Friday Night Under The Lights is a mainly 5K series (with one 5 mile race) held entirely within Battersea Park, London while Podium 5K has been based at Barrowford in the Pendle district of Lancashire and various locations around the nation.

So what happens when these two elite 5K race series combine forces? A composite event title PUL5K (Podium Under Lights 5K) with fast times and plenty of excitement, that's what!

The elite men's race at PUL5K on Friday night (11 February) saw 46 athletes go under 14:30 and was comfortably won by Jack Rowe (Aldershot) in 13:42. The podium places were completed by Michael Ward (Cardiff, 13;54) and Alex Lepretre (Highgate Harriers, 13:55). 

Also inside 14 minutes on a night of raw energy were Sam Charlton (Wallsend Harriers, 13:56), Ben Bradley (Aldershot, 13:57) and Irish athlete Keelan Kilrehill (Dromore West, 13:58) and Northern Ireland's Ben Branagh (St Malachy's, 13:58).

The atmosphere of racing under the lights can be enjoyed in this video of the men's race

The elite women's race was won by American 2:28:12 marathoner Allie Kieffer in 15:52 – just two seconds outside the event record of 15:50 that would have triggered a £500 bonus from sponsors SportsShoes.com. 

Cardiff Athletic Club's Charlotte Arter (15:56) and Cari Hughes (15:57) were a few seconds behind and also finishing under 16 minutes was Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix, 15:57) – pictured above (#157) leading the pack. A total of 23 women beat 17 minutes on the fast, flat, two-lap course. 

Friday Night Under The Lights series continues in 2022, with entry standards of 16:00 (men) and 18:30 (women) and £500 first-place awards in SportsShoes vouchers, with the next races listed for 29 April, 16 September, and 16 December. 

Details of all Friday Night Under The Lights events here

Results of Friday Night Under The Lights 5K via runABC South race listing here

Image courtesy Nigel Bramley Photography for Friday Night Under The Lights 5K on Twitter