Digwyddiadau

Digwyddiad yn cychwyn: 18/04/2026 10:00
Digwyddiad yn gorffen: 18/04/2026 16:00

Welsh Athletics is delighted to announce the return of the Women's Running Conference on Saturday 18 April 2026 at USW Newport Campus.

In conjunction with the ABP Newport Marathon Festival, the day will be an inspiring and engaging event to celebrate the growth in women’s running and to explore specific female health topics relating to running. ABP Newport Marathon Festival will be hosting a Pasta Party on Saturday 18 April at 6:00pm. 

The event will be hosted by Welsh ultrarunner and S4C Presenter Lowri Morgan. Lowri will be joined by multiple guest speakers and industry experts from accross the sport.

More information coming soon!  

EVENT DETAILS

Date Saturday 18 April

Time: 10:00 - 16:00

Location: University of South Wales, Usk Way, Newport, NP20 2BP

Getting to Newport Campus

TICKETS

Tickets are now on sale here.

£10 for affiliated members (please see members' email for the code).

£15 for unaffiliated. 

HOST

Lowri Morgan

Lowri Morgan is a sought-after and acclaimed motivational speaker. The BAFTA-winning broadcaster, intrepid adventurer and world-class extreme ultra endurance athlete is someone who is keenly aware of the attitude and application that is needed to achieve success. 

She has a coveted 6633 Ultra finish to her name (the only athlete to complete the 350 mile race in the Arctic in 2012), a top 10 overall finish in the Amazon’s 140 mile Jungle Marathon, came 4th in the toughest mountain race the Dragon’s Back Race part of the first ever female crew to complete and take line honours in the Three Peaks Yacht Race, which was filmed for Channel 4. Lowri also completed the 333, an unique running challenge in Snowdonia, which filmed her becoming the first person to run from North to South Wales via the country’s highest peaks in 60 hours soon after becoming a mother for the first time.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is one of Britain’s most successful Paralympians and a leading advocate for disability rights and inclusive sport.

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Tanni discovered wheelchair racing as a teenager and quickly rose to international prominence. Over an extraordinary career she competed in five Paralympic Games, winning 11 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals, and breaking more than 30 world records. Her achievements include four gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, four more at Sydney 2000, and two gold medals at her final Games in Athens 2004. She also dominated road racing, winning the London Wheelchair Marathon six times.

Since retiring from elite competition, Tanni has continued to shape sport and public life. In 2010 she became an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, taking the title Baroness Grey-Thompson of Eaglescliffe, where she speaks passionately on issues including disability rights, welfare reform and sport. She also serves on a number of influential boards, including the London Marathon, SportsAid, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, championing opportunities for the next generation.

Photo Credit - © House of Lords  photography by Roger Harris

GUEST SPEAKERS

Mel Stephenson-Gray

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13, Mel took up athletics at 16 after diagnosis and went on to win British and Welsh medals in sprinting. Wanting to support more people with chronic conditions to become active, she qualified as a dietitian in 2018 and works in diabetes, prevention and weight management and is now also undertaking a sports nutrition qualification.

Mel is a Board Trustee for Diabetes UK, EXTOD Fellowship award winner and set up Diabetes parkrun last year to provide a fun, supportive environment for people with a connection to diabetes to be active whilst receiving peer support.

She recently started a second chapter in Bristol for children with diabetes.

Alongside this, she is a Mum and also develops resources for women around and after pregnancy, so as to support continuation of activity, including the global guidelines for diabetes and pregnancy. 

Samantha Munkley

As an endurance runner with endometriosis, Samantha’s experience in sport reshaped how she approaches performance and led her to study women’s health.

Samantha uses her platform to highlight the gaps women face in sport and encourage training that reflects female physiology.

Clara Evans

Clara is a Welsh long-distance runner specialising in the marathon, known for her resilience, consistency, and competitive performances on the international stage.

Representing Wales and Great Britain, she has delivered standout results at major events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Paris Olympics.

Natasha Wilson

Tash (formerly Natasha Cockram) is a leading Welsh marathon runner recognised for her fearless racing style and steady rise through the international ranks. Progressing from a strong background in cross country and road running, she has developed into a consistent performer over the marathon distance, representing Wales at major championships and competing against some of the world’s best athletes.

Known for her determination and ability to deliver on big occasions, Tash has played a key role in Welsh teams on the global stage while continuing to push her own limits in elite competition. Her journey reflects a commitment to progression, resilience, and a passion for long-distance running.

Expert Speakers

Robyn Aitkenhead

Robyn is a PhD researcher in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Swansea University. Her research focuses on optimising endurance performance and gut health, through nutritional strategies, particularly investigating the effects of mineral supplementation and plant-based proteins. Robyn has a specific interest in female health and how that can affect performance and as a runner, is passionate about applying her research to real-world athletic contexts. 

 Session Overview - Nutrition

This session covers practical nutrition strategies to support female runners in training, performance, and recovery. Topics include everyday nutrition, effective training and race-day fuelling strategies, gut tolerance, and adapting nutrition to the menstrual cycle. The session will also cover hydration, recovery nutrition, the role of supplements, and key considerations for optimising energy availability and long-term health. 

Dr Rachel Churm

Dr Rachel Churm is a senior lecturer in Sports & Exercise sciences at Swansea University, their research area over recent years, has focused on lifestyle changes and menopause. The session will focus on some of the key changes that women can experience as they go through the menopause and how this could impact their health. Importantly, we will also discuss the evidence to support the use of physical activity and/or running within women going through or post-menopause. Hopefully, providing some hints and tips along the way! 

 Session Overview - Menopause & Running

 Menopause, moving & me: A short session based on the menopause transition, to allow us to better understand the changes that can occur in our body and how to integrate that into our training. Specifically, we will aim to look at the physiological changes that happen in the menopause and the impact that may have on our health.

Rebecca Hudson

Becky is a Senior Lecturer and researcher at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She lectures on UG and PG degrees in Sports Rehabilitation, with a strong research focus on Female athletes. She is currently researching as part of her PhD, the impact of menstrual health on running related injuries in Female runners.  

Session Overview - Menstrual Cycles & Running 

Your menstrual cycle is more than just a monthly occurrence—it’s a powerful indicator of health and a key factor in athletic performance.

This session seeks to empower females to prioritise their health and athletic goals, by educating them on the menstrual cycle and overall menstrual health, and their impact on athletic performance and running related injury risk.

The session will discuss practical strategies for working with your cycle and the importance of prioritising menstrual health to optimise your running performance. In particular, the presenters will talk about REDs (Relative energy deficiency in sport). Whether you’re an elite athlete or a recreational runner, this session will empower you with knowledge to train smarter, stay injury-free, and feel your best on every run.

Imogen Williams

Imogen Williams is a highly experienced pelvic health physiotherapist with 17 years of physiotherapy experience. A former athlete (long jump/triple jump) and mother of two, Imogen brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. 

Imogen works as a Highly Specialised Pelvic Health Physiotherapist in the NHS where she specialises in treating pelvic floor conditions. In addition to her NHS role, she runs her own specialist pelvic health service at The Studio in Cardiff, offering expert care for women at all stages of life.  

She is also currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Advanced Clinical Practice in Pelvic Health to further enhance her expertise. 

Fully trained in Pilates, Imogen is passionate about bridging the gap between pelvic health and performance, empowering women to return to sport with strength and confidence. 

Session Overview - Pelvic Health for Runners: What Every Woman Needs to Know 

Whether you're chasing a PB or just love your weekend runs, your pelvic floor plays a vital role in your performance, comfort, and long-term health. In this informative, interactive 30-minute session, we’ll cover the essentials every female runner should know about pelvic health. 

• Learn why pelvic health matters for your running 

• Understand how to do pelvic floor exercises properly (and fit them into your routine!) 

• Get to grips with lifestyle tips- hydration, toilet habits, posture & more 

• Discover strategies to manage leaks, prolapse, and symptoms during running 

• Understand how pregnancy, childbirth & menopause impact your pelvic floor 

• Try practical exercises you can do anytime 

• Ask questions anonymously via QR code 

Let’s break the taboo, protect your pelvic floor, and help you run stronger for longer. 

Dave Rowe

Dave has enjoyed a varied journey in providing sports massage therapy over a number of years. Initially working with the general public, amateur & semi-professional athletes; then graduating to hold key positions with Sport Wales’ High Performance Centre, providing support for many sports, including Track & Field Athletics. His experience within the elite sports environment provided a springboard to selection for Team Wales at the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games as Lead Soft Tissue Therapist.

Session Overview - Recovery & Massage... Why Do It?

Discover practical techniques to help your body recover faster, reduce muscle soreness and minimise injury risk. This workshop explores the benefits of sports massage, foam rolling, and trigger point release, showing you simple methods to improve mobility, relieve muscle tension and support training recovery.

You’ll learn when and how to use these techniques effectively and safely, with guided demonstrations you can practise yourself. Perfect for runners, athletes and active individuals looking to improve their recovery and performance.

Cara Lovett

Cara is a strength and conditioning coach with a BSC in sports coaching, a PGDip in sports performance analysis, and a level 2 CrossFit trainer. she brings both expertise and practical experience to deliver hands-on practical sessions for female runners of all levels.

Session Overview - S&C For Runners (Practical Session)

Cara will be delivering a practical and engaging session introducing the fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning for the female runner. This session will focus on why strength training matter for performance, injury prevention, and long-term progress. Attendees will learn simple exercises and strategies that can be easily added to their running routine, whatever their experience level.

Please note:

• If you would like to take part then please come appropriately dressed
• Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on the day (you will be able to register on arrival to the conference)

More speakers, lectures, experts and exhibitors will be announced soon. Stay tuned.