Hackney Festival of Fitness 2019: Half marathon to return next year alongside three-day festival

The winter chill may just be settling in but keen runners can start looking ahead to warmer times with news that the Hackney Half Marathon will return for 2019.

As part of an expanded ‘Festival of Fitness’, the popular Hackney Marshes-based event will be back between May 17-19.

Tickets to the most recent edition sold out and it is expected to be a similar story for 2019, with runners encouraged to pick up their bibs while attending the festival.

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With a variety of markets and fitness workshops available, runners are invited to come down on Friday (May 17) and Saturday (18) before the race on Sunday (19). A free 5km run will also be open on the Saturday.

Virgin Sport’s general manager Jessica Frey said: “Following the sold-out Hackney Half Marathon 2018 and the huge turnout of 50,000 runners and spectators, Virgin Sport is excited to be extending the Hackney Festival of Fitness 2019 to three days!

“We are looking forward to announcing our jam-packed event line up later this year and urge people to sign-up to the Hackney Half 2019 now to avoid missing out.”

Thousands opted to run for a charity in 2018, with the average charity runner raising £367 and 2019’s partners are hoping to exceed that average.

In addition, event organisers are committing to eliminating single-use plastics from the race track.

Standard tickets (£49) will include free race photos, a technical finisher tee, a medal and a goody bag, while a Plus Perks ticket (£89) will also include private baggage check and hospitality.

All ticket information, including purchase links, can be found here, while more information about the festival can be found here.