Search
shop

Jonny Brownlee shows he still has “some speed in the legs” on record-breaking day for 5k running

Olympic triathlon legend signs off season with renewed belief on a day for record-breaking feats over the 5km distance.
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Jonny Brownlee signed off his 2024 season with a 14:05 5k on Saturday – the same day the parkrun ‘world best’ was beaten.

The Olympic legend was taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Podium 5k at Barrowford in Lancashire, a relatively short hop away from his Yorkshire base.

And he went into the event buoyed by one of his strongest performances of the campaign in the supertri finale in Neom the weekend before where he finished sixth behind the all-conquering trio of Alex Yee, Hayden Wilde and Léo Bergere.

He’d said after that on Instagram: “It was good to be at the front of the race and be competitive again. Loved it! Not been my greatest sporting year but finished with a race that I am proud of. Thanks to @supertri_ for giving me belief once again.”

It came after a challenging season which just saw him miss out on Olympic selection and the chance to add to his full set of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Advertisement

‘The end of the season for me’

The Podium 5k field was stacked, with plenty of former winners but one man missing was fellow GB triathlete Hugo Milner who was a late withdrawal.

And the Podium 5k series holds a special relevance for triathlon fans as it was where Beth Potter first made global headlines. The former track star, who has switched sports to such stunning effect by becoming a triathlon world champion and winning two bronze medals in Paris this summer, set an unofficial women’s world record road time of 14:41 there in early 2021.

And on Saturday Brownlee clocked a more than respectable 14:04:53 for the 5k, though that wasn’t enough to get him on the podium as the elite men’s race was won by Robin Hendrix in 13:35:54.

Posting afterwards on Instagram, Brownlee said: “Saturday evening under the lights at the @podium_5k 10 year anniversary. What an awesome atmosphere!

“Pleased with 14.05! Still got some speed in the legs 🦵 “

Jonny Brownlee supertri Neom 2024 run photo credit supertri
Jonny Brownlee [Photo credit: supertri]

“That is the end of the season for me. Time for our honeymoon adventure 🇱🇰➡️🇲🇻”

Teenager sets parkrun record in Belfast

Also demonstrating incredible speed over the same 5km distance the same say was teenager Nick Griggs after his record parkrun feat in Belfast on Saturday.

The 19-year-old stopped the clock in 13 minutes 44 seconds as he just dipped under the previous best by one second, which was set by Great Britain Olympian Andy Butchart in Edinburgh in June 2023.

parkrun of course is a “run” and not a “race” but it is still the fastest time ever registered in the welcome-to-all format.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Griggs said “I wasn’t going into it trying to break the record,” but rather treating it as a hit out ahead of the Irish Cross Country Championships a week later.

He added: “Before the race, I knew I was in good shape and knew I should be within a chance of breaking the record. It was a bit of a sprint finish to get it but it was a good feeling.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Mark Allen aging up quote
How to adjust your triathlon training as you get older – Mark Allen on the 7 ways to make aging a less slippery slope
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
latest News
Jonny Brownlee supertri Neom 2024 run photo credit supertri
Challenge Family’s The Championship 2025: Date, start time and how to watch live
Kona scenic shot IRONMAN World Championships photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
IRONMAN say women split 50/50 on whether Kona age-group spots should be proportionate or equal
Paul Findlay on the run at T100 San Francisco 2024
Can Findlay extend winning run on home soil as INCREDIBLE women’s line-up is announced for T100 Vancouver?
Beth Potter Cassandre Beaugrand Olympic Games Paris Test Event Triathlon August 2023
WTCS Yokohama 2025: Date, start time and how to watch live as Olympic stars head to Japan
Sam Long bike leg IRONMAN 703 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
“I think he’s a sneaky little guy” – which fellow pro got under the skin of Sam Long at 70.3 St. George?
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...