Russell Park is an urban gem, situated off Bedford Embankment beside the Great Ouse in Bedford – a market town granted town charter by King Henry II in 1166. River Great Ouse became navigable in 1689 and was responsible for Bedford's prosperity as a powerhouse of England's lace industry.

It was more about lycra than lace in Russell Park on Sunday 28 January when around 600 took part in the ATW Bedford 10 and ATW Bedford 5 road races. ATW (formerly Active Training World) was established in 2011 by James Shipley. James was a runner and triathlete from the age of 10 and in 2011 he entered his first long-distance triathlon. Frustrated to find no single source for training advice, events and entries he started his own as a hobby on the side.

ATW has since become the largest multi-sports organiser in the UK with an annual portfolio of around 100 events that involve running, cycling, swimming, or indeed any combination. ATW Bedford 10 has added ATW Bedford 5 since last year and the new baby proved an instant hit with 185 finishers in 1:16:03.

The top five men beat 30mins for better than 6:00-per-mile pace with M40 Will Fradley (Ware Joggers, 29:06) leading the way from M40 Chris Parson (Huntingdonshire AC, 29:18) and Dan Burr (unattached, 29:30). The top three women were W40 Rachel Cameron (Greenlight PT, 34:38), W40 Maggie Allen (unattached, 34:57) and W50 Kerry Kitchener (unattached, 37:00).

The original 10-miler enjoyed two traffic-free laps of Bedford's beautiful parkland and River Ouse Embankment as the sun shone on 377 finishers in 2:16:40. A cracking pace at the front saw eight men inside 60mins as Ryan Weston (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers, 54:25) won from Steve Baldwin (Cambridge & Coleridge AC, 54:37) and James Shiner (St Neots Riverside Runners, 58:36).

The women's race was led by W40 Sophie Delderfield (Vale of Aylesbury AC, 1:01:52) from Lucy Mapp (Huntingdonshire AC, 1:02:22) and Emma Price (Aberystwyth University Harriers, 1:03:05).

Full results are available via the runABC South race listing here.

Details of future ATW events at their website here.

Photo courtesy ATW Events