This event has taken place
Congratulations to everyone who took part. We're waiting on information about the next edition of this event.
Did you race? Let the community know how you got on and leave a review.
Add a reviewNew Years Day 10K Race and 3K Fun Run
London, Greater London
Hyde Park, Serpentine Rd, London W2 2UH, UKMon 1st January 2024
Organiser's Description
Serpentine's New Years Day 10K race (NYD10K) and 3K Fun Run takes place on the traffic free paths through Hyde Park. The event is organised by Serpentine Running Club volunteers and the NYD10K race is sponsored by SOAR Running.
Timetable on 1st January 2024.
09:30am to 10:45am – collection of race packs open for 10K race attendees
10:55am – 10K race briefing at the start (mandatory for all 10K race attendees)
11am - 10K race starts
11am to 11:45am – collection of race packs open for 3K Fun Run attendees
12noon - 3K Fun Run starts
12:20pm approx – prize giving (weather and results dependent)
Course information.
During the 10K race runners complete two short laps in Kensington Gardens before returning to Hyde Park and finishing on the north side of the Serpentine by the Boat House. The course passes many iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens and the Henry Moore statue. The full 10K route is available in 'Maps' section. The 3K Fun Run route is available in 'Maps' section.
Current records for the NYD10K race.
Female: 33:53 - Emma Pallant (2018)
Male: 30:05 - Zak Seddon (2023)
Non-binary: 46:42 - Georgie Okell (2023)
This year the NYD10K race is proudly sponsored by SOAR Running which offers the Top 3 10K race finishers in female, male and non-binary categories the £150 (1st place), £100 (2nd place) and £50 (3rd place) value SOAR Running vouchers. More about SOAR Running can be found here.
Event organisers.
The organisation of the race relies on the volunteers and members of the Serpentine Running Club. The club is grateful to the members who curtail their New Year revelries for an early start to mark the course in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and set up the start and finish lines.
Event information.
The number collection for both events will be done in the morning of the race day. The results will be available here. All finishers will be awarded a race medal and a goody bag. Toilet facilities will be available, but no changing rooms, so please arrive ready to run. Bag drop and water station will be available on a day.
Important rules.
The overal capacity for the event is 650 runners as per UK license (number 2024-45469 ) so all entries must be booked in advance with no entries available on the day. The event is open to all abilities with a cut off time of two hours. The online entries will close once the event reaches the maximum capacity of 650 runners. Each participant's number is specific their age and race category. Do not pass your event number to anyone else without the authorisation of the Race Director. Anyone found number swapping may be disqualified from the race. For your safety, the safety of other runners and members of the public, the use of personal stereos, headphones, or mobile phones during the race is not permitted. The minimum age for entry to the 10K is 15 years old on a race day. Baby buggies, dogs and walking poles are not allowed. We share Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with the public, please be respectful – we DO NOT have priority over other park users.
NYD10K history and notable mentions.
In the mid 1980’s London Road Runners Club organised a race in Hyde Park on the morning of New Year’s Day. The race continued until the London Road Runners disbanded in 1989/1990 when the Serpentine Running Club took over the running of the race. The inaugural Serpentine NYD10K took place on 1st January 1992. It has taken place every year since with the exception of 2021, when Government enforced restrictions pertaining to the Coronavirus pandemic prevented it from going ahead.
Early editions of the race were staged entirely within Hyde Park on a three-lap course, but the arrival of the Winter Wonderland in 2007 meant that a new course had to be found. The Royal Parks were keen that the race continued as it had started to become an important attraction for both tourists and locals enjoying the park on New Year’s Day. As such, a course was devised which takes in some of the parks iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, the Henry Moore statue, George Watt’s Physical Energy statue and The Old Police House. This ‘new’ course starts and finishes in Hyde Park with the majority of the race taking place in Kensington Gardens.
Spectators – some of who are mildly bemused by the sight of club runners in their shorts and vests on an invariably cold winters morning – gather at landmarks around the course.
The race is open to all abilities, attracting 650 competitors, with many keen club runners and some new runners putting their New Year resolution to get fit into place as early as possible. The NYD10K has, however, seen some outstanding competitive performances and has attracted former Olympians and elite athletes:
Triathlete, Annie Emerson was the first woman in 2004
Jonathan Hay, the 2016 English Cross-Country Champion, won in 2017
Jake Wightman, the 2022 1500m World Champion, won the race in 2015
Hugh Jones, London Marathon winner in 1982 and 1984 Olympian, who also measured the initial 10km course, in 2002 swapped his course measuring equipment for running shoes, finishing the race in third place
Timetable on 1st January 2024.
09:30am to 10:45am – collection of race packs open for 10K race attendees
10:55am – 10K race briefing at the start (mandatory for all 10K race attendees)
11am - 10K race starts
11am to 11:45am – collection of race packs open for 3K Fun Run attendees
12noon - 3K Fun Run starts
12:20pm approx – prize giving (weather and results dependent)
Course information.
During the 10K race runners complete two short laps in Kensington Gardens before returning to Hyde Park and finishing on the north side of the Serpentine by the Boat House. The course passes many iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens and the Henry Moore statue. The full 10K route is available in 'Maps' section. The 3K Fun Run route is available in 'Maps' section.
Current records for the NYD10K race.
Female: 33:53 - Emma Pallant (2018)
Male: 30:05 - Zak Seddon (2023)
Non-binary: 46:42 - Georgie Okell (2023)
This year the NYD10K race is proudly sponsored by SOAR Running which offers the Top 3 10K race finishers in female, male and non-binary categories the £150 (1st place), £100 (2nd place) and £50 (3rd place) value SOAR Running vouchers. More about SOAR Running can be found here.
Event organisers.
The organisation of the race relies on the volunteers and members of the Serpentine Running Club. The club is grateful to the members who curtail their New Year revelries for an early start to mark the course in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and set up the start and finish lines.
Event information.
The number collection for both events will be done in the morning of the race day. The results will be available here. All finishers will be awarded a race medal and a goody bag. Toilet facilities will be available, but no changing rooms, so please arrive ready to run. Bag drop and water station will be available on a day.
Important rules.
The overal capacity for the event is 650 runners as per UK license (number 2024-45469 ) so all entries must be booked in advance with no entries available on the day. The event is open to all abilities with a cut off time of two hours. The online entries will close once the event reaches the maximum capacity of 650 runners. Each participant's number is specific their age and race category. Do not pass your event number to anyone else without the authorisation of the Race Director. Anyone found number swapping may be disqualified from the race. For your safety, the safety of other runners and members of the public, the use of personal stereos, headphones, or mobile phones during the race is not permitted. The minimum age for entry to the 10K is 15 years old on a race day. Baby buggies, dogs and walking poles are not allowed. We share Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with the public, please be respectful – we DO NOT have priority over other park users.
NYD10K history and notable mentions.
In the mid 1980’s London Road Runners Club organised a race in Hyde Park on the morning of New Year’s Day. The race continued until the London Road Runners disbanded in 1989/1990 when the Serpentine Running Club took over the running of the race. The inaugural Serpentine NYD10K took place on 1st January 1992. It has taken place every year since with the exception of 2021, when Government enforced restrictions pertaining to the Coronavirus pandemic prevented it from going ahead.
Early editions of the race were staged entirely within Hyde Park on a three-lap course, but the arrival of the Winter Wonderland in 2007 meant that a new course had to be found. The Royal Parks were keen that the race continued as it had started to become an important attraction for both tourists and locals enjoying the park on New Year’s Day. As such, a course was devised which takes in some of the parks iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, the Henry Moore statue, George Watt’s Physical Energy statue and The Old Police House. This ‘new’ course starts and finishes in Hyde Park with the majority of the race taking place in Kensington Gardens.
Spectators – some of who are mildly bemused by the sight of club runners in their shorts and vests on an invariably cold winters morning – gather at landmarks around the course.
The race is open to all abilities, attracting 650 competitors, with many keen club runners and some new runners putting their New Year resolution to get fit into place as early as possible. The NYD10K has, however, seen some outstanding competitive performances and has attracted former Olympians and elite athletes:
Triathlete, Annie Emerson was the first woman in 2004
Jonathan Hay, the 2016 English Cross-Country Champion, won in 2017
Jake Wightman, the 2022 1500m World Champion, won the race in 2015
Hugh Jones, London Marathon winner in 1982 and 1984 Olympian, who also measured the initial 10km course, in 2002 swapped his course measuring equipment for running shoes, finishing the race in third place
Reviews
Done this event?
First-hand event reviews from people who have been there, done that and got the breathable T-shirt, really help everyone choose their next event.
Add a review
