boyce and Real Radios Jagger and Woody.
However after the race kicked off I was found slightly wanting. The security on the day (Safestyle) did not seem to have been briefed on different locations and distances, and more importantly they had no clue on a waterstop, which turned out to be non-existant. For me this was fine as I was not competitively competing, but running to support my fiancee. However for her and the runners at the back of the race who do not really train for larger events, are unfit or in some cases have health issues themselves and are competing purely to raise money for causes such as Kidney research, this water stop is vital.
At the finish we found ourselves having to navigate through a wall of people who should have been ushered away from the finish line, we were not presented with our race pack, but had to go looking for them (at this stage my fiancee was desperate for water) and later found there was no medal in the bags causing me to have to run back to the finish area and search through bags on the floor before on of the volunteers came over 5 minutes later to give me our medals. I can only assume that people finishing sooner had a warmer welcome, but for me, I think those finishing later deserve no less encouragement and praise than those finishing first.
I do feel I have over emphasised on the bad here when it was a great little race which we will definitely be on my annual race calendar. There is room for improvement on the points above but a great little race none the less.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Ben1983
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No Drink Stations - rubbish!!
In full: OK, perhaps the topic of this review is given by the title. Before that however a review of the actual race:
The route is pleasant enough and the atmosphere is very pleasant. The price expensive - I ran slowly to get value for money!
On the down side:
1. I still haven't had my time back (24 hours after).
2. They had no water stations!!! I know prob for 10k, the majority of runners will not need to take on water. However, if you promise water at 4.5k you have to provide it or if not make sure every person running it knows this is the case and can make their own arrangements (i.e. run with a bottle if they have one rather than discard it at the beginning). Why couldn't they have put up signs or even emailed everyone taking part as soon as they knew. I really think this is a serious mistake and heads should roll or someone else should be licensed to run the event. A lot of people do this as their first taste of an organised running event and suffering from dehydration adds a huge amount of stress and is not good. I think it had a negative impact on a lot of people's run, which I think is a real shame for running and Cardiff's reputation to put on a decent organised running event.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Willma
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Results
In full: Always a great PB course. Price is still v expensive for a 10K race and the last minute reduction for affiliated runners was unfair and not fully thought through for those affiliated runners that were prepared to support the charity and paid the full £21.50. Unless the reduction is applied at outset next year I shall be waiting until last minute to enter just in case the reduction is made again.
Very bad for not having a water station which is a pre-requisite for a licensed 10K race and potentially a health & safety issue.
For anyone wanting to see the results I have a copy on our website:-http://islwynrunningclub.org.uk/Results-2011.php
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: thejenh
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: No water station on a hot day...despite the £23 entrance fee
In full: Great course. Shouldn't advertise drinks station if they can't provide. Entrance fee is steep but at least they give u a tshirt. Website should have been updated with results / write up of event straight away.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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