Hackney Half offers free pints, yoga

Time Out said on May 14 that runners in this weekend’s Hackney Half can claim 16 freebies, discounts and afterparty offers tied to the east London race. The offers include free pints, spritzes and yoga sessions, according to the Time Out list. The race is the headline event of the HOKA Hackney Moves festival, which runs across May 16 and May 17 at Hackney Marshes. The official race guide says the half marathon itself takes place on Sunday, May 17, over 13.1 miles, with staggered starts from 9:00 a.m. and Festival Village open from 7:00 a.m. ### What exactly is being offered to runners? Time Out’s May 14 article said the list covers 16 runner-focused perks and afterparties available around race weekend. The publication described the package as a mix of recovery activities and hospitality offers, including free pints, spritzes and yoga sessions for finishers and participants. (timeout.com) The Time Out guide framed the offers as part of the wider Hackney Half weekend rather than an official medal-only finish-line benefit. Its separate race guide published on May 15 also referred readers to “unmissable freebies” tied to the event weekend. (timeout.com) ### When is the race, and where does it start? The HOKA Hackney Half race guide says the event is on Sunday, May 17, at Hackney Marshes in east London. The same guide lists the race start window as 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with bag drop open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Festival Village closing at 4:00 p.m. Time Out’s May 15 race guide said runners will set off in staggered waves based on predicted times. (timeout.com) It said the race begins and ends on Hackney Marshes and follows a route through Hackney Downs, Hackney Central, Queensbridge Road, Haggerston, London Fields and the edge of Victoria Park before returning to the Marshes. (racedayguide.hackneymoves.com) ### Is this just a race, or a bigger festival weekend? Hackney Moves says the half marathon is part of a broader festival running from May 14 to May 17. The event website lists the sold-out half marathon, a free community 5K, a schools’ challenge, the Hackney Quarter and a new HOKA Hackney Trail 5K among the weekend’s events. The official site says the festival is billed as “a full weekend of fitness, food and live acts” at Hackney Marshes. (timeout.com) Time Out’s race guide separately described Hackney Moves as a weekend of fitness classes, food stalls and live entertainment. ### How big is the event this year? London Daily News reported on May 15 that 27,000 people were expected to take part in the HOKA Hackney Moves festival’s headline half marathon on Sunday. (hackneymoves.com) The Running Channel described the race this week as one of the UK’s biggest and most popular half marathons, saying it draws more than 25,000 runners. Hackney Moves says the 2026 half marathon is sold out. The event website also says entries for the 2027 race will be released in three windows beginning on Monday, May 18, at 1:00 p.m., followed by Tuesday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ### What should runners and spectators watch for next? The official race guide says warm-up and mobility sessions will run across the site from 8:10 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, with the first finisher expected at about 10:05 a.m. and the final cut-off at 2:00 p.m. (londondaily.news) Time Out’s guide said spectators can reach the start from Stratford, Leyton, Hackney Wick or Clapton. (hackneymoves.com) Hackney Moves says runners who want a place in next year’s event need either to have run in 2026 or to pre-register for access to the 2027 sale. The first 2027 entry window opens on May 18, one day after this weekend’s sold-out race. (hackneymoves.com) (racedayguide.hackneymoves.com)