General Information
Can I listen to a personal music player whilst running?
You are more than welcome to run with headphones, however, we recommend running without so you can listen for any instructions from route marshals and soak up the amazing route entertainment & atmosphere!Few readersIs there a minimum age?
The minimum age for competitors is 17 on race day. For the Hackney 5K you must be 13 years old at the end of the calendar year to compete.Few readersWhy am I being redirected to Let's Do This when entering the Hackney Half?
'Let’s Do This' is our partner registration platform to take on the Hackney Half entries for 2026. When you enter the Hackney Half, your entry information and payment is processed by 'Let’s Do This' and passed securely to Motiv Sports. Your bank statement will show 'Let’s Do This' against your event entry and you will receive a booking confirmation email from 'Let’s Do This'. Once you are entered, all event communication will come from Motiv Sports and the Hackney Half team.Few readersDoes any part of the entry fee go to charity?
Your entry fee covers the staging of the event and third party insurance.Few readersRace Day Information
Additional race day information will become available to all participants in the weeks leading up to the event. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact us at ‘hello@hackneymoves.com’Few readersIs there bag drop for the Hackney Half?
Yes - there will be a space to store your bag whilst you run. You will receive or collect your race number, which will also have attached your bag label and bag collection tab. More detailed information on this will be provided closer to the event date and will also be available in the Race Day Guide, which will be emailed to runners and published on our website prior to the event.Few readersI have general entry place, can I still run for a charity?
You're free to raise funds for whichever charity you like. If you don't have a charity in mind, you can find our supporting charities on our Hackney Moves page here.Few readersHow do I buy a photograph of myself crossing the finishing line?
Marathon Photos are our official photographer for the event. This is their website where you can retrieve your photos and further information. Pictures will be available the day after the event. If you are looking for pictures of past Hackney Half events you can check the same website.Few readersWhat happens if I feel unwell whilst running?
If you feel unwell whilst running stop as soon as you can and seek help. There will be marshals and stewards on the route who will be able to assist and contact the medical team. See your GP if you have a problem or any concerns that it might be a risk for you to take part in the event. If you have any known medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, allergy to penicillin, etc) inform us prior to the event by entering it in the box provided on the online application. In addition, please wriFew readersCan I volunteer as a pacer?
We are grateful that you would like to join us at the Hackney Half as a pacer. Applications are closed at this stage, but we will update this space should there be any changes.Few readersWhat is the cut off time for the Hackney Half?
There is a race cut-off time of 3 hours and 30 minutes for each runner, after which any runners still on the course will be asked to move to the pavements, so that we can give residents their roads back. If you do decide to continue on the pavement, please be mindful of the traffic that will be reopening.Few readersWhere is the Hackney Moves Festival?
Hackney Marshes, Homerton Road, E9 5PF.Few readersWill sanitary products be available?
Yes - there will be a variety of products which you can request at our help and information desks in the village, as well as marshals and volunteers at aid stations on the route.Few readersWhat time does the Hackney Half start?
The event is set to start at 09:00. Start times for each participant will be emailed out to you roughly 2 weeks before the event date, please check your spam folder. There is a race cut-off time of 3 hours and 30 minutes for each runner, after which any runners still on the course will be asked to move to the pavements so that we can give Hackney residents their roads back!Few readersIs there a prize for winning?
As always, our ambition is to create our events so that they are fully inclusive and appeal to participants of all experience and abilities. We are investing our resources into our overall event experience for our participants and engagement with the local community, from hosting engaging route entertainment and festival village activities, to improving the event’s sustainability and carbon footprint. This is all whilst continuing to deliver seamless race operations as part of a safe and enjoyabFew readers
Registration
Is there a waitlist?
You can join the 2027 waitlist here and be amongst the first to know when tickets go on sale.Few readersYou have got my age group wrong?
Your age group is based upon the date of birth that you entered.Few readersCan I get a refund or defer/transfer my entry if I am no longer able to attend the event?
Deferrals and Transfer to a friend are now closed for 2027. Running with another participant's bib is a serious breach of our Terms & Conditions. This poses a significant health & safety risk to not only the person running in the incorrect race number, but to all runners on the day. There may be spot checks throughout the day, and runners with incorrect bibs may be disqualified.Few readersWhen do 2027 entries go on sale?
Information on 2027 entries can be found here - https://www.hackneymoves.com/2027Few readers
Race Pack
Can I change my postage address?
For 2026, it is now too late to change your postage address as all packs are in the process of being sent. If you can, please try to retrieve your race pack from your previous address. If that isn't possible, you can pick up a replacement pack from the Festival Village on event weekend.Few readersHow do I get my Hackney Half race pack?
Race Pack Delivery: You can purchase race pack delivery upon registration, in which case your race pack will be posted to you in the 2 weeks prior to the event. Your race pack can arrive up until Friday before the race. If your race pack doesn't arrive, you can pick up a replacement from the Event Village on the Friday or Saturday before the race. Race Pack Collection: If you did not pay for race pack postage when registering, you will need to collect your HOKA Hackney Half race pack frFew readersWhen can I pick up my race pack? What If I can't pick it up myself?
2026 Bib Collection Times: Friday 15 May from 16:00 to 19:30 Saturday 16 May from 09:00 to 17:00 A physical PHOTO ID is mandatory to be able to pick up your event pack. Should you not be able to make it to pack collection within these times, you can ask a friend/family member to pick up your event pack. The person picking up the pack: will have to show your PHOTO ID (must be a physical copy) will have to show your pack collection QR code will be asked to sign a declaration forFew readers
Additional Information
How do I volunteer?
Giving time as a volunteer at Hackney Moves is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and experience up close an amazing weekend of sport. Please check the volunteer page for updates.Few readersCan I run with a running buggy?
For health and safety reasons we aren't able to allow running buggies of any sort on the course.Few readersIs there parking?
The best option in the area is the Westfield Stratford City (E20 1EJ) car park: capacity of 4,500 spaces, (25-minute walk to the Festival Village). Visit their website for more information. Opening times vary for Car Parks (A,B,C) please check the website. There will be many road closures in the Hackney area - street parking nearby will be extremely limited so we recommend public transport where possible.Few readers
Charity Runners
I bought a charity place, do I need to do anything else in order to participate?
After purchasing the entry from the charity you have to wait for them to process it. Once they have done so, you will receive an email with a link that will lead you to the Let's Do This registration platform. Here you will be able to claim your entry by filling in all of the required details. As soon as you have completed registration, paid for any add-ons and submitted the form, you should receive an email confirmation. NOTE: you will be able to participate in the HOKA Hackney Half only ifFew readersI am a charity looking to purchase places in the Hackney Half, how do I do this?
Unfortunately charity places for Hackney Moves 2026 are sold out. If you have already purchased charity places before they sold out, you will need to register a new account for 2026. To start, please specify if you would like to pay for your places by credit/debit card or invoice. If you opt to pay for your places via invoice: you will be issued an invoice within 4 working days. Following payment, your event places will be reserved immediately. Once your places have been confirmed as paid, yoFew readers
Schools' Challenge
Can schools bring helpers along?
School helpers are welcome to join, but every teacher and helper must register online for the Schools' Challenge. All registered participants will receive relevant accreditation which grants entry to the Schools' Challenge area within the Hackney Moves venue on the Hackney Marshes. We cannot allow entry to anyone without the required accreditation so we can ensure the area is safe and secure for our schools.Few readersCan I add more students after the deadline?
While we don’t ever want a child to miss out, we have to monitor capacity to keep children safe and we need to ensure we order enough medals and giveaways for all participants. Therefore, we cannot guarantee we will be able to accept entries after the deadline for the Hackney Schools' Challenge. Please drop us a line to find out if we can allow late additions at schools@hackneymoves.com.Few readersHow can I get my school involved?
Only local schools to Hackney and the surrounding areas are able to take part in the Schools’ Challenge. Get in touch at schools@hackneymoves.com for more information.Few readersCan we bring parents as well as teachers to help out with supervising?
We understand it’s difficult to bring enough teachers to supervise, especially for large schools. We do allow parent helpers, however, the school is responsible for safely vetting and recruiting trusted adults to assist with supervision.Few readers
