The organisers behind the popular Cardiff parkrun are looking at starting a third event in the city after numbers reached more than 1,000.

More than 1,000 people took part in the Cardiff parkrun at Blackweir on Saturday, January 12.

Parkrun is a free 5km run open to people of all ages which takes place every Saturday morning all over the world.

There were 1,091 runners who took part in the Blackweir event on Saturday with 253 people at the Grangemoor parkrun in Grangetown.

It is only the second time that more than 1,000 people have turned up at the Blackweir parkrun since it was set up in 2008.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

The route goes along the Taff Trail and into Bute Park.

Although the second week in January is typically the largest event as people return after Christmas, the Cardiff events combined now see an average of between 700 and 800 participants a week.

It means the team are now having to look at other options to fill demand.

Phil Cook, who brought parkun to Cardiff in 2008 and then set up the Grangemoor event in 2015, is currently looking at other possible venues in the city as a way of coping with the growing number of participants.

But finding another suitable space can be tough. Phil said: "These venues will need to be inspected and agreed by all involved. Once this has been achieved the task of finding the required funding will start.

"Each new parkrun event needs to raise £4,000 and have an organising team in place before the start up can be initiated."

(Image: Richard Swingler)

Phil added: "When I started Cardiff parkrun in February 2008 I had only just come across the concept and was actually looking to try and plug a gap that I felt was missing in the local running community.

"That first event on a cold Saturday morning in the middle of February saw 56 runners take part.

"The aim was to get more people running and then hopefully encourage many of them to join clubs and move on to other local races.

"I believe that we have maintained a balance of offering something to everyone and for people to come along and use parkrun as a tool towards reaching an end goal.

"That end goal may be to get fitter and change one’s lifestyle right through to the international athlete tuning up for a big race.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

"Over the last 11 years I’ve been asked on several occasions what my proudest moments have been in relation to Cardiff parkrun, and my first answer is always the same. It is seeing people come along for the first time, having made that brave step and decision to change their habits and lifestyle, to start the journey of becoming fitter and healthier, and then seeing them come back week after week, to see the improvements that are happening is incredible.

"Every week I check through the results looking for how many people have run PB’s (Personal Bests), but my concentration isn’t in the top half, I go towards the end of the field to make sure that those people who are working just as hard are still getting some reward.

"The fact that people still come back week after week must mean that we are doing something right. It’s also good to see that we fill the cafe after the run and see people mixing and chatting, the friendships that have been made.

"We believe that Cardiff parkrun, and every other parkrun, are there for everyone to use, from the quickest to the slowest, we know parkrun isn’t a race, but we are all competitive with ourselves, and everyone wants to run a PB.

"We’ve only been able to achieve all of this by people buying into the concept and with the support of others like Cardiff council.

(Image: Welsh Athletics)

A few weeks ago, a runner set a world record at the Cardiff parkrun in Blackweir.

Charlotte Arter, 27, from Llandaff, smashed the 5km in 15 minutes and 50 seconds - the best female time in the event worldwide.

Stephen Wood, an event support ambassador for Cardiff parkrun, said the whole team were thrilled when they heard.

"Everyone involved in Cardiff parkrun is really pleased for Charlotte - it's such an incredible achievement and fantastic way to start the year," he said.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

There are now almost 1,700 parkruns worldwide in 20 countries.

Wales has 48 events that people can take part in every weekend - from running along the beach in Barry Island to taking a trek through the RSPB Nature Reserve in Conwy.

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There are also 14 junior parkruns for four to 14-year-olds.

Here's a list of all the events you can take part in for free.