Royal Parks

Racing it

1. 01

   Loop, Start Meets Finish

   The half is a loop, so you start and finish in the same place. Tell your supporters to stay put rather than chase you across London, and agree on a meeting spot in the park afterwards.

   From the layout

2. 02

   Only Forty Metres of Climb

   Total climbing is just 40 m, so this is a genuinely flat half. Run it at an even effort from the 09:00 gun instead of banking time on the opening kilometers.

   From the elevation profile

3. 03

   Early Sunday Gun

   The 09:00 start means baggage, park gates and the walk to the start all happen before that. Get there with time to spare and warm up on the park paths rather than in a crowd.

   From the start time

4. 04

   Twelve Degrees at the Start

   Typical race-day temperature is 12C, cool enough that a light layer over your race kit feels right while you wait, then becomes unwanted within a couple of kilometers.

   From the temperature

5. 05

   Landmarks Break the Half

   The route threads four Royal Parks and passes Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, so use those landmarks to split the half into sections instead of watching the distance.

   From the description

In London

• Tube and Closures

  London's Tube and buses get crowded on race morning, and road closures around the route make walking the last stretch quicker. Give yourself extra time and travel light.

• Where to Watch

  Spectators can see runners on the park paths, then again where the course passes Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. Pick one spot and stay there; chasing the field is slow.

• A Slow London Sunday

  Recover with a gentle walk through one of the Royal Parks or along the South Bank, then settle into a pub or cafe in a nearby district. Autumn London rewards lingering.