Fast Times and Personal Bests Shine at the Great Welsh Marathon Events in West Wales today. Runners enjoyed a superb day of racing at Pembrey Country Park as the Great Welsh Marathon once again delivered an exciting festival of endurance running on the Carmarthenshire coast.
Athletes from across the UK and beyond gathered for the popular West Wales event, which featured its now established trio of races: the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K. With favourable weather conditions throughout the morning, the stage was set for fast running and memorable performances.
Perfect Conditions Bring a Wave of Personal Bests
Cool temperatures and calm winds created near-perfect racing conditions, leading to a strong day of results across the field. Elite competitors battled for podium places while hundreds of runners celebrated personal bests and milestone finishes along the scenic course.
Marathon Winners
Men’s race was won by Geraint Williams of Swansea Harriers in 02:33:11.
Women’s was won by Kata Csiba in 03:06:48.
Half Marathon Winners
The Male winner was Ryan Wilkins in 01:13:38.
The Female winner was Bethan Jones of Tri Potential in 01:18:11.
10K Winners
Men’s title was taken by Josh Griffiths, Swansea Harrier in 30:10.
Women’s title went to Lizzie Dimond of Lliswerry Runners in 35:40.
The fast, flat nature of the Pembrey course once again proved attractive to runners chasing new times, with many crossing the line with personal bests to their name.
A Globally Recognised Qualifier
Renowned as one of Wales’ oldest marathon events, the race continues to hold international appeal. It remains a World Marathon Majors qualifying event, while also forming part of the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Rankings, giving runners an opportunity to earn points toward some of the biggest races on the global calendar.
Organisers Reflect on a Memorable Day
Tash Smith, Acting Managing Director of the event, praised the atmosphere and the performances seen across all distances.
“Race conditions were near perfect, which allowed for some exceptional performances in the elite field, along with PB’s for lots of fun runners too. There were many who were taking on their first event with us today, which is always an honour for us.
We saw a Guinness World Record attempt again at the marathon and it was fantastic to set a new course record at the inaugural 10K.”
Looking Ahead: A New Era for 2027
While the 2026 edition celebrated another successful year at Pembrey, organisers also revealed exciting plans for the future of the event.
The Great Welsh Marathon will return in October 2027 on a new date and at a brand-new location, with full details to be announced later this year. The move comes as part of a major step forward for the event, with improved infrastructure designed to enhance the runner experience and accommodate significantly larger fields.
The new venue aims to build on the race’s long-standing reputation while opening the door to more participants than ever before, making it an enticing prospect for both returning runners and newcomers looking to take on one of Wales’ premier distance running events.
Community Support Key to Success
Organisers also extended their thanks to the many partners and volunteers who made the event possible, including Carmarthenshire County Council, hydration sponsor Brecon Carreg, Gravells, and the volunteers and cadets who supported runners throughout the day.
With exciting changes on the horizon and a new chapter set to begin in 2027, runners now have even more reason to keep the Great Welsh Marathon firmly on their racing calendar.