The Island Race - new Anglesey Half Marathon

This weekend sees the first running of the newest half marathon in North Wales' -‘The Island Race’ - with 500+ runners expected to embark on a memorable 13.1mile race on the Isle of Anglesey. 

Starting on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge on Anglesey and taking in World Heritage site Beaumaris Castle, the event will also boast a predominantly traffic-free course on Sunday 13 May, which co-organiser Tim Lloyd has described as 'pretty fast'. 

Entries include 2011 Snowdonia Marathon winner Rob Samuel and former GB international and Scott Sports athlete, Nick Jones. With personal bests that put them in the UK elite category, both athletes are capable of running sub-65 minutes on their day.

"Being from the area it is always great to take part in local events," said excited Bangor resident Samuel. "It should be a fast course, giving lots of runners a PB potential so I am really looking forward to it. The course looks fantastic, passing through such historic parts such as Beaumaris, finishing in Menai Bridge town centre which should see big crowds and of course starting on the Menai Suspension Bridge!"

"We're really excited about the potential of the The Island Race,” said co-organiser Tim Lloyd. “Events these days strive to be different and at Always Aim High Events we will ensure that all of our events have something interesting to offer. The fact that race starts on such an iconic Welsh landmark and takes in a World Heritage site and a beautiful course on Anglesey will ensure that the race is set to capture the imagination of that runner looking for something a little different."

The half marathon will start at 09.00 from the Menai Suspension Bridge, with the 5k fun run and Dragons Dash starting at 09.05. Entries for the 5k can be made at David Hughes School in Menai Bridge from 12.00 until 6pm on Saturday 12 May.

All runners will receive a unique 'Island Race' sports bottle to remember their day.

"Additionally we are working closely with Cyngor Sir Ynys Mon/Anglesey Council and partners Energy Solutions, Waitrose, DW fitness and Scott to ensure that the event encompasses the local and wider-sports communities,” added Llloyd.”We will have the Menai Bridge Brass Band playing and bouncy castles for the kids on the day, and the Cyngor Sir Ynys Mon/Anglesey Council Sport Development Team will be present to organise races for over 100 youngsters, part of the build up ahead of the visit of the Olympic torch to Anglesey a couple of weeks later.

"The Menai Suspension Bridge will be closed from 08.00 until 10.00 on Sunday morning, and the A545 'Garth Bends' will be closed from 08.30 until 11.30, this is to ensure the safety of the runners. A fully signposted diversion route will be in operation and full access to all of Beaumaris including Gallows Point will be maintained in order not to disrupt the local business community. In fact, it is expected that the Island Race will bring a welcome boost to the local economy and organisers be working to increase these benefits into the future.

"The course has been designed to be fast to help attain personal bests or simply just to enjoy! The race will finish in the centre of Menai Bridge town and we expect a real festival atmosphere."

The event is sponsored by Energy Solutions who are responsible for operating ten Magnox sites in the UK on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and sports brand SCOTT Sports. Entries to The Island Race 2012 are still available online via the Always Aim High Events site, and by clicking through to The Island Race link.