New Year's Day 10k
Almost 600 runners completed the 2013 Brooks New Year's Day 10k race. Click on the article title for a report by James Adams
London brought in the new year with a bang. While the smoke was still settling and the revelers were heading to bed there was a murmuring of activity in Hyde Park. As the first daylight of 2013 broke on the capital scores of volunteers from the Serpentine Running Club were already awake, laying down course markings, setting up gazebos and drinking copious cups of coffee. Setting up a huge event with a sore head has become a tradition for Serpies recently.
It was in preparation for the 2013 running of the Brooks Serpentine New Year’s Day 10k. It was a cool but cloudless day, no sign of the rain that had rudely disrupted Christmas. The weather has been kind the past few years, offering ideal conditions to run. Whether the 600 starters put in the ideal preparation in the 24 hours prior is of course up to them.
At 11am, just as the American Samoa people were being the last on Earth to celebrate 2013, the runners gathered at the start raring to go - well not everyone perhaps, but by now they were already committed. A wide spread of runners, from internationals, running club whippets, middle of the pack runners and others who were just there to work off some of the excesses of the past week formed a long human conga that snaked around the park.
It was a close fought contest for the winners, the first two home separated by only 10 seconds. Richard Kowenicki (Thames Hare & Hounds) finishing in 32.22, ahead of Martin Alvarez (Pilona Deporte). The women’s race was not as close, Imogen Ainsworth (Bristol & West AC) winning in 35.37, 30 seconds ahead of Claire Hallissey (Bristol & West AC).
But it was not all about the winners. For the next hour there was a constant stream of runners bounding over the finish line, kick starting their running year. Some set the bar high, others set the bar low, some regretted spending so much time in the bar the night before. Everyone enjoyed it and was glowing with praise for the 100+ army of volunteers that make a race like this possible, that allow so many people to start the year the best way possible. One runner went a little further and proposed at the end of the race. (She said yes).
There was also a 3k fun run for the youngsters and those who did not feel up to running 10k on the first day of the year. Medals and t-shirts were handed out to all finishers as a memento of their race.
The runners dispersed, the arrows and fences were taken down and the show closed for another year. Many of the runners promised to return again next year, most of the volunteers will be, a year older, wiser and perhaps a bit more sleepy.
James Adams
Race photos courtesy of Sussex Sports Photography
Submitted: 4 January 2013