Was it a mere coincidence? While on a dilatory training run this week our reporter spotted a couple of those distinctive adidas City Runs finisher T-shirts on fellow runners. On returning to the desktop, a quick check of runABC South's comprehensive race listing satisfied our writer's curiosity. adidas City Runs Shoreditch 10K was indeed due to be held this weekend. 

Sunday 19 July would have seen at least 4,000 runners lined up at Shoreditch Park in London's multi-cultural Borough of Hackney for a joyous reunion in the fourth running of this exciting event. Last year's winners were Alexandru Corneschi (Romania, 32:29) in a men's record and Mireia Guarner (37:06) from Spain. Tracy Barlow (Thames Valley Harriers, 36:24) hung on to the women's course record she had set in 2017. 

This game-changing series brings the popular race distance of 10K to the masses – there were 3,779 finishers in 1:44:16 last year – right in the heart of one of London's most creative and diverse boroughs. Shoreditch is the first of a series of three adidas City Run events held in the capital each year. City Run Fulham 10K, scheduled for 20 September, has also been cancelled but City Run Islington Half Marathon and 10K hopes to be running as planned on 15 November.

The hallmarks of adidas City Runs series include a bustling Event Village with live DJ music; charity-led Cheer Zones on the course; free race photo album; premium finisher's medal; bespoke training sessions; an adidas technical T-shirt that will get you noticed plus generous discounts at some of the best restaurants and venues around. 

So it's fingers crossed for adidas City Run Islington – brand new for 2020 – dubbed 'from the streets to the stadium' due to its epic finish inside Emirates Stadium – home to Arsenal FC. There is a half marathon and 10K to choose from and both routes are on traffic-free roads past the famous former home of The Gunners at Highbury, showcasing the beautiful Borough of Islington. The Arsenal Foundation will receive £5 of every entry fee for charitable purposes. 

Full details at adidas City Runs website here

Image courtesy adidas City Runs