A runner from Cardiff has set a new world record for an international race that takes place all over the world.

Charlotte Arter, a full-time athlete and runner with the University of Wales Institute at Cardiff, set a record time of 15 minutes and 50 seconds when she took part in the race on Saturday.

It's the fastest ever Parkrun time set by a female in the event which runs over 1,400 events in 23 countries across five continents.

She was one of over 900 who took part in the free event in Bute Park on Saturday which attracts runners of all ages and abilities every week.

Parkrun has become a global phenomenon since starting in London over 10 years ago, with thousands running every Saturday at 9am at venues across the UK and overseas.

But the 27-year-old from Llandaf said she had no idea when she crossed the line that she had set a new world record.

(Image: Welsh Athletics)

"I went there hoping to break my course record at Cardiff and get under 16 minutes," she said.

"It was a flat-out fitness test ahead of a major race next weekend, and to run 15.50 was awesome and a real confidence boost.

“I got home and my social media started going crazy! Its been so nice to receive so many messages from other runners and the public, it’ll really motivate me at the weekend. "

Charlotte, a University of New Mexico Alumni, added: "I love parkrun, and will definitely be back, and I hope seeing me there running locally and then competing for Great Britain will inspire others to get our running.”

Charlotte’s coach, Chris Jones, said: “This was a great confidence boosting run for Charlotte ahead of representing Great Britain at the Stirling Cross Country next weekend.

"She’s just put in three really consistent weeks of hard training and is in a great place.”

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Charlotte is on the Welsh Athletics Commonwealth Games Support Programme and has recently become a full-time athlete after being granted a career break by her employer, Cardiff University.

She will head out this month to a two-week endurance Spain with Wales’ top senior and junior endurance athletes to put in some more hard training, before going in search of the qualifying times she’ll need to go to the World Championships in Doha later this year.

Stephen Wood, an event support ambassador for Cardiff Parkrun, said they were thrilled when they found out about Charlotte's achievement over the weekend.

He said: "Everyone involved in Cardiff Parkrun is really pleased for Charlotte - it's such an incredible achievement and fantastic way to start the year, a very big well done!

"As an inclusive event we're also really proud of everyone else who takes part. Whether a beginner, elite athlete or anything inbetween coming along is a great way to be happier & healthier.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

"Cardiff Parkrun was started by Phil Cook in February 2008 and since then 25,565 participants have completed 227,348 parkruns here covering

more than a million kilometres.

"It's a free weekly event organised by volunteers taking place at 9am every Saturday.

"The parkrun website also has details of all the other parkruns which take place every week.

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"We now have 48 events in Wales, including 14 junior 2k parkruns for four to 14 year |Artolds. Each event has its own character, they're all really friendly and open to everyone who'd like to take part.

"If you'd like to join us please register our website: www.parkrun.org.uk ."