Cardiff University Continues As Exclusive Research Partner To Cardiff Half Marathon And Run 4 Wales
For six years, Cardiff University has been associated with Wales’s largest mass participation event and has seen it grow significantly. The Cardiff Half now attracts more than 25,000 runners to the streets of the Welsh capital and is recognised globally for its sporting credentials.
That relationship is set to continue. In advance of the Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon on 2 October, Run 4 Wales and Cardiff University have announced that the University will continue its support of the event and of the wider portfolio of Run 4 Wales activities as exclusive research partner.
Run 4 Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman says the relationship with Cardiff University has shaped the direction of the event:
“I’m delighted that the partnership with Cardiff University is to continue. A highlight for us has been the research element, where academics have dedicated time to exploring the wider event themes, from runner behaviour and economic benefits (£2.5 million per annum) to sustainability.
“This has not only allowed us to understand the outputs of Cardiff Half Marathon but also shaped the direction of a number of strategies, especially around sustainability, where we have ambitious aims to improve our environmental performance year on year.
“Such research has improved our understanding and opened up conversations on topics such as safe running routes for women and more recently the link between physical exercise and maintaining personal wellbeing.”
“It has been so satisfying to see the relationship between Cardiff University and Run 4 Wales develop and flourish over the last six years,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damian Walford Davies. “It has been a mutually beneficial one based on our shared values and respective expertise. The University is proud to be able to continue its links with Run 4 Wales by becoming their first Exclusive Research Partner.
“Cardiff University is well known for research that has global impact. We also take our civic mission role very seriously and involvement with organisations such as Run 4 Wales and events such as the Cardiff Half enable us to fulfil both, linked, ambitions.”
Run 4 Wales and Cardiff University will continue to use the event as a platform to conduct academic research and proactively engage with the general public to improve health, wealth and wellbeing in Wales. More details on upcoming research collaborations will be shared in due course.
