Alison's Weekend Report:

"I travelled up to Cardiff on the train with Diane - an ex-Carnie, who unfortunately was unable to run the Half due to a torn calf muscle. We arrived at our destination an hour late due to a late connection at Bristol but still managed to fit in an hours shopping before an early pasta meal then settled down to watch the rugby.
Our room overlooked one of the busiest streets in Cardiff, there was no traffic to speak of but we were able to watch with amusement the goings on of city night life, not so amusing at 3am though when all we could here were shouting and sirens – not unlike Meneage Street on a Saturday night!
After an early breakfast we were just leaving the hotel when we saw a cluster of bright yellow and blue tops walking our way, we joined forces with our fellow Carnies and made our way to the start.

When faced with a queue for the loo, Carole Drew has been known to ‘relieve’ herself in a number of unlikely locations , today I was taking her to the nearby Hilton Hotel – no less, to perform her duties in style! We nipped in through the revolving doors trying to look as inconspicuous as possible - not very easy in these colours. The loos were located on Lower Ground floor but the lifts only went as far as the Ground floor, a helpful manager came to our assistance and pointed us in the right direction. Having passed through a maze of passageways and numerous doors we made it to our destination but Carole had disappeared!she’d taken a wrong turn, ended up in the Gents and only realized her mistake when she went to leave the cubicle and noticed the unfamiliar urinals – some in use! After trying many doors in a blind panic to escape she eventually found the right one, we met up again and hurriedly made our way back to the Start in fits of laughter.

A perfect day to race, slightly overcast with just a light breeze, I was planning to run at 9 minute mile pace to ensure a finish under 2 hours. The gun went off at 9am and we headed south towards the docks, a dogleg enabled us the see the leaders returning back inland, gave Pete Hillman a cheer as he passed by. Covered the first 6 miles in 50 minutes (faster than last weeks 10K) so I was ahead of schedule and feeling strong. The route is totally flat and by no means monotonous, passed by  HMS Manchester, and the famous wall of water where Torchwood is filmed, alas no Captain Jack! Began to tire at 8 miles but watch was reading 90mins at 10mile marker, still on schedule. Ran around Cathay Park and Bute Park, and could make out the Castle in the distance where the Finish was, the route took us across some slippery cobbles, over the moat and into the castle grounds to finish, with a time of 1hr 56min. Rewarded with a very smart medal, T-shirt, goody bag and tins of soup.
Got caught up in a bottleneck of people trying to leave the castle by a very small archway, bet the Welsh didn’t think years ago when trying to keep the English out of the castle that they’d be struggling to get rid of them now!"

Steve Marks writes:

"Poor Wendy! Hoping to run Cardiff and looking to break 2 hours after coming close at Bristol, a thigh injury got the better of her and she was reduced to vociferous spectator.
Nice to meet up with everyone before the start which we never seem to manage on an away run (Alison was in the same restaurant Saturday night and we missed her!)
Lining up with the sub1:45 brigade showed them we meant business, later justified by Juliets award (and Janet Watson from Falmouth robbed some Welsh gold too)
I managed to get round the outside of the ambitious runners at the start and was soon into a nice pace.
1 mile gone and loads of blokes spraying the territory already (made me feel like going instead of the normal Gobi desert I can go a week without peeing antelope bladder technique)
Out on the barrage and the first glimpse of the elite lads coming back with the race car clock showing 46 minutes. I know we are in Time Lord terrritory but this is ridiculous. There is Pete well up with the leaders and looking good. He was only 20 yards away which is the nearest I've ever got to him. Problem was he had just competed a three mile loop we were still on!
One by one all the fast Carnies came past. Luckily the turn came and then it was my turn to wave at others on the same route. (Have you noticed how you run twice as fast when you recognise someone)
In fact, I even got a "WhoaHooa" from my Hayle ladies as we passed each other.
After that it was the boring part of the course and DIY water stops and sure enough 6,7 and 8 went and it was feel sorry for yourself time.
But with the miracle of Jelly Babies (Wendy at my refreshment stop) by now covered in liniment, vaseline, sweat and snot, I perked up and started looking for the missing mile markers.
Got to twelve, looked at my watch and thought, PB on here. I can't run fast by can plod at a faster rate near the finish. Off I went. Two 30ish young chaps in the most expensive and extravagant running gear you have ever seen, you don't have to wear everything all at once lads, thought no you don't you old silver fox, we are the hounds! No contest. You don't train on hills, sorry George, nips, or pasties and let the Kirk St Jacques of the Welsh running community stop you! Lava bread and roads flatter than St Austell beer are no match and the chase was over pretty quick. Hope you kept the receipts boys! Cornwall 1 Wales 0.
Bang on through some cobbles, mud (blast, got to clean the shoes again now), a three ply bridge and under the bouncy castle within a medieval one to be greeted by a Cornishman announcing "Well done Carn Runners"
Bump into everyone at the finish area, find Wendy and then discover we won't be getting out for an hour or two. They are checking everyone at the gate to see if we were stealing their mud! Wendy finds a bolt hole that turns out to be the entrance for the runners and we are away.
Good route and worth it for the potential of a good time but not brilliant organisation for a metropolitan race."

Official results: