More than 1,600 people braved the rain and mud to take part in a cross country challenge through Cardiff's Bute Park yesterday.
With a total of 14 courses, for primary school children up to professional masters level, runners took to the city's open parkland, woods, and alongside the River Taff. Routes ranged in length from 1.5km, up to just over 10km.
Graham Finlayson, Race Director from Cardiff Cross Country and Road Events, described the routes he'd designed as flat, but tough enough to challenge all the runners at their most vulnerable - the half way mark and the home stretch.
As the rain came down around lunchtime, the seniors, older teens and masters entrants had the mud to contend with too, adding an extra complication to the ordeal.
Marshals, ambulance crews, proud parents and commentators spurred on the athletes, with a sports massage tent and burger bar on hand to restore their spirits once it was all over. The courses were marked up to national standards and enormous silver cups presented to the winners of each race.
For Finlayson, cross country running has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, particularly among girls, thanks to the role model of Paula Radcliffe. In fact, over two hundred local children were invited to take part in the challenge for free, following the Cardiff primary schools cross country finals, held last year at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium. The city seems to be confirming its status as a sporting capital, making particular efforts to encourage its athletes of the future.
Cardiff's been the third fixture in the McCain Cross Challenge Series since 1997 and has become one of the most prestigious cross country events in the UK. The other races are held in Liverpool, Antrim and Birmingham, but Finlayson reckons no course can match the setting of Bute Park and the River Taff, in the shadow of Cardiff Castle.
Hannah Stokes is a trainee broadcast journalist at Cardiff University. Read more of her articles on her blog here and follow her @CardiffCooks on Twitter.
