Please note that this information is for the Saucony London 10k Event 2024. Keep an eye out for an updated version when more details are announced for 2025!
So, the training is nearly done, and you're almost ready to go blazing fast through the streets of Central London for an inspiring, scenic and exciting 10k! We're sure you're ready to go, and you've been following your Runna plan and are excited! Here are a few bits of useful info about the race itself and some top tips for your taper and last-minute prep before Sunday 14th July rolls around!
Check out the official race website for any up-to-date information from the race organisers themselves, and reach out to their support team in good time if you have any questions about your bib collection, your start wave or anything else!
Don't forget to connect with your fellow Runna Community within the Saucony London 10k space in the Runna app! You can find this via the Community tab at the bottom of the app, or directly to the Saucony 10k Space below! It's the perfect space to ask all of your race-related questions ahead of the big day, including course tips, nutritional advice and taper week training support!
Striding out in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 and Speed 4!! 🏎️
📸: Ian Wrightson
🚋 How do I get to the start?
From the organisers themselves:
"All runners will be allocated a specific time slot to arrive at the event, which MUST be followed. Please do not arrive any earlier than your allocated time. If you arrive into Central London in advance of your allocated time, please find a safe open space nearby to wait, before entering the race facilities or the start area.
The entry point is at Waterloo Place. To reach this location if using public transport please use one of the following stations on event day and follow directional signage:
Victoria Mainline or Underground Station (Victoria Line, District & Circle Line)
St James’s Park Underground Station (District & Circle Line)
Westminster Underground Station (Jubilee Line, District & Circle Line)
Charing Cross Mainline or Underground Station (Northern Line, Bakerloo Line)
Embankment Underground Station (Bakerloo Line, Northern Line, District & Circle Line)
Please note roads will be closed from 06:00 onwards on race day so local buses will be on diversion – please check tfl.gov.uk for further details, this information has been taken from the 2023 event."
Check out your entrant email and attached Race Participant Guide, which should have arrived to your email inbox or coming very soon too!
Pic taken from the Saucony 10k race website
🏙️ What should I expect at the event village?
At the event village, you'll have signposts for arrival, a bag drop facility, toilets and general info and medical help points too! You should also find some warm-up locations as you make your way through the pen funnels, with Coach Ben due to lead some warm-ups here too!
Check out the timeline below for some additional help on when you might want to arrive and expect to run! Check out your participant email for your start wave, pen and specific information too!
Pic taken from the Saucony 10k race website
🗺️ What is the route like?
Fast and flat, as can be expected from a city streets course, there are a few sharper and twisty turns on the route, so be sure to lock down your shoelaces well, pick a good option for your mechanics and ensure you're warmed up well!
Pic taken from the Saucony 10k race website
There's plenty of entertainment on route too, with a full list below! A mixture of drums, DJs, Choirs and more will help mix things up and keep up the hype and tempo each km!
Pic taken from the Saucony 10k race website
💼 What should I pack?
It goes without saying that packing your running shoes, clothing and any nutrition you'll be taking is an essential step for your preparation! If you're travelling on the day, staying overnight or longer, you may need more items, but here's a few helpful options for race day itself.
Your running kit (worn, as there are minimal opportunities to change) and race-day shoes - find your perfect choice of Saucony shoes here! - their Endorphin collection offers something fast and light, yet protective, for any runner!
Any gels, chews or other sports nutrition that you've previously used, if you're going to use this! For a 10k race, this isn't essential, and just be sure to fuel up well in the days beforehand!
Remember, nothing new on race day! It can be tempting to try out shiny new things on a friend's recommendation, or take some snacks from a well-meaning supporter, but you've trained hard and don't want to derail your race plan and success with a blister or upset stomach!
A snack and some water for during your morning travel to the start line
A change of clothes for afterwards, perhaps including some comfy shoes
Suncream! It's likely to be hot and not too much shade on some of the wider streets you'll be running along! A cap and sunglasses may also come in handy too
Your phone, watch, headphones and Runna! Make sure you download any power-playlists ahead of time, charge everything the night before and be sure you've tested your race day tracking! With so much entertainment on the course, you might want to skip any playlists for this one!
🤔 Should I run the day before the race?
Sometimes tapering or a few days away from running can leave your legs feeling like they've 'forgotten how to run'! Some runners swear by a very short, very easy run the day before, perhaps even just a mile or 1km to reassure themselves they can still put one foot in front of the other!
If in doubt, stick to your plan, or reach out in the last week or two of your training now for some advice! We'll have our Runna shakeout run at 11:00 am, Saturday 13th July, meeting at The Lucky Saint pub (What3Words location here: ///bossy.land.lace), so please keep an eye out for more details on our socials and our website here!
You'll be able to try out Saucony's latest running footwear, including the Endorphin Collection! We'll be taking in a super easy and chilled lap of Regents Park and back, for a nice 5k shakeout! Plus, rehydrate with a pint of Lucky Saint on us at The Lucky Saint!
Some smiling Runnas at our Runna x Saucony x Lucky Saint training run!
📸 : Ian Wrightson
🥪 What should I eat the day before the 10k?
Your main goals with your food intake in the days before the marathon should be carbohydrate-heavy to top up your glycogen stores in your muscles, making sure you're hydrating well with water and perhaps electrolyte drinks and sticking to simple foods you enjoy, and probably nothing too spicy! Pasta, rice, potatoes and other easily digestible carbs are perfect choices! You may find your appetite reduces a little towards the end of your taper, with the reduction in your running volume, so don't eat to discomfort, but be sure to fuel well!
🤳 Should I share my charity again?
For those of you running for a charity, firstly congratulations! Be sure to soak in the support and well-wishes from the crowd as well as your friends and family in the lead up and on the day, you've earnt it!
You may want to share a few last training updates, and a few pictures, and reshare your charity donation page in the last few days, so reach out to your charity for more advice on the best way to do so too! A picture of the kit you'll be wearing, a selfie collecting your number or just some sightseeing pics from London are a great way to involve the people supporting you!
A picture with your medal at the finish is also a great way for some bonus donations, and you may just inspire someone else to tackle their first event or join you at a race in future too!
🏃 How should I pace myself on race day?
Pacing can be tricky, but by now you should have practiced this during your training runs with race-pace intervals and some long run practice attempts too! Be sure to iron out any final details for how you're going to use Runna (whether on your phone or with another device), if you plan to use Audio Cues and much more!
Download any playlists in advance, if you plan to listen to music or a podcast, and be aware that, with such a large number of runners around you, you may have some issues with Bluetooth signals clashing with other devices! If you're using headphones, make sure these are suitable for running safely and consider leaving any music off for the first few miles/kilometres as things can be quite crowded on the roads! Equally, with such amazing crowds and support from fellow runners, you may want to soak it all in, perhaps saving a few power ballads or pump-up jams for those tough latter stages before a sprint finish!
Here are a few more tips on 10k pacing for you too!
🛰️ How should I navigate GPS issues on the day?
By now you've certainly got plenty of experience recording your runs using Runna! We'd advise using the same method as you've been training with, just like mentioned above, sticking to the same device and testing this ahead of time too!
With the tall buildings in London, as well as the sheer volume of your fellow runners with their devices too, you'll perhaps find clashes and issues with your GPS. Don't panic, trust your innate pacing from your experiences in training, and race pace taper reps and let things settle during your run!
Check out more tips on how to troubleshoot common GPS issues here too!
👋 How do I meet up with friends and family after?
One of the trickiest things on race day is meeting up with any friends or family who have come with you or are supporting on the day! Leave any spectate spots planning for them, focusing on your run, and let them tell you where you might see them on the night before! At the end of the race, you may run into a few signal issues!
With the tall buildings, huge number of people all recording their run and sending congratulatory messages and more, it's not uncommon to have problems with both your phone signal and GPS location finding/sharing. Be sure to choose a meeting point in advance, perhaps at the Green Park event village, to meet up with your friends more easily! You may also find that your completed run may be a little delayed uploading to Runna, as well as GPS hiccups or more, so be sure to save your activity and try refreshing your app with a good Wi-Fi connection or strong signal a little later! Reach out to our Customer Experience team if you have further issues, where we'll be glad to help!
🔜 What's next after the race?
Having ran through the City streets, you'll certainly have plenty of excitement already, and the day is only just beginning! Enjoy, celebrate, be sure to recover and remember the day fondly! 🏅
Hydrating, having a snack and loosening your shoelaces are all super helpful in the immediate aftermath of your race. Pop on any change of clothes or comfy shoes that you packed, maybe even the race tee if you chose to grab one of these when you entered, and have a little gentle stretch. Following the typical recovery from your interval and tempo runs that you've completed in training might not be as easy as normal, but be sure to take care of yourself!
Once you've met up with any supporters or charity partners, then maybe consider heading to the race village or to The Lucky Saint Pub for refreshments and a post-race celebration!
🫶 Good luck with your 2024 Saucony London 10k!
Good luck, you've got this! Check out the video below for some more of our Coaches' top tips for race day!
Once you have finished submit your race details to our weekly race round-up form found here to be featured on our Instagram!