Healthy habits campaign launched to celebrate 20th Anniversary
Principality Building Society and Cardiff Half Marathon event organisers Run 4 Wales (R4W) have announced an exciting new ‘Healthy Habits’ campaign to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic event and help those inspired by it to adopt physical, mental and financial healthy habits.
The race, which returns to the Welsh capital on Sunday 1 October this year has grown significantly since it was founded in 2003, when just 1,500 people took part. Over 27,500 spaces have been sold and runners from all over the world registered to take part in 2023.
In 20 years its raised over £20 million for charity and made positive contributions in areas including mental health, women’s running, grassroots sport, volunteering and environmental sustainability. As a member of the international SuperHalfs series and host of the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, it’s also put Cardiff on the map as a destination for running tourism.
With tens of thousands of people taking part since 2003 and many more being inspired from the sidelines, the event has had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the nation.
That incredible legacy will be the focus of the 20th-anniversary celebrations, as we showcase those who have changed their lives for the better as a result of taking part, and with the help of Principality, support those inspired by the race to build their own healthy habits.
Run 4 Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman, commented: “As we gear up to celebrate our two-decade milestone, we’re excited to be partnering with Principality on the Healthy Habits campaign. It aims to ensure the event can continue to inspire and make an impact by equipping people with the tools they need to make long-lasting changes to their physical, mental and financial health.
“Principality are looking to support people every step of the way, whether they are running the Cardiff Half, or saving for a major life goal or their first home. Through collaboration on this campaign, we can celebrate the legacy of the race whilst working to ensure those inspired by it can use the event as a vehicle for personal growth through inspiring and innovative content.”
Those taking part in the 2023 race can look forward to several exciting opportunities to engage with the 20th-anniversary celebrations and healthy habits campaign, both in the lead up to and across event weekend. Expect tips, tools and content designed to make it easier to understand how to develop healthy savings habits, improve your physical, mental and financial health, plus inspiring human-interest features and commemorative finishers items to mark 20 years of the Cardiff Half.
How can I get involved?
To kick-start the campaign, an official Healthy Habits Training Pop Up event will be taking place on Thursday 27 July in Cardiff, starting from 6pm. A limited number of free entries are available, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event is suitable for beginners, inexperienced or casual runners.
It will include an ‘Ask The Expert’ talk and Q&A with James Thie – one of the UK’s most prominent and respected endurance coaches and an elite athlete in his own right, plus the chance to participate in a guided training run, with a choice of three distances (3K, 5K or 8K), starting and finishing at Principality Building Society HQ. Healthy snacks and refreshments will be available upon return from the run.
There’s also an opportunity to be involved in the campaign by submitting your own inspiring human-interest story, which could be featured in the media coverage in the build-up to the event! Has taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon changed your life for the better? Or helped you or somebody you know to adopt life-affirming healthy habits? We want to hear from you!
