Every year for the last three years on the day after Boxing Day, I open Facebook. I head to The Big End of Year Run event page to see how many people have signed up for our now-annual trot around the street and sights of London. And each year it’s gets bigger. This year, 340 hit the ‘Going’ button while 1,400 hit the ‘Interested’. To tell the truth my stomach flipped a bit at the thought of that many people rocking up. What started out six years ago as two runners, padding around to complete a challenge to run a half marathon every day in December, was looking like a beast.
Having clocked the numbers for the Big End of Year Run 2019, I spent the remaining days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve in a mixed state of excitement and fear about how it would all pan out.
But year after year, once we set off from Marble Arch at 9am, and the chat turns to running, races, goals and achievements, all that fear melts away. I realise once again that the runners who turn up for this free social run gathering – including an increasing number of regulars and familiar faces – are always brilliantly supportive, wholeheartedly positive and simply out to make the most of the final morning of the year.
2017 finish 
2018 finish 
2019 finish
As we plod our way through Regent’s Park, up Primrose Hill for a photo stop, then along the canal behind London Zoo, you can hear people breaking the ice and getting to know each other.
The barriers are down, and talking to strangers – that thing Londoner’s work hard to avoid most of the year – is suddenly natural. It’s fuelled by the fact that we’re all on common ground. We all got up bastard early and we’ve all got great running experiences to share. And lord knows how much runners like to do that.
The Best Big End of Year Run yet
And 2019 was the best year yet. Somewhere between 250 and 300 people came out to clock the last miles of the decade. People came on coaches from outside of London, others were in town for New Year from as far away as San Diego. Some had even flown back that morning and headed straight to the 10km pick up from the airport. We had all abilities, all ages, all shapes, all sizes. We doubled the number of dogs, taking our canine finishers’ tally to two. And we even picked up runners who were just out on their own who saw our group and decided to join.
There’s no starting gun, no marked course, no finish inflatables, no t-shirts to sit forgotten in a drawer and no medals. You just turn up and run
It’s been a wonderful thing to watch this grow and to see so many people buzzing off the community. It’s an infectious and addictive thing to be part of. You can see people sparking off each other. Old friends, new friends all fired into 2020 with a huge spring in their step.
At the heart of it all are a handful people who helped it grow. Gareth was there for the first Big End of Year Run. Michael, Andy, Andy, Adam, Tom, Simon, Charlotte and Nick have all come year after year since, to help make sure everyone know where they are going and gets round safe.
There’s a magic to it all. There’s no starting gun, no marked course, no finish inflatables, no t-shirts to sit forgotten in a drawer and no medals. You just turn up and run. You don’t have to run fast, in fact we actively encourage you not to. Chatty pace, sexy pace, call it what you like, the Big End of Year Run is about taking time to enjoy, free from the pressures of PBs.
I feel very lucky to have stumbled on this moment in the year. And despite the pre-run fretting I do each year, these have become three of the best hours I spend each year. And I’m already looking forward to 2020. I hope to see you there.
Run with us in 2020
If you want to join us, you can sign up here for The Big End of Year Run 2020.
