The hardest part of a marathon happens before you even start running

October 11, 2026Ghana

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER Updated: 10:08 11 Oct 2026

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There are easier ways to spend a Sunday morning than running 13.1 miles through the centre of London.

But then, there are few better places to do it.

On Sunday 11 October, up to 18,300 runners will set off through Hyde Park for the 2026 Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon, winding their way past Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Horse Guards Parade and Kensington Palace before finishing between two of London’s most recognisable landmarks – the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial.

With a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 30’s that have got me through training, OOFOS sliders waiting for afterwards, and a Suunto Race 2 running watch strapped to my wrist, I am approaching race day with the usual mixture of excitement and apprehension that comes with voluntarily running for more than two hours.

But speaking to Adam Reeve, senior marketing manager for the Royal Parks Half, made me realise that the race is about considerably more than the time on the watch.

Mr Reeve is part of a core team of just five people working on the race, although the work is anything but small.

The event operates on an annual cycle, with planning for future races beginning while the current one is still being prepared.

The 2026 race is expected to welcome up to 18,300 runners, with the event having seen record ballot numbers in recent years.

Mr Reeve says applications increased by 35 per cent between 2024 and 2025, followed by a further 14.5 per cent rise the following year.

The reason for that popularity may be obvious once you look at the route.

British imams telling men to beat their wives if they say NO to sex1.9K viewing now Three females runners cross the finish line of the Royal Parks Half Marathon in 2025 The refreshed route also sees participants run along The Mall twice and pass both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace Adam Reeve (top right) is part of a core team of just five people (all pictured) working on the race although the work is anything but small Minuza Wave Rider 30 £119.33 Shop OOFOS OOahh PLUS Slide Sandal £65 Shop The race passes through four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens – while runners take in some of the capital’s most famous landmarks.

The refreshed route also sees participants run along The Mall twice and pass both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.

In 2025, the event moved its finish line to create what organisers describe as a more spectacular final experience.

Runners now finish with the Albert Memorial on one side and the Royal Albert Hall on the other.

‘All the training and running is definitely worth it when you see the finish at the end,’ Adam says.

It is a suitably grand ending to a race that is deliberately designed to feel welcoming rather than intimidating.

There is no elite field, meaning the event attracts a mixture of experienced runners, returning participants and people taking on their first half marathon.

‘We’re a very welcoming and inclusive field and an inclusive race,’ he says.

The course itself is generally flat, while the atmosphere is designed to keep runners moving when the legs inevitably start to complain.

There are charity cheer stations, DJs, brass bands, drummers, samba bands and choirs positioned around the route.

But according to Mr Reeve, the absolute standout moment of the race is when runners come around Serpentine Road and re-enter Hyde Park.

‘It is like hitting a wall of noise as you come back into Hyde Park, it is really, really special.’

The event also has a huge charity focus, with runners raising money for causes ranging from cancer research and children’s health to mental health.

In 2025, the race raised a record £8.5 million on event day, according to Mr Reeve, while the organisers said the event has raised more than £80 million for more than 1,900 UK charities since it began in 2008.

Money raised for The Royal Parks charity helps maintain London’s eight Royal Parks, which cover around 5,000 acres and are kept free and accessible to the public.

The charity’s work includes conserving historic monuments, supporting wildlife and educating people about the natural world.

And as I prepare to join the crowd, there is something strangely reassuring about knowing that the thousands of runners around me will each have their own reason for being there.

Mr Reeve puts it perfectly: ‘There are 18,000 stories of why people are actually there. Some are doing it just for fun. Some are doing it for incredible causes, and some are doing it for wellbeing and mental health.’

That may be the most interesting thing about the Royal Parks Half.

From the outside, it is one enormous race. Eighteen thousand people moving through central London, chasing medals, personal bests and the finish line.

From inside the crowd, it will be thousands of completely different challenges happening at exactly the same time.

And, as Mr Reeve says: ‘When the course gets tough, remember what you have already achieved in getting to the start line. That is the hardest part. Now just try and enjoy every moment.’

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