I’m still not entirely sure why, but London has become really rather fond of running recently. Everywhere you look, high heels have been traded for Hokas and espresso martinis have been replaced with energy gels. But the capital city’s ever-growing obsession with pounding the pavements has meant that it’s become pretty darn tricky to get your hands on a coveted place in one of London’s most popular races. Spots for this year’s Hackney Half were snapped up at the speed of Usain Bolt. And don’t even get me started on the London Marathon. So, if you missed out on a sought-after space for one of those events; I come bearing a shiny new event that could be right up your street athletics track.
The Saucony Run Shoreditch Half
The new race on the block comes in the form of the Saucony Run Shoreditch Half. The event debuted as a 10k race last year, but the closed-road run is back this year as a half-marathon, courtesy of the same brains that are behind the legendary likes of the Hackney Half, Saucony London 10k, and the Oxford Half.
The Saucony Run Shoreditch Half will land in London on Sunday, September 20 (four months after the highly-coveted Hackney Half takes place). The exact route is yet to be revealed but the race is set to start and finish in Shoreditch Park, and involve approximately 10,000 runners hotfooting it through the streets of Hackney and Islington.
London’s newest running event will involve cheer zones, live music, on-route pacers, and a whole lot of east London energy. The waitlist is open now, and race registration opens tomorrow (February 4). Early access spaces start at £45 and each runner will receive a finisher medal, commemorative tee, and chipped time result.
Find out more and sign up to the waitlist here.