Behind the scenes on R4W event days
Ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes on Run 4 Wales event days? We know that as Extra Miler volunteers you get a front row seat to the action and are able to see parts of the race that runners and spectators perhaps don’t. But would you like to know what goes on in the Event Control office, at the start line with the Race Director or what the Course Manager does? We spoke to some of the key people who make a R4W race day happen to find out more.
Steve Brace is our Race Director for every event and is a well-known figure in the running world. A double-Olympian, he started his running career in the 1980s after some years on the rugby fields. From Welsh Marathon Champion in 1987, he was soon tipped for Olympian fame and ran the marathon for Great Britain at both the 1992 and the 1996 Olympics. He is now Race Director for R4W, Director for Porthcawl parkrun and a coach for Bridgend Athletics.
On race day Steve starts his day by checking in with the course manager who has been on the course since before dawn doing the first route checks. Then it’s off to the start-finish area to check in with the timing company who ensure runners receive the correct time, calculated as they pass over timing mats placed around the course. Steve will also be liaising with the Event Control team who go live several hours before race start time and the Production Team who are putting barriers into position for the starting pens, finalising the set-up of the start and finish inflatable gantries (archways) and checking the event village is ready to go.
“Race days are chaotic and busy but very rewarding. The couple of hours before race start time are particularly busy with lots of small issues to address. I always have someone talking in my radio, someone calling me on the phone and four people in front of me needing my attention!”
Once the race has started and the runners are away tackling the route, Steve moves his start line team to the finish line, ready to support the participants as they approach the final metres.
“R4W events are a great community event. It’s wonderful to see runners, volunteers and spectators come together to enjoy a great day out. For many runners crossing the finish line is a huge life achievement and hearing the cheers and congratulations of the Extra Milers, the volunteers who give up their time to come and along and help out, is a very emotional experience. Sport relies on the support of volunteers, from grass-roots clubs to community days to national events, so thank you to all the R4W volunteers and everyone who gets involved at our events.”
Every Run 4 Wales event has an event manager dedicated to the organisation and delivery of the event. Rachel Madge heads up Cardiff Half Marathon, Cardiff Bay 10K and Barry Island 10K. Amazingly she has been responsible for the delivery of the Cardiff Half for over 17 years and has overseen the event as it has grown in size and reputation to become a much sought-after highlight on the Run 4 Wales event calendar. Entries for the 2026 event have moved to a ballot system for the first time, to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to gain entry, not just those lucky enough to be first in the queue.
“Being the Event Manager is all about pre-event preparation – ensuring the paperwork and permissions are done to close the roads safely (and then re-open them on time!), keeping all our stakeholders happy and ensuring we deliver a great event that everyone enjoys. On event day itself, I am very busy, checking in with the different event teams to help iron out any emerging issues and solve any problems. I am usually based in Event Control, so I know about any incident immediately and can work with the emergency services and course teams to resolve issues quickly and effectively.”
Chris Jeynes plays a dual role as Course Manager for Run 4 Wales events and Event Manager for the Newport Marathon Festival and Porthcawl 10K. Chris has supported R4W for many years, since getting involved as a volunteer when he decided he wanted to give something back to the sport he has loved since a teenager. The course team have a very busy weekend, which starts on Friday when all the course kit needs to be organised and loaded into the course vans. Prior to this, Chris has usually cycled and run the course several times over the preceding weeks, checking for obstructions such as building works or overgrown trees and monitoring any potholes or road surface issues.
An external course measurer checks and rechecks the route to ensure the measurements are 100% correct and produces a detailed document with the locations of the KM or mile markers. Chris and his team are responsible for finding these locations and installing the correct signage. The day before the race the course van will be doing laps of the route, putting out various signs to warn runners of obstacles ahead and any key directional turns. Some routes will go through parks or private land, where gates may have to be opened, bollards removed or height barriers amended. Chris says “there’s also a lot of sweeping that goes on! We need to clear the paths of any loose gravel or leaves, and we always have some good quality garden loppers and secateurs to trim hedges and brambles. For some events we need to build ramps, to ensure runners can transition onto to off a raised kerb safely.”
On event day, Chris checks in with the route marshals and the water station team as he passes, preparing them for the race approaching. “I love this part of my role! It’s fantastic seeing all the excited Extra Milers around the route. The support and assistance given by so many volunteers as I go around making the final tweaks is so valuable to me as time is precious and I’m grateful to each and every person out there supporting the event.”
Our Volunteer Manager, Tor Hands, is likely a familiar face to many of our Extra Milers, along with the event day supervisors who look after the volunteer teams. Tor starts her day at around 6am on event day, getting the volunteer welcome area set up, with hundreds of volunteer t-shirts and bags and event day kit, as well as checking there’s plenty of tea, coffee and Welsh cakes ready for early arrivals. As supervisors arrive at their locations, whether around the course or at the volunteer sign-in area, Tor is liaising with them, checking they have everything they need and are ready to welcome their volunteer teams.
“My biggest focus is to ensure that the Extra Milers, who are giving up their time to come along and support the runners, have a fun and rewarding experience when volunteering. We make sure everyone knows what their role is, who their supervisor is and what to expect well in advance, so there’s no surprises on the day! Some Extra Milers have been volunteering with us for several years so they are always ready to welcome new volunteers and show them the ropes.”
Finish line volunteers and bag drop volunteers are usually the first to arrive and once they have signed in with their supervisors and collected their kit, they move out to their locations for a welcome briefing and to start event set-up. Back at the Volunteer Welcome Area, the pacer and back marker team are starting to arrive and getting kitted out with runner numbers and pacer flags, with radios and GPS trackers for the back markers (so we know where they are on the course). As this is happening, the course marshal and water station teams begin to arrive at their locations. Tor says, “this is a really busy time, the pre-race hour, when all volunteers are arriving around the course. We need to ensure we have enough volunteer support in each area and that all the supplies and kit have been delivered by our logistics team. The Course Manager and Event Control team are key here, checking in with the supervisors and event crew and contacting me with any issues.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed this little insight into a Run 4 Wales race day! New volunteers, even those who have run our races before, often mention that they didn’t realise how much work goes on behind the scenes. The event crew, supervisor team, contractors and R4W office staff work extremely hard in a variety of roles to ensure the race can be delivered safely and that everyone attending has an amazing time. However we can’t do it without the support of the Extra Milers, so as always, diolch yn fawr pawb! Thank you to everyone who gives up their time on event day to volunteer.
The 2026 event calendar is here. Volunteer sign-up starts 6 weeks before event day via our online volunteer system.
If you’re a group or corporate team who would like to get involved, email our friendly volunteer team volunteers@run4wales.org for more information about roles available and how to sign up.
You can also view our Extra Miler event videos from the past four years here or check out the latest volunteering news on our Facebook page.
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