Phoenix South Wales - NOT The London Marathon

Phoenix South Wales invites you to join us in Cardiff Bay for NOT THE LONDON MARATHON on Sunday 26th April 2026.

Didn't get into the London Marathon, then why not come and run with us instead and earn one of our monster-sized medals.

Or, perhaps you got a place in the virtual version of the London Marathon and fancy coming to run your event on a measured route at an organised event with an epic aid station and awesome bling. If you sign up for our event then you can even wear your actual London Marathon Virtual BIB on our route and we'll publish that BIB number for you in our results - how cool is that.

You don't even have to do a marathon! This is one of our timed events where you choose how far to go - from 5km to 10k, half to marathon to ultra, you can complete as many, or as few, laps as you like of a 5.3km, 3.28 mile, out and back, course along Cardiff Bay. Starting at the Norwegian Church where author Roald Dahl was christened, you will head towards the viewpoint alongside the Barrage Control Centre, working your way past the Senedd and Pierhead Building, through Roald Dahl Plass, to the turnaround point at the Wales Millennium Centre and Torchwood Tower before finishing your lap back at the Norwegian Church.

We welcome runners and walkers alike - complete one lap and you're both a finisher and a winner in our eyes or keep going and see how far you can get in the full 7-hour time limit. Everyone gets the fabulous bespoke finishers medal.

We operate our uniquely flexible 'rock up and run' start times, so no waiting around if you arrive early and no added pressure if you're running a bit late. If you have any special start time requirements, get in touch because depending on the distance you plan to run, we will try to accommodate all start time requests.

Here at Phoenix Running South Wales we pride ourselves on providing the very best race bling to highlight your achievement; however, we are conscious that events can be expensive to enter, and times are tough right now, so we are therefore trialling a 'no medal' entry option at £22.  We cover our base costs, and you get all the usual Phoenix support, epic aid station, same-day results, athletes profiles, Phoenix World, digital BIBs, digital finishers certificates, etc, etc, but no medal means we can keep the price low for this entry option.

Not sure?  Well, the beauty of this format is that you don't even need to decide in advance - simply come and run a lap and see how you feel on the day and keep on going if it feels right.

Places will be strictly limited, so don't leave it too late to enter.

Minimum distance is 3.28 miles or as far as you can go in 7 hours. This route is entirely tarmac or pavement with one very short section on a wooden boardwalk. The overall course has 23m elevation gain/loss per lap, making this a fairly flat route.

The postcode for your sat nav for parking is CF10 4PA at The Lock Keepers Cottage car park (24 hours). What 3 Words reference is ///give.fails.nobody

Please note that car parking on Harbour Drive itself is limited to 3 hours.