As one of the opening races of the season draws nearer, athletes are beginning to feel the excitement of the event that is to come. With just one week until the Llanelli Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 18th February 2018, Llanelli will be welcoming visitors from various countries across Europe, at the races’ largest number of participants to date.
A field of 2000 runners is expected for the second edition of the Llanelli Half Marathon since Front Runner Events took over the race. On top of that, the event has recently been shortlisted for the coveted award of UK’s Best Half Marathon (less than 5000 participants category) at The 2018 UK Running Awards.
The Llanelli Half Marathon is renowned for being a flat and fast course, which is suitable for first-time runners as well as the more experienced and elite athletes. Starting at the home of the Scarlets rugby team, runners and spectators will be gathering outside Parc Y Scarlets before the countdown begins.
David Martin-Jewell, race director said:
“We are very excited to be staging our second Llanelli Half and look forward to welcoming our biggest field of runners the race has ever seen. Many of our runners will be raising money for our official charities; Cancer Research Wales, Wales Air Ambulance and Candy Free Kids. We recognise that charity fund raising is a major part of our races and are proud to be working with such worthwhile causes.”
The 2018 edition of the Llanelli Half Marathon has also attracted a number of teams from organisations who will compete in the Corporate Challenge to become the 2018 LHM Corporate Champions. The race will also attract some famous faces; Torchwood and Broadchurch star, Eve Myles will be tackling the 13.1 miles, as well as Eggheads star, CJ De Mooi.
David Martin-Jewell added:
“The event promises to be an exciting line up of elite athletes this year, attracting both male and female winners of last years race as well as some very serious contenders, pushing both fields to test their endurance, with a possibility of new records being set.”
Winners of the 2017 Llanelli Half Marathon include: Swansea Harrier; Josh Griffiths who took first place in the time of 65:17:4 and Cardiff AC; Carys-Mai Hughes who set a new female course record of 81:21:8. Both Josh and Carys-Mai will be returning and will be competing with: Stockport Harriers, Andrew Davies, Swansea’s Matt Rees, as well as, Rachel Felton and Caryl Jones for the ladies.
Participating athletes will be keen to know that there will be a team of race pacers offering support to help runners get their pacing spot on. The pacers will run the race in the following estimated times: 1:30, 1:45, 2:00 and 2:30 hours. Runners simply need to look for their pacer in the start area and try to stay with them throughout the race to ensure accurate timing.
The Race Village will be located within Parc Y Scarlets, which is open to athletes and spectators from 07.30am, and will host the information point, baggage area, as well as a massage area. The race will start at 09.00am outside Parc Y Scarlets near to the Ray Gravell statue. The route takes runners along the A484 before joining the scenic Millennium Coastal Path.
Key Race Day Timings:
07:30: Baggage Tent and Information Point Open
07:30: Car Parks Open
08:00: Road Closures Commence
08:30: Runners Enter Start Funnels
09:00: Mass Participation Race Starts
10:04: Winner of the Llanelli Half Marathon Expected
11:00: Winners Presentation
13:00: All Roads Re-Open
13:00: Event Closes
The Race Day Guide features all the need to know information about the event, including safety notes, road closures, car parks and route map. Anyone wishing to know more can download their copy via the website
here.
The Llanelli Half Marathon is a fully closed road event, and as a result there will be road closures for the duration of the event so residents and visitors are advised to plan their trip well in advance. For further details on road closures please check the website:
www.llanellihalf.co.uk
For further event details or to follow your loved one on the live results to see how they are doing out on the course you can via Race Tracking online here:
www.llanellihalf.co.uk To stay ahead of all the news as it happens like the
Facebook page or follow
@LlanelliHalf #RunElli on Twitter.
