Newport Half Marathon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Half Marathon |
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Admiral City of Newport Wales Half Marathon Logo
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| Date | March |
| Location | Newport, Wales |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Half Marathon |
| Primary sponsor | Admiral Insurance |
| Established | 2013 |
| Course records | Men: Chris Carpanini01:08:18 (2019) Women: Emma Wookey1:16:46 (2015) |
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Newport Half Marathon
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City of Newport
and (inset) within Wales |
The Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon is a yearly running race held in Newport, Wales. It takes place every March. A "half marathon" means runners cover a distance of about 21 kilometers (13.1 miles). This exciting event started in 2013. It is organized by a charity called St. Davids Hospice Care, which helps people in need.
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About the Race
The main sponsor of the race is Admiral Insurance, a company based in Newport. Over the years, the race has become very popular. Now, almost 2,000 runners take part! Other groups also help sponsor the event. These include Skechers, the South Wales Argus newspaper, the University of South Wales, and Newport City Council.
The Race Route
The race course is very scenic and interesting. It takes runners through different parts of Newport.
First, you'll go through an area called Pillgwenlly. You'll pass the amazing Newport Transporter Bridge. This bridge is very old and special, built in 1906.
Then, the route follows the River Usk through Newport city centre. Runners get to enjoy pathways along the river. Part of the course also uses the historic Route 88 cycle path. This path goes from Caerleon to Cardiff. Sometimes, the race even crosses famous bridges in the city, like the George Street Bridge, Newport.
A cool part of the race is passing by the ancient Roman town of Caerleon. This town was built way back in 74 AD! You'll see the best-preserved amphitheatre in the UK. An amphitheatre was like an ancient stadium. You'll also pass the Caerleon Roman Baths Museum and the National Roman Legion Museum. These places show what Roman life was like. After seeing these historic sites, the route heads back to the city centre for the finish line.
The race is usually held in March. However, it was cancelled in 2018 due to bad weather. The Newport Half Marathon also has a sister event. It's called the ABP Newport Marathon. That race started in 2018.
Race History
The Newport Half Marathon has seen many runners and exciting moments since it began.
2019 Race Highlights
The 2019 race took place on March 3rd. It was the first one since 2017. A total of 1,931 runners joined the competition. The weather was wet, but the temperature was mild, which is good for running.
Besides the main race, there was also a 2-kilometer fun run. Other family activities happened on March 2nd at Friars Walk, Newport.
The male winner in 2019 was Chris Carpanini. He set a new course record with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 18 seconds. This was his second time winning the race! The fastest female runner was Sioned Howells. Her time was 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 59 seconds.
2018 Race Cancellation
In 2018, the Newport Half Marathon faced a big problem: lots of snow! The race was planned for March 4th. But the snow was so bad that it had to be cancelled. They tried to reschedule it for March 17th, but the snow was still a problem, so it was cancelled again.
This cancellation was tough for St. Davids Hospice Care. They lost out on a lot of money they hoped to raise. But they worked hard to get ready for 2019. They even let runners use their entry for the next year's race.
Past Winners and Records
Many talented runners have competed in the Newport Half Marathon.
- In 2017, Chris Carpanini also won, setting a record of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 54 seconds. Natasha Cockram was the fastest woman.
- In 2015, Emma Wookey set the current women's course record. She finished in an amazing 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 46 seconds.
The race has grown a lot since it started. In 2013, about 1,000 runners took part. By 2017, nearly 1,900 runners finished the race. This shows how popular the Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon has become!
