The Night of the 10,000m PBs was another pageant of 10km racing. The noise of the crowd is still ringing in our ears. The inspiring performances from the likes of Steph Twell and Ben Connor is still fresh in our minds. So what better time is there to think about setting yourself a goal 10km?

In this article we summarise some of Europe’s best 10km opportunities in the autumn and winter. It’s not an exhaustive list so be sure to get in touch and shout about the races you’ve PB’s at and would recommend.

If you want top tips on how to run your best 10km race then check out our recent article.

Age UK Leeds Abbey Dash – Leeds, UK (October)

The ‘Abbey Dash’ has been a firm favourite of British PB hunters for years. A quick glance at the top 100 10km road rankings on the Power of 10 and you’ll soon realise that alongside Telford 10km this is one fast race!

With changes to the course in 2019 it is expected to be even quicker this year. The out and back route follows the flat course of the River Aire taking in Kirkstall Abbey. Like Telford, however, it is the density of fast runners taking part that makes this race such a hit.

Check out more on the race here

Tilburg 10km – Tilburg, Netherlands (September)

Tilburg 10km takes place on the same day as the famous 10 mile race of the same name.

The flat fast 10km course however attracts a high qaulity field. The separate elite women’s race has seen some spectacular performances over the years including the course record of 30:30 set by Tirunesh Dibaba in 2013 and Shalane Flanagan who broke the American record here with 31:03 in 2015.

The Dutch have a fantastic pedigree of putting on super fast races with great support for elites including Dam tot Damloop and Parelloop 10km.

All the details on the Tilburg 10km can be found here

Telford 10km – Telford, UK (December)

The depth of quality is what makes Telford special. In 2018 49 men ran sub 31 minutes and a 34:00 clocking saw you finish 192nd. The qaulity of the women’s times reflects the depth of the race too with 12 women breaking 35 minutes and 59 breaking 40 minutes.

Track back through the videos and social media posts of previous years and you’ll know to expect a lightening quick start. Find your train and hang on!

The December timing works well for many runners, with the endurance from cross country season beginning to bed in this is one of the last opportunities to crack a PB and hit the new year on a high.

Check out the Telford AC website to enter

2018 Leeds Abbey Dash. Photo credit: Leeds Abbey Dash

Ladywell 10,000m – London, UK (September)

If you were inspired by the Night of the 10,000m PBs and fancy a crack yourself the Ladywell 10,000m could be just the ticket. Organised by Kent AC, who know a thing or two about distance running, this event is becoming an increasing popular option for athlete’s wanting a high quality track race.

Taking place on the beautiful track at Ladywell Fields the event sees seven seeded races across the day. With music, food, pacemakers and a brilliant family atmosphere this is a proper celebration of 10,000m running.

Paul Martelletti and Katrina Wootton (who ran 31:45 here in 2017) have been winners in recent years so if you are looking for fast times you are bound to have company to help get you there.

The details on all the races can be found on the Kent AC website

Corrida de Houilles – Paris, France (December)

Julia Wanders broke his own European 10km record in the 2018 edition of this famous race running 27:25.

Naturally the course is fast, but it does have a few undulations as it works its way around three laps of the Paris suburb. The race has an excellent atmosphere with locals coming out to support creating a real buzz in the town centre which is easily accessible by train from central Paris.

The separate mass participation race takes place earlier in the day with elite race starting at 16:30. This just adds to the atmosphere with many of the runners from earlier in the day staying on, often with a drink or two in hand, to see the elites battle it out.

Last year four British men broke the 30 minute barrier here and in 2017 Ben Connor ran 29:03, Rosie Clarke 33:04 and Katrina Wootton 33:33.

Taking place at the end of December it’s not a bad place to stay on and bring in the New Year either!

Check out the race website for all the details on the mass participation and elite races

Valencia 10km – Valenica, Spain (December)

Taking place on the same day as the increasingly popular Valencia marathon this is a race made for fast times.

Valencia brands itself the ‘city of running’ and over the last few years some of the spectacular times we’ve seen here seem to back that up. With the world half marathon records for both men and women set in Valencia it’s a city that knows how to set up a fast race.

The 10km is no different. With long stretches of straight, pancake flat road the final 1km is invitingly downhill leading to the spectacular finish outside the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

There is good support offered for international elite athletes and travel is easy from major airports in the UK.

For all the details on the race and how to enter click here

Runners in the sun at the start of Valencia 10km. Photo credit: Tom Craggs

Cardiff 10km – Cardiff, UK (September)

Wales’s biggest 10km race takes place at the beginning of September each year. Run by the same team who organised the World Half Marathon Championship when it took place in Cardiff the race is perfectly set up for quick running.

With past winners including Dewi Griffiths (29:10 – 2018) and Lily Partridge (33:27 – 2018) Cardiff 10km attracts some top athletes looking for a fast early race.

The flat single lap course is blessed with very few twists and turns and attracts some good local support to cheer you on your way.

The Cardiff 10km website can be found at this link

San Silvestre Vallecana – Madrid, Spain (December)

Another race allowing a good New Year party is the San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid. The prestigious race has taken place on New Year’s Eve since 1964 with up to 40,000 runners taking part in two races.

The elite race has seen course records set by Paula Radcliffe (31:16) and Jacob Kiplimo. Kiplimo’s time of 26:41 is the fastest road 10km ever run but the net downhill course does not allow for it to be an official world record.

To get into the ‘elite’ race (which has 1000 places) you’ll need to have run inside 39 minutes if you are a man and 45 minutes if you are a woman.

Click here to enter one of the world’s fastest races

Birell 10 km Race – Prague, Czech Republic (September)

The annual Prague Grand Prix is part of the excellent Run Czech series of races which offer good support for travelling international elite athletes.

Four of the top 10 fastest women’s times in history have been run here and it has by far the most sub 28 men’s times of any race in the world. Joyciline Jepkosgei set a new womens world record here of 29:43 in 2017.

Aside from being about the fastest race on this list the race has a unique atmosphere. Taking place at twilight in one of the most beautiful cities in the world no matter how your race goes you’re likely to have a great weekend here.

Check out all the details on the Prague 10km and the other Run Czech races here

We Run Rome 10km – Rome, Italy (December)

As if you didn’t have enough fast New Year choices already here is another! Taking place on New Year’s Eve the We Run Rome 10km is now in it’s ninth edition.

With nearly 10,000 runners taking part there is something for everyone, especially those hunting fast times. The 2018 race saw winning times of 31:46 from Lonah Chemtai Salpeter and 29:05 from Daniele Meucci.

The We Run Rome website has all the details you’ll need to enter

Ben Connor & Callum Hawkins @ Corrida de Houilles 2017. Photo credit: Tom Craggs

Foulees Monterelaises 10km, Montereau-Fault-Yonne, France (October)

With records of 28:16 and 31:28 the course is fast and the field is strong. The 2018 edition of the race saw 106 men run sub 35 minutes. Whilst the depth of the women’s field was not quite as strong with 14 women inside 39 minutes it’s clear the race allows the opportunity for quick times.

Montereau is a pretty town that sits on the confluence of the Seine and Yonne rivers. It’s a little over an hour’s drive South East of Paris. The location of the race beside the two rivers allows for a fast two lap course.

As with all French races you’ll need to have a stamped letter from your GP or sports doctor to confirm your readiness to race.

The race website gives you all the details on the course and how to enter

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The post Winter wonders: your guide to Europe’s best 10km races appeared first on Fast Running.

Elsewhere, Steph Twell and Aly Dixon celebrated the New Year in style with podium spots at the BoClassic in Italy and the San Silvestre Vallecana in Spain.

Corrida de Houilles 10km, Paris, Sunday, December 31

British athletes shone in the French capital with Ben Connor finishing a brilliant sixth place in 29:03. The 46th edition of the race was won by the in-form Swiss runner Julian Wanders in a Swiss 10k record time of 28:01.

Luke Traynor finished 11th in 29:29, followed by Callum Hawkins in 12th with 29:33, Jonny Mellor in 15th with 30:02 and Robbie Simpson in 24th with 30:46.

Rosie Clarke finished a brilliant fourth place in the women’s race with 33:03 to take 27 seconds off her personal best. The race won by Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa in a rapid 31:34.

Katrina Wooton ran a great race to finish sixth with 33:32.

Ribble Valley 10k, Clitheroe, Sunday, December 31

The wind settled this morning just in time for the start of the Ribble Valley 10k. Matthew Crehan (St Helens) got off to a fast start a had a 40m lead at 2k, however, it was short-lived as a big pack soon caught up with the gutsy runner.

A small group comprising of last year’s winner Marc Scott, Jonny Brownlee, Patrick Dever, Richard Horton and Calum Johnson passed halfway around the 15-minute mark.

By the 8k marker, it was last year’s winner Marc Scott who built up a small lead which he held to win in a slightly slower time than last of 29:37. Olympic Triathlete Jonny Brownlee followed in 29:54, with Richard Horton in third with 29:58, and Patrick Dever in fourth with 30:03.

In the Northern 10k Road Championships, it was Preston Harriers who took the gold medals followed by Blackburn Harriers and Richmond and Zetland.

Olympic 1500m athlete Laura Weightman had a great battle against 10,000m specialist Beth Potter, with Weightman proving the better runner on the day taking the win in 32:31. The Leeds based athlete just missed out on Helen Clitheroe’s course record by one second.

Potter followed in second with 33:00 and in third was Stevie Stockton (Leeds City). Eleanor Davies finished fourth in 35:21.

In the Northern 10k road Championships, it was Blackburn Harriers who took the gold, Sale Harriers silver and Ilkley Harriers AC taking the bronze.

San Silvestre Vallecana, Madrid, Sunday, December 31

Aly Dixon clinched a podium spot with her fourth fastest 10k ever clocking 32:57 for third over the 10km course. Dixon finished ahead of fellow British marathoner Sonia Samuels who finished a strong sixth in 33:26.

Race favourite Gelete Burka was the clear winner in 30:55.

By his own admission, Chris Thompson had a below-par race in the Spanish capital, but the British distance runner still clocked a strong 28:57 to finish ninth.

Thompson commented afterwards on Twitter: “That race was the most frustrating of my career. However, the good news is I’m ticking along nicely. Bad news it’ll bug me for a few days.”

Eric Kiptanui won the men’s race in 27:34, with Irish marathoner Paul Pollock crossing the line in a personal best 29:12. Pollock also posted a 5k best on route to his 14th place finish, while Nick Samuels finished 75th overall in 32:24.

BoClassic, Bolzano, Italy, Sunday, December 31

Britain’s Andy Vernon finished in strong ninth place crossing the line in 30:22. The race was won by world 5,000m champion Edris Muktar in 28:45.

Soufiane Bouqantar of Morocco took second in 29:07 and Hicham Amghar also of Morocco took third in 29:08.

Steph Twell finished a brilliant third with Emelia Gorecka taking fourth, behind winner Agnes Tirop with 15:30. Twell crossed the line 16:03 and Gorecka 16:09.

We Run Rome 10k, Rome, Sunday, December 31

Lily Partridge sealed a top four sport at the 7th edition of the We Run Rome 10k. The women’s race was won by Poland’s Karolina Nadolska in 33:35 and the men’s by Kenyan athlete James Kibet in 29:03.

Nos Galan Road Races, Mountain Ash, Sunday, December 31

Cardiff runner Ieuan Thomas claimed victory in the popular Welsh race in 14:29, with Alaw Beynon-Thomas taking the honours in women’s race with a quick 16:46.

Matt Clowes (Cardiff AAC) was second in the men’s race in 14:33 from Kristian Jones (Swansea Harriers) with 14:33. In second and third place for the women was Sian Edwards (Swansea Harriers) and Clara Evans (Cardiff AAC) with times of 17:46 and 18:11 respectively.

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