It was game on for the Hitchin 10K incorporating the Hertfordshire County Senior 10K Championships on Sunday, 3rd May 2026, another sold-out success for Burnt Hare Events. With 1:27:24 on the clock, the last of the 1,046 runners had arrived at the finish line in Hitchin's historic Market Square.

Hitchin 10K is the only 10K in the region that starts and finishes in a Market Square, giving the race its unique feel of running in a historic setting with a cosmopolitan feel, into the surrounding countryside. The race starts on closed roads around the town, dating from the 7th Century, before heading in a southerly loop towards the neighbouring villages of Gosmore and Charlton.

With 45m of elevation gain, the course is effectively flat. It must be the only race that features a pair of inflatable unicorns at the U-turn on the out-and-back section around 2K and 8K, necessary to complete an accurate 10K!

Mungo Prior (Ilford AC, 33:24) was the first runner to return to the cobbles at the finish. William Dales (BRJ Run and Tri, 33:43) and the 2026 Herts Senior Champion, Josh Snowden (St Albans Striders, 34:15) were close runners-up.

Isabella Furlong (unattached, 38:45) took the top prize in the women's race. Chloe Cooke (St Albans Striders, 39:21) claimed the Herts County title in second place, and her team mate Emily Hickey-Baird (40:46) was third overall. The leading age-graded performance was 87.5% for W50 Karen Murphy (43:17).

St Albans Striders were unbeaten in both men's and women's Herts Championship team awards.  The fast course helped 60 runners beat 40 minutes. Around 350 managed better than a 5min/km pace, and nearly 750 ducked under the hour.

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

Photo courtesy of Burnt Hare Events on Facebook