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Lliswerry 8 Race Review

Jamie Williamson

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On Sunday I took part in the Lliswerry 8 mile road race organised by Lliswerry Runners. This annual event has been taking place for over 35 years and always sells out very quickly. It has been nicknamed the “flattest race on the planet” and takes place around country lanes on the edge of Newport.

The race HQ is located at the Newport Stadium and the start is a short 5 minute jog away at the Lliswerry Secondary School. When entering you need to provide an estimated time and from this runners are organised into various waves so that the start is a bit more organised. The race takes part on closed roads. There is an approximately 1 mile run out before joining a 6 mile loop and then back on to the original 1 mile back to the finish to total 8 miles.

On Sunday I took part in the Lliswerry 8 mile road race organised by Lliswerry Runners. This annual event has been taking place for over 35 years and always sells out very quickly. It has been nicknamed the "flattest race on the planet" and takes place around country lanes on the edge of Newport.

The race conditions were very good, it was a bit cold being just a few degrees above freezing but there was hardly any wind. It was a very informal start with the starter counting back from 3 seconds to go and then we were off. For the first mile there was a small group of about 7 or 8 of us and as the pace settled a couple of them dropped off. We ran a controlled pace until about 4 miles as a group of 5 but then the eventual race winner, Ben Miles (Micky Morris Racing Team), put in a surge and broke up the group. He pulled away and gradually increased his lead.

For the next mile or two there was a chase group of four of us but after about 6 miles, Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers) and Michael Ward (Cardiff Amateur AC) started to pull away from myself and Daniel Hamilton (Pontypridd Roadents AC). When we hit 7 miles I overtook Daniel and started to close slightly on Michael but the gap was too big and he finished in third behind Jonathan.

The race takes part on closed roads. There is an approximately 1 mile run out before joining a 6 mile loop and then back on to the original 1 mile back to the finish to total 8 miles.

I was quite happy with my race finishing 4th in a time of 40:36. Considering the training I have been doing and how busy work has been I thought it was solid and the furthest road race I have run in quite a while. I went through 10k in about 31 minutes and ran a 10k race in just under 32 minutes back in December so shows things are progressing well.

The men’s podium was Ben Miles (Micky Morris Racing Team) in 38:18, Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers) in 40:20 and Michael Ward (Cardiff Amateur AC) in 40:30. The women’s top 3 were Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents AC) in 44:00, Ceri Merwood (CDF Runners) in 48:37 and Kristie O’Connell-James (Pontypridd Roadents AC) in 48:42. In total there were 785 finishers. Full results of the Lliswerry 8 here.

Well done to everyone who raced and thank you Lliswerry Runners for organising a great event!

The men's podium was Ben Miles (Micky Morris Racing Team) in 38:18, Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers) in 40:20 and Michael Ward (Cardiff Amateur AC) in 40:30. The women's top 3 were Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents AC) in 44:00, Ceri Merwood (CDF Runners) in 48:37 and Kristie O'Connell-James (Pontypridd Roadents AC) in 48:42. In total there were 785 finishers.