Coach men Nick (above left) and Marc crossed the finish line at 39 mins 46 secs and 1hr 2 mins 31 secs respectively
There are no shortage of 10km running events in London, so it takes something quite special for a race to stand out. It’s fair to say that the Great Newham London Run, with its finish line in the Olympic Stadium, has nailed that requirement. Coach was so taken with the idea of sprinting/stumbling home down the same straight the likes of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah made their own at the Olympics in 2012 that we sent two of the team along to join 15,000 others at the Great Newham event.
Even on an uncharacteristically hot day in east London, the Great Newham London Run was an excellent event for all kinds of people, ranging from club runners and PB seekers to those just aiming to get round the course. Not all 10km races use pacesetters, so the event’s Duracell Bunny pacers, which set a standard for a range of times from 45 minutes and up, were a welcome motivational boost whatever your aim, even if it was disappointing that they weren’t in full rabbit costumes.
The gently undulating course took in all of the highlights of the Olympic Park, starting in the shadow of the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, winding round all the main venues from London 2012 before finishing in the stadium itself. The Olympic finish is undoubtedly the highlight of the event, and not only because you get to stop running. With memories of London 2012 flooding your system, the urge to whip out a Mobot might become insatiable.
Entries for the Great Newham London Run 2017 are already open, so if you feel inspired to attempt 10km in the Olympic Park yourself, you can sign up now for an early bird price to ensure you don’t miss out. July 2, 2017, £25.60, greatrun.org
RECOMMENDED: 10K Training Plan
If you fancy something a little sooner and a tad longer, the 10-mile Great South Run takes place in Portsmouth in October. There’s no Olympic stadium to finish in, but you will take in HMS Victory and the Spinnaker Tower en route. October 23, £41, greatrun.org
