Frequently Asked Questions
Race day
Runners will start to receive their race packs towards the end of September, which will include the race number and timing chip. Race packs will continue to arrive up to the week of the race, so if you don't receive yours straight away, do not panic.
We are unable to post packs outside of the UK. International participants need to collect their race pack from:
-
12:00 to 19:00 on Friday 10 October from Marathon House, 190 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB
or
- 08:30 to 14:00 on Saturday 11 October from the info tent in our event village in Hyde Park. The exact location of our info tent will be available nearer the day.
You can update your postal address via your participant dashboard, this is linked in your confirmation of entry email. Please note, the deadline for updates is Monday 1 September at 17:00 as this is when our registration console closes. No changes can be made after this date.
The race is expected to begin at 09:00 with the last wave expected to begin between 09:30 - 09:45. Participants will receive their individual timings nearer to race day. The Event Village will open from 07:30.
If you'd like to update your estimated finish time, this can be done via your participant dashboard linked in your confirmation of entry email.
Please note, the deadline for updates is Monday 1 September at 17:00 as this is when our registration console closes. No changes can be made after this date.
We do not have a restriction on runners using headphones for our race. All we ask is that you're mindful of other runners and look out for our marshals for signals and follow signage.
There will be four water stations on route this year and toilets at various points for you to use. We will also have plenty of toilets in our event village for use before and after the race.
We do not provide energy gels. If you have trained using energy gels or similar, you'll need to bring them with you on the day.
We have a cut-off time of 4 hours after the last wave has started. This means participants need to maintain an average pace of around 18 minutes 19 seconds per mile (about 11 minutes 23 seconds per kilometre) to finish within the time limit.
Yes, there will be a bag drop available to participants on the day.
Small backpacks will be accepted and we ask you to leave any valuables at home.
No, we do not have showers or changing facilities on site.
Yes, a team of experienced pacers will be present at the event. They are identified by a large flag carried on their back, displaying their predicted finishing time.
During the registration process, you selected an opt in or opt out choice for both t-shirt and medal. This will be detailed on your race number when it arrives. You can check your decision on your participant dashboard shared in your confirmation of entry email.
Yes, Transport for London (TfL) have scheduled engineering works on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October, resulting in a full closure of the Piccadilly line between Cockfosters and Hammersmith.
As a result, our nearest Tube stations, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge will be closed across the race weekend (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October).
We strongly advise all runners and spectators to plan ahead and allow extra time to get to the event village, located on South Carriage Drive.
Alternative nearby stations within walking distance:
- Green Park (approx. 15 min walk) via the Victoria line (Step-free access) and Jubilee line
- Marble Arch (approx. 20 min walk) via the Central line
- South Kensington (approx. 20 min walk) via the Circle and District line
- Victoria (approx. 25 min walk) via the Circle and District and Victoria line (Step-free access via both)
- Lancaster Gate (approx. 25 min walk) via the Central line
General
The 2025 Royal Parks Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 12 October 2025.
The ballot for 2025 closed on Friday 7 February 2025. For those who missed the chance to enter or were unsuccessful in the ballot, you can still run with a charity place. We have hundreds of charity partners you can fundraise for by running the Royal Parks Half.
You’ll be able to find out which charities have places to offer here.
The race will start and finish along South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park. This is also the location of our event village including bag drop. W3W: ///guard.tape.coach
You can view our 2024 route map here.
You must be at least 17 years old on Sunday 12 October 2025 (race day) to take part.
Ballot runners who are unable to take part will have the option to transfer their place to another runner via their participant dashboard.
If you were successful in the UK resident ballot, you can only transfer your place to another UK resident. Transfers from a UK resident ballot place to an international participant are not permitted. International ballot runners can transfer to a UK or international resident.
The new participant will need to pay a £5 transfer fee at the time of registration. All transfers must be completed prior to Monday 1 September at 17:00 as this is when our runner registration closes. After registration closes, we will not be able to assist with any transfers, including those where an invitation has been sent but not yet completed.
The transfer of places is only available to ballot place runners. If you have a charity or corporate place, you’ll need to get in touch with your relevant contact to discuss your options.
You can access your participant dashboard via your original confirmation of registration email.
You can view our runner terms and conditions here.
No, as the Royal Parks Half Marathon is not a UK Athletics-licensed event, results will not be submitted to Power of 10.
