Serpentine Running Club (aka 'The Serpies') started the Last Friday of the Month 5K in October 1992 after the demise of the London Road Runners Club and their monthly 5K handicap race in Hyde Park that had begun in the late 1980s.

After a short gap, the race became a Serpies staple in April 1993, celebrating its 100th running in April 2001 and its 300th event in January 2018. As well as individual races, there is an annual league and since 2004 a trophy has been awarded to the runner with the best six age-graded performances each year – we explained age-grading to runABC readers here.

Everyone's welcome to the Last Friday of the Month 5K and age-grading helps level the playing field for older runners. The most recent race was held on Friday 26 January 2024 – the first of the new season – with 237 finishers in 41:18.

January's event winner was the world 40-mile record holder and GB international Ollie Garrod (Belgrave Harriers, 15:37) from Alan Wood (Dover Road Runners, 16:03) and Ryan Friel (East London Road Runners, 16:10). The women's race was won by 2:40:40 marathoner Melissah Gibson (Ealing Eagles, 17:34) from Anna Lawson (Clapham Chasers, 17:47) and Alice Malin (Fulham RC, 18:21).

After the numbers were crunched the early league leaders for 2024 are M60 Andrew Leach (North Herts RR, 17:06/93.4%) and W55 Ruth Hutton (South London Harriers, 19:58/91.7%).

With international class athletes regularly drawn to Hyde Park for a Friday lunchtime 5K burn up it's no wonder the course and age group records are mighty impressive. Course records are currently 14:35 achieved by Andy Arrand (Blackheath & Bromley AC/Army AC) in 1999 and 15:56 by Rachel Townsend (Winchester AC) in 2007.

Serpentine RC has a treasure trove of past results in the Last Friday of the Month 5K pages on their website featuring such eminent names as the 1962 European 5000m champion Bruce Tulloh; the 1972 World Cross Country Champion and double London Marathon winner Joyce Smith; Team GB triathlete, duathlete and athlete Annie Emmerson and multiple Masters world record breaker and world champion Clare Elms, among the past or present age group records.

The next event in the Last Friday of the Month 5K series is on 23 February 2024 – enter here.

Race results for January are available via the runABC South race listing here.

Photo of earlier Last Friday of the Month 5K courtesy Serpentine Running Club