Following last week’s post on Obesity in the workplace, I felt it was time to dust off the running shoes and pound London’s pavements again. Going for glory, I opted for the Supernova London 5K race at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. After all, if it was good enough for Jessica Ennis-Hill.……
The ArcelorMittal Orbit lit up at night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Supernova London 5K review
If you haven’t been to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park before, be prepared for a long walk from Stratford tube station – (allow at least 20 mins). Rocking up later than anticipated, I was relieved to note that the registration queues were minimal. The Supernova London 5K has the advantage of being lower profile than other 5K races such as the Colour Run which means no vast hordes to contend with. A baggage area is available on site which is handy if you don’t fancy travelling back on the tube in day-glow neon. There are also toilets with spacious cubicles for changing.
warm up session during the Supernova London 5K at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
As it’s a night-time race, luminous colours are the order of the evening with tutus and wigs also strutting their stuff. Head torches are freely handed out to all participants. But with the clock change last weekend, we felt a tad odd with head-torches strapped to our scalps in dazzling daylight.
At 7.00pm sharp, the warm-up session starts and my running mate Jerry and I soon throw ourselves into some energetic shapes. It’s all about fun and all feelings of self-consciousness are quickly shrugged off. Trotting into our colour-coded pens moments later, we set off into the twilight to the strains of Abba’s Dancing Queen.
Warming up before the Supernova London 5K race
Supernova London 5K course
The course takes you around the perimeter of the Olympic Park and is fairly flat with the exception of a couple of uphill gradients. The route offers plenty of variety in terms of interesting buildings and there’s also a fun fair in full sing to add to the buzz. Blasting off from the stunning ArcelorMittal Orbital, we head along the length of Stratford Waterfront, passing the Olympic stadium en-route. We then cross over to the other side of the waterfront and flit past the stunning Zaha Hadid-inspired London Aquatics Centre. I can’t quite believe it’s already five years since I watched the Olympic synchronised swimming event there.
London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Zig-zagging along the waterfront, we mount the bridge and take the long route around the Orbital before heading back to the start where we cross the finish line. Handed our obligatory goody bag, this event’s freebies include a handy water bottle, energy bar, foil blanket and scarf.
Overhead lighting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford
As we head out of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for a well-deserved drink at Westfield shopping centre, a text pings on my phone informing me that our time was thirty-four minutes. Somehow I don’t think I’ll be giving Jessica a run for her money anytime soon.