Mulled Wine, PBs & the Smell of Mince Pies

A very Meadows recap of the 2025 Meadows 5K Series

If you joined us to ran, marshal, clap, cheer, or simply follow along online, you’ll know that the 2025 Meadows 5K Series delivered exactly what it promised - friendly racing, proper community spirit and just enough cake to make lap two worthwhile.

From January’s tangerine-fuelled cheering to December’s mince pies and mulled wine, the Meadows hosted 11 brilliant events in 2025 - each one with its own personality, weather quirks and standout performances.

Before we lace up again for 2026, here’s a look back at the numbers, the familiar faces, and the moments that made 2025 such a BLAST.

The Big Numbers (aka the ones runners love)

Across 11 events in 2025, the Meadows welcomed well over 600 runners to the start line, from a mix of first-timers, juniors, club athletes and very committed regulars.

PB Watch 👀

  • Over 122 PBs were recorded across the series

  • Peak PB month? December, with a whopping 30 personal bests

  • On average, around 1 in 5 runners went home faster than before

Not bad for a “flat but honest” course with the odd headwind thrown in for character.

The Familiar Faces (and fast feet)

One of the joys of the Meadows series is seeing the same names pop up month after month - and 2025 had plenty of names we came to know well.

  • Seona Burnett appeared on the podium six times across the year

  • Stephen Ingledew topped the V60 category on four occasions

  • Diane Ring quietly dominated the V70 category all year long

  • Jonathan Henderson made the Meadows look suspiciously easy whenever he appeared

Consistency, meet commitment.

Record Breakers & Repeat Offenders

While the Meadows course doesn’t give up records easily, a few runners clearly had it figured out:

  • Multiple athletes set more than one PB across the year

  • Several runners matched or bettered their times set earlier in the series

  • April and December saw the highest concentration of repeat PB-setters, proving that familiarity really does breed speed

  • Three runners broke the course records in their age group in December - well done Stuart Livingstone, Flora Henry and Allan Gall.

If you’ve ever thought “maybe next time”, the Meadows 5K quietly whispers yes.

Not Just a Run

2025 wasn’t only about times and positions.

  • £1,149.50 raised for charity across the series

  • 11 different charities supported, from local youth projects to international causes

  • Countless marshals, many of whom showed up month after month, rain or shine

Community isn’t a buzzword here - it’s the whole point.

Want to Dig into the Data?

You can explore all Meadows 5K results, including every event back to 2020, right here:
👉 https://blastrunning.co.uk/5km-the-meadows-results

(Warning: may trigger nostalgic scrolling and sudden race sign-ups.)

Looking Ahead: Meadows 5K Series 2026 👀

The Meadows 5K will be back in 2026, but with a twist:

  • 6 events (not monthly)

  • Same officially measured, SA-licensed course

  • Same friendly vibes, enthusiastic marshals and post-run treats

  • Fewer dates, but even more reason to make each one count

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the Meadows magic doesn’t rely on quantity - it’s about turning up, running your best, and enjoying the moment.

We can’t wait to do it all again.

See you on the start line - sign up on our events page today!

Fiona Hall