John Lewis hasn’t tried to make you cry yet. You’ve not splashed quids buying everyone in the family a Chocolate Orange from Poundsnatcher and you haven’t even had your first mince pie (if you have you should be ashamed of yourself) but it’s already time to start booking next year’s races into the running diary. If you’re tired of the same old trots around the same old routes, then the guys at Runthrough might have the answer. They recently revealed they’ll be bringing a brand new 13.1 to Stratford. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Half Marathon will debut on Sunday 10 February 2019 and you’re invited.*
Sponsored by On Running and organised by the expert race makers Runthrough, the closed-road race has capacity for 3,000 runners an will be the first half marathon to take place entirely in the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Runners start and finish in front of the London Stadium and there’ll the usual haul of a medal, limited edition technical t-shirt, free pre and post-race sports massage, free photography and a goody bag for everyone who finishes.
We also heard rumours there will be free homemade flapjacks for all but we’ve not been able to corroborate that information. Three thousand flapjacks is a lot of baking for someone if that’s true.
It takes a lot to drag my backside all the way over from West London but this looks like a cracking run and I’ll be there to enjoy blasting around the iconic venues that played home to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. And while the race organisers will be hard pressed to match the atmosphere of that month, it should make for a pretty unique half.
Sign up for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Half Marathon
If you want to join me and these guys on the start line of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Half Marathon, bag your place at www.LondonHalf.com.
* Provided you’re happy to pay an early bird entry fee of £34.
