You spent Sunday cheering on the London Marathon runners. Now it’s your turn.
Sunday’s Royal Parks Half Marathon might be half the distance of last weekend’s 26.2, but the atmosphere is set to be just as electric, with 16,000 runners set to take part and 54 per cent of them women, making it one of the UK’s only major running events to have more female competitors than male. No wonder Sweaty Betty was keen to take part as this year’s apparel partner.
The 13.1 mile route is arguably even prettier than the London Marathon, too. Think eight iconic landmarks, dozens of charity cheer stations and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens. Expect equally jubilant finisher photos against the autumn leaves.
The race, now in its 15th year and presented by Royal Bank of Canada, has been voted the “best new event of the decade” by Runner’s World and it’s also one of the greenest: it was one of the first half marathons in London to go plastic bottle-free (there’ll be compostable cups and water refill stations en route instead); t-shirts are made from bamboo and recycled bottles; medals are made from FSC-certified beech wood; 58 per cent of waste from the food festival will be composted and all cutlery on site will be biodegradable.
Whether you’re running the race or coming along to show support, here’s our guide to the day.
When is it and what time does it start?
The race takes place this Sunday (October 9), starting at 9am. It’s an early alarm for a Sunday but it’s worth getting there early as there’ll be large crowds.
The Food and Fitness Festival and baggage desk open at 7.30am and the official welcome kicks off at 8.30am, with fun on-stage warm-ups led by instructors from Sweaty Betty and London gym studio Frame.
You’ll start entering the start funnels from 8.40am (follow the signs to the funnel that matches the colour of your race number), before the starting whistle at 9am (bring an old top for keeping warm in the start funnel - chuck it to the side before you start and the organisers will make sure it’s collected and recycled).
After the race, there’ll be a Quorn-sponsored plant-based food village, have-a-go yoga and meditation stands, hair braiding and sweat-proof makeup stations, and tunes provided by female DJ collective Superfoxx. The festival closes at 4pm.
Where is it?
For any Royal Parks returners, it’s back to the traditional route you’re probably used to, starting and finishing at the same point on the southern edge of Hyde Park, called South Carriage Drive, so runners will have the opportunity to explore London’s world-renowned Royal Gardens in the process. The closest station is Knightsbridge.
The 13.1 mile run takes place on closed roads. You’ll go through Green Park and St James’s Park before paying a quick visit to Downing Street. They’ll then head along the Strand to Somerset House and loop back past Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.
From there it’s back into Green Park and through Wellington Arch, before returning to Hyde Park and taking a winding path into Kensington Gardens. The home straight takes in the Royal Albert Hall, before (hopefully) a sprint to the finish.
The water stations will be located at miles 4.5, 9 and 12 and there’ll be pacers for the following times: 1h30, 1h40, 1h45, 1h50, 1h55, 2h00, 2h05, 2h10, 2h15, 2h20, 2h30 and 2h40.
Where to watch
If you’re coming along to watch or support, it’s back to the Mall, where you’ve probably spent quite a bit of time recently after the Queen’s funeral and London Marathon last weekend. Position yourself on the Serpentine Road you’ll see runners go past twice.
There’ll be crowds lining the entire route so don’t worry about cheering on your own. You can track runners via the app (just search for RTRT.me in the app store).
For those who’d rather wait in the event village, there’ll be plenty of goodies and entertainment at the Food and Fitness Festival at the start and finish lines.
How to get there
It’s going to be busy, so plan ahead. By tube, the nearest stations are Hyde Park Corner (on the Piccadilly Line), Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line), Marble Arch (Central Line) and Lancaster Gate (Central Line).
The shortest walk is from Knightsbridge – technically, it should only take 12 minutes, but bear in mind this will probably be the most popular stop and therefore the busiest. Buses may be a better bet.
There’s no designated parking, so it’s strongly recommended to avoid driving. Many roads will also be closed before, during and after the race. If you’re confused or want advice, call TFL or check its website in advance.
Download the official app for further travel information.
What to wear
Temperatures on Sunday are currently expected to be a mild 18 degrees, so you shouldn’t need anything thicker than a t-shirt, though take a layer in case it rains.
Female and sustainability-focused fitness brand Sweaty Betty is the perfect official apparel partner for this year’s marjority-women race. 170 runners will be raising funds for the Sweaty Betty Foundation, which empowers young girls to get active (every pound raised will be matched by Sweaty Betty’s founder), and there’ll be plenty of influencers and leading runners taking part in Sweaty Betty kit.
The the super-supportive Ultra-Run Bra is a runner favourite, as are the brand’s famous Zero Gravity Leggings in jazzy new animal print. The Fast-Lane Jacket is feminine, flattering and water-resistant to to stop you cooling down after the finish line. Go get that medal.
