Serpentine New Year's Day 10K race (NYD10K) and 3K fun run take place on the traffic-free paths through Hyde Park. The event is organised by Serpentine Running Club volunteers and the NYD10K race is sponsored by SOAR Running. Additional event partners this year will be sports energy bars Luchos and alcohol-free beer Lucky Saint. 

Timetable on 1st January 2024.

09:30 am to 10:45 am – collection of race packs open for 10K race attendees

10:55 am – 10K race briefing at the start (mandatory for all 10K race attendees)

11 a.m. - 10K race starts 

11 am to 11:45 am – collection of race packs open for 3K fun run attendees   

12noon - 3K fun run starts

12:20 pm approx – prize giving (weather and results dependent)

Course information. 

During the 10K race runners complete two short laps in Kensington Gardens before returning to Hyde Park and finishing on the north side of the Serpentine by the Boat House. The course passes many iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens and the Henry Moore statue. The full 10K route is available in the 'Maps' section. The 3K fun run route is available in the 'Maps' section. 

Current records for the NYD10K race.

Female: 33:53 - Emma Pallant (2018)

Male: 30:05 - Zak Seddon (2023)

Non-binary: 46:42 - Georgie Okell (2023)

This year the NYD10K race is proudly sponsored by SOAR Running which offers the Top3 10K race finishers (in female, male and non-binary categories) the £150 (1st place), £100 (2nd place) and £50 (3rd place) value SOAR Running vouchers. More about SOAR Running can be found here. 

Event organisers.

The organisation of the race relies on the volunteers and members of the Serpentine Running Club. The club is grateful to the members who curtail their New Year festivities for an early start to mark the course in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and set up the start and finish lines.

Event information.

The number collection for both events will be done on the morning of the race day. The results will be available here. All finishers will be awarded a race medal and a goody bag. Toilet facilities will be available, but no changing rooms, so please arrive ready to run. Bag drop and water stations will be available on a day. 

Important rules.

The overall capacity for the event is 650 runners as per UK license (number 2024-45469 ) so all entries must be booked in advance with no entries available on the day. The event is open to all abilities with a cut-off time of two hours. The online entries will close once the event reaches the maximum capacity of 650 runners. Each participant's number is specific to their age and race category. Do not pass your event number to anyone else without the authorisation of the Race Director. Anyone found number swapping may be disqualified from the race. For your safety, the safety of other runners and members of the public, the use of personal stereos, headphones, or mobile phones during the race is not permitted. The minimum age for entry to the 10K is 15 years old on a race day. Baby buggies, dogs and walking poles are not allowed. We share Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with the public, please be respectful – we DO NOT have priority over other park users.

NYD10K history and notable mentions.

In the mid-1980’s London Road Runners Club organised a race in Hyde Park on the morning of New Year’s Day. The race continued until the London Road Runners disbanded in 1989/1990 when the Serpentine Running Club took over the running of the race. The inaugural Serpentine NYD10K took place on 1^st January 1992. It has taken place every year since except 2021, when the Government enforced restrictions about the Coronavirus pandemic preventing it from going ahead.

Early editions of the race were staged entirely within Hyde Park on a three-lap course, but the arrival of the Winter Wonderland in 2007 meant that a new course had to be found. The Royal Parks were keen that the race continued as it had become an important attraction for tourists and locals enjoying the park on New Year’s Day.  As such, a course was devised which takes in some of the park's iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, the Henry Moore statue, George Watt’s Physical Energy statue and The Old Police House. This ‘new’ course starts and finishes in Hyde Park with the majority of the race taking place in Kensington Gardens. 

Spectators – some of whom are mildly bemused by the sight of club runners in their shorts and vests on an invariably cold winter morning – gather at landmarks around the course. 

The race is open to all abilities, attracting 650 competitors, with many keen club runners and some new runners putting their New Year resolution to get fit into place as early as possible. The NYD10K has, however, seen some outstanding competitive performances and has attracted former Olympians and elite athletes:

Hugh Jones (London Marathon winner in 1982 and 1984 Olympian, who also measured the initial 10km course) in 2002 swapped his course measuring equipment for running shoes, finishing the race in 3rd place

Triathlete Annie Emerson was the 1st female in 2004

Jake Wightman, the 2022 1500m World Champion, won the race in 2015

Jonathan Hay, the 2016 English Cross-Country Champion, won in 2016

A highly decorated multi-sport competitor, with world titles in both duathlon and aquathlon, Emma Pallant has set the female course record in 2018. She also finished the course as 1st female in 2020

Zak Seddon, the 2019 3000m outdoor British Champion, won in 2023 and currently holds the NYD10K male course record

Meet the event partners. 

SOAR Running 

SOAR Running design and produce running apparel that does justice to the commitment and passion of runners globally. Encompassing textile innovation, pioneering design technology, sports science and the real-world experiences of runners. Founded in Hackney, London by designer and runner Tim Soar - 2015.

Luchos

Luchos was born from a desire to create the ideal energy block for modern cyclists and runners; to find a natural alternative to energy drinks and gels ladened with additives and preservatives. One that tasted good, actually worked and didn’t cause the digestion problems that have plagued cyclists and athletes throughout the world. Our leaf wrapper means you can quickly throw it away without adding to the litter on our trails. Convenient, nutritious energy blocks that deliver real results. That is Luchos.

Lucky Saint 

Lucky Saint is an alcohol-free Superior Unfiltered Lager made with just four natural ingredients - Pilsner Malt, Hallertau Hops, Spring Water and classic lager yeast. Lucky Saint leaves their beer unfiltered for maximum flavour, without the alcohol. 53 calories per bottle and vegan. Available on draught and in bottles and cans, Lucky Saint is the UK's #1 dedicated alcohol-free beer brand and can be found across pubs, bars, restaurants and supermarkets nationwide.