Richard limbers up with his son Sam for Cardiff Half Marathon’s fun run

When dad Richard Sugarman got out of breath trying to keep up with his son Sam during a kickabout in the garden, he knew it was time to make some changes in his life.

The 42-year-old made a resolution to get fitter and took up running, and now the pair are exercising together as part of their training for a new family fun run linked to the Cardiff Half Marathon.

Richard and eight-year-old Sam have signed up for the run, which will take place around the civic centre on the day before the Half Marathon on October 6.

“I was a bit overweight and getting exhausted just playing with Sam for five minutes,” said Richard, from Llandough.

“I thought to myself that it was no good and decided to start weight training again. I also did some running and found that I really enjoyed it.

“Sam has supported me in a couple of races I have done, so when I heard about the fun run, I thought it would be something we could do together.”

The pair are preparing to run for Cancer Research UK because Richard battled bowel cancer six years ago.

“It is a charity very close to my heart.

“At first they thought the pains in my stomach were irritable bowel syndrome, or gallstones. I was only 36 at the time and they said I was too young for cancer.

“But one day I started to pass blood and called 999 straightaway. They rushed me to hospital and found a huge tumour in my bowel. I was operated on to have it removed and they found out that I was very lucky because it hadn’t spread.

“That is the annoying thing about this stupid disease, it is such an unfair disease. I survived because of a fluke, but others are not always so lucky. Just after I got the all clear, my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer and she was not so lucky.”

Since his diagnosis, Richard’s cancer has been found to be genetic meaning Sam will have to be tested as he gets older.

“It is the reason why I am so pleased to be running for cancer research,” says Richard.

“Cancer is so unfair, so the more research we can do into it, to try and stop it, the better.”

Last year, the Cardiff Half Marathon attracted a record 18,000 entries and organisers hope the two-day event will see entries  increase.

The Sunday race will use the same course as last year, which proved popular and a success with runners.

The whole weekend promises to be a family affair with a family fun run on the day before and festival activities around the civic centre on both days.

To register visit www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk

Running past landmarks

The Cardiff Half Marathon route guides participants on a whistle-stop tour of Cardiff’s most iconic landmarks.

From the start outside Cardiff Castle, in the heart of the city, the route heads past Cardiff City Stadium on the way to Penarth.

Runners take in Penarth Marina before crossing Cardiff Barrage and then sweep through Cardiff Bay, passing the Senedd building and Wales Millennium Centre as they run through Roald Dahl Plass.

The race then heads north and past Roath Park before runners complete a lap of Roath Park Lake.

The course then heads towards the grandstand finish in Cardiff’s Civic Centre.

 

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