LDN 5000 Race Report by Stuart Corke

A quick update from the London 5000, held on the iconic Parliament Hill track at Highgate — a brilliantly run and atmospheric event that delivered everything from elite performances to fireworks, music, and a packed crowd lining the bank and hillside.

Event Overview

Established annual 5000m track meet

First race: 3:15pm

Final race: 8:55pm

WaveLight pacing technology plus live pacers

Big crowds on the bank, inside the stadium, and all the way up Parliament Hill

Fireworks on the finish straight — you can genuinely feel the heat as you cross the line

My Race

I was seeded into the second race of the day with 22 other athletes. The standard was extremely high. I was the second‑oldest athlete on the day — only an M60 in Race 1 beat me to that honour who ran 22:45

I’d submitted my 19:20 5k PB from 18 months ago as my seed time which now I look back on was very ambitious with no recent form to back that up.

WaveLight pacers were set at 19:00 (green) and 18:40 (white). Obviously as dusk settles the lights become more visible to the crowd but as a runner you can see the lights.

I held the green lights for two laps… then they drifted away into the distance

Final time: 20:49 — not what I’d hoped for, but a great experience nonetheless

Afterwards: showers, sunshine, a couple of pints sitting in a bean bag and a front‑row seat to some seriously elite racing.

Elite Performances

The final race of the night delivered fireworks in every sense:

Aaron Gebremariam (Birchfield Harriers) — 13:26.84 PB

Andrew Butchart — 13:35.72

James Kingston (Tonbridge) — 13:46.11, finishing 6th

Will Green (Serpentine, M50) — an astonishing 15:32.97 in a previous heat

Shoe Checks & DQs

Officials were strict on footwear. Athletes had three choices:

Run in legal spikes or trainers

Run barefoot

Run in super shoes and be DQ’d

A few athletes scrambled for alternatives. No barefoot heroes spotted.

Atmosphere & Facilities

Nutrition stalls, merch stands, and a bar with bean bags along the back straight

Excellent changing rooms and showers

Music throughout

A genuinely festival‑like feel

Thinking of Next Year?

I’m putting it in my calendar already. Entry is £29 — pricier than a typical track race, but the tech, organisation, and atmosphere justify it.

And don’t be put off: while the top races are stacked with elite athletes, the first two races offer plenty of opportunity for club runners.