Athlete’s advice to half marathon runners

Colin Jackson helps novice runners ahead of University-sponsored event ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh athletics legend Colin Jackson will this Saturday pass on his expert advice to the lucky ‘500 Club’ runners taking part in the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships, Cardiff 2016, for free. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 500 free places offered under the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Athletics for a Better World Scheme have been distributed to new runners looking to use Cardiff 2016 to improve their health and well-being and those from Communities First areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as a free place in the WHM Cardiff 2016 mass race, the 500 Club will this weekend get the chance to meet former double world 110m hurdles champion, four-times European champion, twice Commonwealth Games champion and world record-holder Jackson. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cardiff University’s Talybont Sports Training Village will host the meet and greet with Jackson, where he will give runners hints and tips on conquering their first half marathon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Colin Jackson said: “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone taking part in the Athletics for a Better World initiative and passing on any advice I can to help them have the best possible experience at the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s great to see so many people looking to improve their long-term health and well-being and what an incredible opportunity they have to take part in the biggest athletics event ever to come to Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Athletics for a Better World initiative will hopefully inspire these 500 people, plus many more of their friends and family, to get into the sport of athletics for life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Cardiff 2016 is going to be an incredible event for the Cardiff and Wales and I can’t wait to welcome the world’s best distance runners and up to 20,000 people taking part in the mass race to my home city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Communities First is a community-focused programme that supports the Welsh Government’s tackling poverty agenda and the scheme will also form part of a research project by title sponsors Cardiff University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The research will look to monitor the progress of the runners, the effect on their health and well-being and investigate ways to reduce injury. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stuart Vanstone, Cardiff University’s Head of Sport, said: “It’s great to welcome IAAF’s ABW ambassador Colin Jackson along with the ABW 500 runners for what will be a hugely enjoyable event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst best known for his exploits as a hurdler over 110 metres, Colin will be able to share his wealth of experience including a recent appearance as the mystery runner at the New Year’s Eve Nos Galan road race run over 5km. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With only nine weeks of training remaining ahead of the World Half Marathon, the event will be a great opportunity for runners to meet and talk about their experiences to date and discuss training programmes with experts from Welsh Athletics and the University.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​