There were nearly 350 people getting active at Active Training World's latest promotion on Sunday (8 August). St Albans Summer 10K followed part of the route of the Alban Way cycle path (pictured) – a flat, tree-lined path utilising the former Great Northern Railway line – discontinued and dismantled in 1969 after more than 100 years of service between St Albans and Hatfield.

Steaming away from the opposition was Jim Arrowsmith, of Trent Park Running Club, who finished ninth in the recent St Albans Half Marathon. Arrowsmith (M40, 34:42) was also first of the higher age-group athletes with 19 seconds in hand over Doug Coleman (Dacorum & Tring AC, 35:01) at the finish. M50 master Scott Aiken (Trent Park, 36:00) was third.     

The women's race saw French athlete Carole Coulun (W45 Blackheath & Bromley Harriers, 37:54), Jess Gray (W35 Dacorum & Tring, 38:26 PB) and Emily Jeanes (Trent Park, 38:33) among 26 runners who had finished with better than 40 minutes on the clock. 

There were 136 back at Highfield Park within 50 minutes and the 342nd and final finisher recorded 1:22:10. Active Training World bill the race as: "Flat, fast and chip-timed event; sure-fire guarantee to give you the best chance of a PB in the 10K". 

The single-lap route is entirely on tarmac and is mainly traffic-free. Starting and finishing at Highfield Park, runners follow the Alban Way towards Hatfield before making a loop via Sleapshide and returning on Alban Way.

There were two wave starts and an online Race Briefing video as we continue to edge closer towards the new normal for road race administration. Finally, we love the fact that race entries were described as 'ticket sales' for a race on an old railway track!

Race results available at runABC South race listing here

Image of Alban Way courtesy cmglee via Wikipedia