If you’re looking for a running challenge to take on next year, look no further than the ABP Newport Marathon Festival.
Taking place on Sunday 13 April 2025 the event offers something for everyone – whether you’re a beginner looking to take part in your first race or a seasoned runner looking to push yourself to achieve a PB.
With a multitude of distances on offer including a marathon, half marathon, 10K or mile the event is set to be a real festival of running.
But if that hasn’t persuaded you enough to enter already, here’s 25 reasons to sign up for 2025:
- Start off race season with a bang – The ABP Newport Marathon Festival is the first race in the Run 4 Wales 2025 event calendar and marks the start of race season. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your running off to a flying start and give you the ‘running bug’ for the rest of the year.
- There’s a distance for all abilities – With a marathon, half marathon, 10K and mile race, there is a race to suit all ages and abilities, allowing everyone to get involved with the festival feeling.
- Set a new PB – The flat and fast course is perfect for those looking to achieve a personal best. 70% of participants have secured a PB since the marathon was introduced in 2018, and the half marathon follows part of the same route. The marathon has even been named in a list of the 10 fastest marathons in the world by Runners World.
- Fantastic finishers items –There’s nothing better than that finish line feeling, knowing that you’ve got there thanks to your hard work and dedication. Participants will be able to look back on their achievements with an epic medal and t-shirt which they can wear with pride. Past designs have featured iconic landmarks such as the Transporter Bridge and USW City Campus Building. The 2025 design will be unveiled soon!
- Take on the 10K series – For those who are looking to take on the 10K distance, the race is included in the Run 4 Wales 10K series which also features events such as the Porthcawl 10K and Brecon Carreg CDF 10K. Collect all the medals from each of the races to complete the interlocking design.
- Fun for the whole family – The mile distance is designed to be a fun run for the whole family to take part – and fancy dress is encouraged. There is also a toddler dash for those taking their first steps into physical activity and a Future Challengers race for talented young athletes and junior club runners.
- Raise money for charity – Mind and Mind in Gwent have come on board as the event’s lead charity partner. Running for a good cause provides great motivation to cross the finish, helping you to dig deep when things get tough.
- It’s a Welsh event – We all know the Welsh are famous for their welcoming nature and warm hospitality, so you can look forward to some great crowds cheering you around the course.
- Iconic landmarks – The event takes you past some of Newport’s most iconic landmarks, like the city’s Transporter Bridge and the vibrant riverfront.
- Wonderful wildlife – You get the best of both worlds, running through the city centre and the stunning scenery of the Gwent Levels full of coastal wildlife.
- Your environmental conscience – This is a great event to take part in if you’re socially and environmentally conscious – as it’s delivered in the R4W Way. When you enter a Run 4 Wales event, you’re entering a race that has fairness and sustainability at its core.
- Epic event organisation – The ABP Newport Marathon Festival is organised by Run 4 Wales, the team behind the Cardiff Half Marathon. Established in 2012, R4W has grown into one of the UK’s best-known mass participation event organisers, so you know you’ll be getting a world-class event.
- Sense of accomplishment – There’s no better feeling than crossing that finish line after giving it your all.
- You’ll feel good about yourself – As well as that sense of accomplishment, when you run, your body releases endorphins which make you feel good. This is often referred to as the ‘runners high’ which many say they’ve experienced, particularly over longer distances.
- Looking after your mental health – Studies have shown that running at a moderate pace can help to improve your mental health and running outside and with others can also help with feelings of loneliness and isolation, reduce the effects of stress and help with depression and anxiety.
- Reap the physical health benefits – There are also lots of physical benefits to running too, including improved heart and lung health and reduced risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Step up to achieve your marathon goal– For those who want to take on the 26.2-mile event one day, but aren’t quite there yet, completing part of the marathon route through taking on the half marathon is a great way to prepare for the race in the future.
- Get a free training plan – There are lots of brilliant free online training plans to suit a wide range of abilities, but you can also try out a two-week free trail with our partner, Coopah using the code ‘R4W’. The app tailors your training plan to suit your ambitions taking into consideration when you’re most busy and how often you want to run each week.
- Run with the pros – There’s always an epic field of elite athletes taking part in Run 4 Wales events, so you’ll get to be inspired by the best.
- Track and field – If you’ve ever fancied racing around a track, now’s your chance. The routes incorporate the Newport International Sports Village – home to the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome. There’s also lots of beautiful fields and countryside throughout as well.
- Show your support – Whether you’re out to cheer on a loved one or want to encourage fellow runners throughout the day, given the event schedule it’s feasible to take part in the half marathon or 10K and be back in time to cheer the marathon runners across the finish line if they are taking on 26.2.
- Bragging rights – Not everyone takes on a marathon, half marathon or 10K so in doing so you’ll be joining an exclusive club and definitely earn the bragging rights about doing so among your friends.
- Discover more about yourself – The hours of training you’ll put into preparing yourself are extremely character building and will show you what your made of.
- Amazing alternative – For those who didn’t get into the London Marathon or the Cardiff Half, both distances at the Newport Marathon Festival are fantastic alternatives.
- Post finish celebrations – Newport is definitely a city on the rise, steeped in history with a multi-cultural vibe – complete with artisan breweries, a rich musical heritage and plenty of food and drink options in the Friary and the event village.