This was the inaugural Shoreditch 10k which will make up a series of 4 adidas city runs next year. Prior to the race you were sent your technical adidas race tshirt with your race number preprinted on it. This was a joy and so much nicer than having your race number pinned/clipped on your tshirt. It was also really nice quality although you would expect this with the hefty entry fee! It looked really good having all participants in the same tshirt, just be careful to order the right size or size up if unsure as it’s obligatory to wear it and you can only change sizes the day before! Luckily mine fit really well! 

The race village in Shoreditch Park had a really great atmosphere and was organised really well. Bags were dropped in easily in a matter of seconds & toilets were adequate for the number of people. There was free yoga which fitted nicely with the hipster area. Prior to race day you receive an email stating which wave start you would be in however there was no indication on your person so I think people were just entrusted to go to the correct wave. I don’t know but suspect people filled the starting pens on a first come first served basis as wave A filled very quickly whilst others were empty. There was a hilarious warm up from Tom Daley who wasn’t really sure what he was doing but everyone had fun nonetheless and then the race set off promptly & without issue! 

The route takes you around the streets of Shoreditch but to be honest it did feel like you could be running any street, anywhere really. I probably didn’t notice much of the highlights though as I was being paced rigorously by hubby to get my first sub50 and struggling massively. Also towards the end there are a lot of twists and turns and doubling back on yourself (reminiscent of Oxford Half) which I didn’t enjoy and a nasty bit of cobbled section which my legs hated. However the finish line comes quickly as you renter Shoreditch Park. I was delighted to just sneak in under the sub50 and the cherry on top was being given my medal by Tom Daley! 

As well as the medal you got a free Clif bar, pack of sweeties and Lucozade.  I really enjoyed the pre & post race experience and think it was just about worth the £40+ price tag but the expense would put me off completing the full series next year! Unless they can guarantee Tom Daley every time! ;-)

This was the first Adidias city run so it was very well publicised on social media. I won free entry to this race which is just as well as I wouldn't pay £40 for a 10k race. A lovely Adidas tech t-shirt was sent in the post personalised with your own race number, plus a timing chip to add to your shoe and baggage label. The registration process was really easy and there was definately a carnival type of atmosphere at the start. Tom Daley started the race (slightly odd as he's a diver not a runner). However once the run started, that was it - no atmosphere! There was very little local support; no runners were speaking to each other; not even the marshalls were being voval with their support. I've been used to doing picturseque runs in the country and this was just a city run past lots of large houses. There were literally 1000s of runners and it was so bunched up, that even with a flat course, there was little chance of a PB. All the roads were closed off so it was easy to navigate. At the finish you got a lovely medal, water, another sports drink, sweets and some other energy bars. Again, there was carnival atmosphere at the finish and I even managed to get a 10 minute free leg massage which helped. Pro's: great medal, great atmosphere and organisation at the running village, great t-shirt, good drinks/sweets etc at the finish. Con's: a really dull course, poor atmosphere during the run, very expensive for what it is. If it was cheaper I would consider doing this again.

I entered the inaugural adidascityruns race in Shareditch since it was a local event and a great way run on closed roads in Shoreditch. The race village was located in Shoreditch Park which was very organised. This race was different to other races in that the race numbers were printed on the t-shirts rather than regular bibs. The course was great which and extremely flat so perfect for fast times. The race was chip timed, however this race didn't have a UK Athletics license. The refreshment stations were well stocked with water. The spectator support and atmosphere was fantastic. Participants received a medal, water and clif bars at the finish line.

Although the race organisation was outstanding, these races seem like they are more about promoting Adidas and its products. 

I would recommend the upcoming series of races but I probably wouldn't do them as their are many other cheaper 10k races, all of which have UK Athletics licenses. 

So much positive stuff I could say about this very well organised race: good pre-race briefings/a sunny day/waves went off well with some odd blue smoke!/bit cramped but that didn’t last long/nice wide, quick roads/great tech t-shirt/heavy metal medal!/I met Tom Daley! Two minor gripes: toilet queues (but they're not alone in that) and a bit of a failed warm-up (we should warm ourselves up anyway). What a friendly, diverse bunch of runners and all of this in hipster east London!

Today I paced the sub 40 minutes crew, so didn't book a spot through the traditonal route. That said, communication and organisation from Adidas was top class throughout. 

Pre race briefing was through, everyone was moved into the correct starting pens which made the start, and race incredibly efficient and less congested. I think Adidas did this better than at any other race I've been to. Flares and music at the start, as well as Olympian Tom Daley doing the warm up and countdown really got the adreneline pumping. 

As a local, I loved the course, but the images, streets etc used in promo shots were not actually part of the course which could annoy some. 

Local support for such a busy and vibrant area was anonymous. Could be argued some of the local community couldn't afford spots - perhaps some free spots for community centres, cafes, restaurants, running crews and clubs, could get the local community more involved. Although Shoreditch has a repuatation as a gentrified areas, where the local hipsters have more money than sense, there are in fact huge estates and inequality in the area. And more needs to be done to make events like this affordable for everyone. 

Prices for the event are £40 I believe, which is definitely going to put off many runners and clubs.

The course was incredibly flat, well marshalled with regular bottled water stops, but there were many tight twists and turns, with people mounting the pavement and ducking between parked cars to get a better line. It got a bit hairy at the turns, and I was knocked a few times. 

Km markers were pretty accurate and easy to spot and the finish was exellent with a great medal and the t-shirt we all wore as part of the package. I came home in 39m 53s, so just in time. Phew.

All in all, I'd defnitely recommend this race and I feel if Adidas engage the local community a little more it will become a huge London 10km and a race the locals can be proud of.