Race Report - Queen Elizabeth Park Run 10K

I landed in London on May 13th. It was supposed to be a quick three-day business trip—meetings, presentations, hotel room coffee, and a return flight. But something inside me whispered, “Stay a little longer.” So I did. I extended my stay before even boarding the plane. Not sure why at the time, but I knew the city had something more in store for me.

After wrapping up work, I found myself wandering solo through the streets of London. No more calls, Canary Wharf, City of London or no email pings—just me, the city, and the freedom to explore. I did what I always do to reset: I looked for a race.

I searched online for local runs and stumbled upon the QE Olympic Park Run at Stratford. The name rang with energy, the route looked smooth, and the atmosphere seemed alive. Without overthinking it, I signed up.

The race was on Saturday morning. I had a whole day to rest up and get into race mode.

Except... Friday Night Was Stamford Bridge

Well, rest didn't exactly happen.

On Friday night, just hours before the race, I found myself at Stamford Bridge, watching Chelsea vs. Manchester United in the heart of the Premier League. The roar of the crowd, the energy in the stadium—it was unforgettable. But standing and cheering for 90 minutes, late-night transport back, minimal sleep... let’s just say it wasn’t peak race prep.

Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m. The air was cool at 12°C, and the park was slowly waking up. I laced up my Nike ZoomX Flyknits—light, responsive, and built for speed. These shoes had traveled with me for a reason.

According to Garmin, my stamina potential was at 99% at the start. The first 5K flowed smoothly—splits around 4:01 to 4:12/km. The legs felt light, the energy was steady, and the shoes were locked in. After the halfway point, things got tougher. My stamina dropped, and heart rate climbed (averaging 177 bpm, peaking at 194), but I kept pushing.

Final Time: 42:50 for 10K

• Pace: 4:17/km

• Avg. power: 439W

• Max power: 560W

• Max heart rate: 194 bpm

  
  

The last kilometer I picked up the pace again, closing with a 4:16/km split—drained, but proud.

Crossing that finish line felt like closing a chapter. The 10K wasn't planned. But it was exactly what I needed. It was a reminder that sometimes you don’t need a perfect plan—you just need to say yes to the moment.

London gave me a little bit of football, a little bit of fight, and one unforgettable morning run through Olympic Park.

If you’re ever in a new city—on business or just passing through—bring your running shoes. You never know when a city might turn into your next finish line.