The Wizz Air Hackney Half Marathon will be taking place at the weekend, with thousands of runners set to help 56 national and local charities.
Set for Sunday, May 18, the race is this year hosting more than 7,000 charity race slots, having helped raise more than £2.4 million in 2024.
Here is all the information runners and spectators need to know:
Schedule
7am – Festival Village opens
7.30am – Bag drop opens + warm-up sessions begin
8.10–9.20am – Warm-up & mobility sessions continue
9am – Hackney Half starts
10.05am – First runner finishes
10.45am – Prize-giving at the finish line
1.30pm – Last runners expected / race cut-off
3.30pm – Festival Village closes
Runners who finish after 3.5 hours may be asked to move to the pavement as roads reopen.
Runners will be assigned a Start Pen based on your estimated finish time. This info is in your Race Day Guide email and printed on your bib.
Follow signs to your pen on race morning and arrive in good time for your start.
Runners
Participants will either get their race number in the post or collect it in advance from the help desk at Hackney Marshes.
Collection is on May 16 (4pm to 7pm) or May 17 (9am to5pm). Bring photo ID and your QR code (sent by text before race day).
No collection on May 18. Running with the wrong number is a serious safety risk and against the rules.
Results will be online after the race. If you gave a mobile number, your finish time will be texted to you shortly after you cross the line.
Start Pens: Runners' pen letter is on your race number. You can move back to join a friend, but not forward. Volunteers will be there to help.
HOKA pacers with bright flags will be in the start pens and will help with times from 1h30 to run/walk pace.
There will be six water and energy stops are along the route. Use one cup at a time and bin it if possible.
Marshals in hi-vis will be placed regularly throughout the course. Ask them for help if needed.
First aid medical centres will be in the Festival Village and staff will be on the course. In emergencies, move left for vehicle access.
Participants have 3.5 hours to finish. Those still running after 2pm may be asked to move to the pavement.
Red-vested volunteers will be on hand to help. Visit the help desk if you have any race pack issues.
There’s a multi-faith prayer space and a baby feeding/changing zone to provide quiet, respectful and inclusive spaces for all.
Free TOTM sanitary products are available at info desks, aid stations, and with volunteers.
Toilets are in the village and on the route. Peequal, the UK’s first women’s urinal, is also available to speed things up!
Use numbered flags one to 10 to meet friends and family post-race.
Pictures from the marathon photos team will be online and emailed to runners afterward to view and purchase.
Prizes go to the top three male and female runners, plus the fastest non-binary and wheelchair entrants. Winners will be contacted after the race.
The festival
Confirmed as a complete sell-out, the marathon will be staged alongside the lively Hackney Moves Festival.
Head to the Festival Village on Hackney Marshes for a free weekend of sport, music, food and fun for all ages. Expect live music, fitness sessions, street food and activities for the whole family.
Opening Times: Saturday: 9am–6pmSunday: 7am–4pm
Sport & Movement: Join workouts and entertainment on the Main Stage, plus dance and fitness sessions at the House of Fitness—from Zumba to Soca Step and more.
Children & Families: The family zone has activities for kids of all ages, including face painting, sports tasters, trampettes and games from Hackney Jedis and East London Hockey.
Food, Drink & Shopping: Enjoy a wide range of food and drinks to suit all diets, plus a full bar. Don’t miss the Market on the Marshes for local goods and fitness gifts.
Further extending its fundraising energy, the event has also planned a free community 5k.
Cara Humphreys, charity partnerships manager at Motiv Sports, said: "We were really pleased to raise over £2.4m for our wonderful charity partners last year.
"It’s great that we can help harness everyone’s incredible efforts through our events.
"We are delighted to have sold all our charity places, which is a testament to the generosity of our runners.
"With every place sold, we have a great chance to smash last year’s total."
With a full house of runners, juiced up on community spirit, set to take on the half marathon, there’s plenty of hope set on beating last year’s record.
For more on this marathon effort, including how to contribute, visit the Hackney Moves website.
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