Thousands of runners took to the streets of Swansea on Sunday for one of Wales’s biggest mass-participation races — and an Olympian left with a new course record.
The 2026 Mizuno Swansea Half Marathon sent runners through the city and along the seafront, cheered on by crowds lining the route from start to finish.
It was, organisers said, a record day for the event — the record turnout they had forecast when previewing the 12th edition delivered on dry roads and a brisk coastal breeze.
Footage shared by the council’s Enjoy Swansea tourism team captured the moment the field set off, streaming under the Copper Bay bridge and along Oystermouth Road.
The women’s race produced the standout performance. Rose Harvey — an Olympian and the fifth-fastest British female marathon runner of all time — won in 1:11:58, a new women’s course record for the event.
Tracy Barlow finished second in 1:13:19, beating her own previous course record, with Chelsea Baker third in 1:14:04.
The men’s race was won by Omar Ahmed in 1:03:42.
Jonathan Butler of Swansea Harriers was second in 1:06:07, with Charlie Jones of Western Tempo third in 1:06:48.
This year marked the first as headline sponsor for the global sports brand Mizuno, which organisers said had helped raise the event’s profile further.
But beyond the elite times, the day belonged to the thousands of club runners, first-timers and fundraisers who made up the field.
Hundreds of children and families also took part in the Freedom Leisure Family Fun Run, a 2K event joined by mascots Tommy the Turtle and Ozzie the Osprey.
Charity fundraising was led by headline charity Shelter Cymru, joined by Maggie’s Swansea and Morgan’s Army, whose runners raised money and awareness along the route.
Race director Tash Smith said the atmosphere had been “absolutely incredible”, from the elite athletes at the front to every runner crossing the line.
She said seeing people achieve personal bests and complete major goals, backed by the Swansea crowd, was “what this event is all about”.
Event founder David Martin-Jewell, of organisers Front Runner Events, called it a “landmark year”, crediting the new Mizuno sponsorship and the response from runners and the city.
Entries for the 2027 race are already open, with organisers expecting places to go quickly.
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