Running Club Celebrates 20th Anniversary Inaugural 5 Miler Race
The last open race held in Caerleon was the Caerleon Fun Run in June 2003. A week later Andrew Taylor and Howard Mason formed Caerleon Running Club (CRC). CRC have since grown to around 100 runners and pride themselves on their family friendly ethics and strong community spirit.
Fast forward 20 years and 4 days and Caerleon once again staged an open race. The inaugural Caerleon 5 Miler was held to celebrate the clubs 20th anniversary. 241 runners, 43 marshals, 25 different running clubs represented and scores of fun runners. The runners, marshals and supporters gathered for the start in the picturesque surroundings of the Roman Amphitheatre, hunting what shade they could on what was one of the hottest days of the year.
With the course checked for obstructions, St John’s Ambulance on standby and the marshal’s armed with 600 bottles of water the runners set off at 7pm on the scenic 5 mile out and back course. Starting with a lap of the amphitheatre then heading up the Fosse and down the cycle path towards Malpas before returning on the same route and finishing down in the gladiator pit of the amphitheatre. The winning time was 28 minutes 22 seconds, with CRC’s own Lloyd Hughes coming in a close third in 29 minutes 48 seconds. CRC’s first lady home was Jade Wakley in 33 minutes 50 seconds. With our own Dylan Symmonds winning the under18 male category!
Once the final runners had felt the ecstasy (or relief) of crossing finish line everyone headed over to Ye Olde Bull Inn (YOBI) for the after party of well earned beer and burgers, prize giving and post race chatter! As a firm we have always supported local sporting teams and in particular athletics events, entering a corporate team for several years into the Cardiff 10k. Therefore we felt it a great honour to be the shirt sponsors for such a landmark and worthwhile event as the Caerleon 5 Miler. We sincerely hope this is the first of many, and the race becomes an annual fixture in the running calendar.
We will certainly continue our support and sponsorship into these future events! Our thanks go out to our sponsor partners Hathways and Candour Talent and the CRC committee especially Communications Officer Paul Adams and Club Secretary Charlotte Moran for their tireless efforts in getting the race up and running and making it such a fantastic success. Hopefully we will see you all again next year!
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