The Brighton 10K is a true veteran of a road race, having reached the significant milestone of 40 years since the inaugural event was hosted by Brighton & Hove AC on Brighton Promenade in 1984. On Sunday 17 November 2024, the latest race saw more than 3,000 entries and nearly 2,500 finishers in three hours on a dull morning on the Sussex seafront.

Extra spice was added to the usual ingredients that ensure people return year after year. As well as hosting the Inter-Counties 10K Championships for teams representing Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Sussex, and Surrey this was a qualifying race for selection for the England Masters 10K team that will compete in the Masters International 10K at the A J Bell Great North 10K on 6 July 2025.

At the front we were treated to a sub-30-minute winning time; seven men inside 31 minutes and a superb quality women's race with the top seven going under 35 minutes.

The 2024 men's champion was Adam Clarke (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC, 29:47) who went well clear of Paul Whittaker (Road Runners Club, 30:07) and Jack Woods (Worthing & District Harriers, 30:09 PB) before the finish on Hove Lawns.

The women's race was in doubt until W35 master Cassie Thorp (Portsmouth AC, 34:02) produced the strongest finish to hold off Charlie Arnell (MK Distance Project, 34:14 PB). Alice Crane (Dorking & Mole Valley AC, 34:16 PB) in third place took over a minute off her previous best set at the Sutton Runners 10K at Cheam in April this year. 

Thorp's chip time was even faster at 33:57, placing her second behind Gemma Steel's W35 UK ranking lead of 33:40 for the year.

The revered course records held by Rob Denmark (28:59 in 1993) and Louise Damen (33:14 in 2010) were rolled over for another year. 

The Xempo Pace Team helped 339 runners beat 40 minutes; 970 went below 50 minutes, and an impressive 1,683 were under the hour as standards continued to rise throughout the field.

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

For race details and entries for 2025 click here.

Photo courtesy Brighton 10K on Facebook