Preston Harriers 10 Mile Road Race returns to Hutton on Sunday 15 November, continuing an event whose history stretches all the way back to 1981.

Speed has long been central to the appeal. The current course is a flat, accurately measured five mile circuit, with 10-mile runners completing two laps after starting on Moor Lane and finishing at Hutton Village Hall. Organisers regularly attract fields of more than 500 runners, many arriving with a personal best firmly in mind.

There is serious championship racing too. The Preston 10 once again incorporates both the Lancashire AA 10 Mile Road Championship and Northern Masters AC 10 Mile Championship.

The current Hutton course records demonstrate what is possible. Adam Craig of Inverclyde AC ran 50:08 in 2022, while Vicky Wright of Northern Masters recorded 60:11 the same year. Even quicker performances were recorded on previous versions of the course, including Steve Anders' 48:21 in 1983.

Runners wanting something shorter can choose the separate 5-mile race, which was added to the event in 2021. It follows a single lap of the same measured course and starts at 10:15am, 15 minutes after the 10-mile field gets underway.

Both distances are chip timed, with technical race T-shirts available to eligible finishers, while prizes are reserved for the 10-mile race.

Forty five years after the Preston 10 first appeared on the calendar, the formula remains refreshingly straightforward: flat Lancashire roads, proper club racing and an excellent opportunity to find out just how quickly you can cover ten miles.

Entries are available now via the runABC race hub.

Image courtesy Preston Harriers on Facebook.