It's race week! The hard work is done, the music is flowing, the vibes are immaculate and you've (hopefully) nailed your nutrition strategy. Remember your dancing shoes because it's time to party! 🤩👟

Don't forget to connect with your fellow Runnas using the Big Half space in the Runna app! You can find this in the Community tab: here 🧡 It's the perfect space to ask all of your race-related questions ahead of the big day, including course tips, nutritional advice and support during your taper week!

Please note that this information is for the Big Half Event 2024. Keep an eye out for an updated version when more details are announced for 2025!

For those of you running for a charity, congratulations on your amazing work! 👏

Enjoy the support and well-wishes both from your family and friends during those training miles, and then from the crowd on race day - you've earned it! 🧡

You may wish to upload a few last training updates and pictures and re-share your charity donation page in the week preceding your race. You could reach out to your charity for some top tips on this one too.

A picture with your medal at the finish is a great way to boost some bonus donations - you may well inspire someone else to tackle their first event too!

Methodological packing of your running shoes, clothing, charging leads and devices, and any nutrition you'll be taking is essential! If you're traveling on the day, staying overnight or longer, you may need more items. However, here are a few helpful options for race day itself:

Sometimes, tapering or a few days away from running can leave your legs feeling like they've 'forgotten how to run'! Some runners swear by a very short, very easy run the day before a race - perhaps even just a mile or 1 km - to reassure themselves that they can still put one foot in front of the other.

Do what works for you. If an easy run the day before a 'Long Run' has worked well in training, why not stick to this pattern. Alternatively, skip the shakeout in place of some gentle foam rolling or mobility work 🙏

If in doubt, stick to your plan and have a read of Coach Steph's guidance on shakeout runs here.

In the days leading up to your race, you should be aiming for ½ of your meals to be made up of carbohydrates and swapping out usual snacks for carb-based replacements. This is to ensure that the glycogen stores in your muscles are fully topped up for race day! Make sure you're well hydrated with water, and possibly electrolyte drinks too.

The day before your race, stick to simple foods that you enjoy and avoid anything too spicy! Pasta, rice, potatoes, and other easily digestible carbs are perfect. You may find your appetite reduces a little towards the end of your taper, alongside the reduction in your running volume, so don't eat to discomfort, but be sure to fuel well!

For further nutrition advice please read our Ultimate Running Nutrition Guide.

If not already considered, why not add a mobility session after your shakeout? Some gentle stretches will help to release 'travel muscles' and stimulate relaxation before a good sleep and the sound of that start gun! Once hydrated, fuelled, and organised for race day, try to get an early night. Sleeping can be difficult the day before a big race, particularly in the warmer months, but do your best to ensure you're well-rested and raring to go.

You should have received your Event Pack in the post by Tuesday 27th August. This will contain your bib number, safety pins and kitbag for the bag drop.

If you are coming from overseas, you can pick up your event pack between 10:00 - 18:00 on Saturday 31st August from the address below:

Marathon House

190 Dover Street

London

SE1 4YB

You may be required to show your ID and confirmation email.

If you have lost your number or your pack hasn't arrived by Tuesday 27th August, you will be able to complete a replacement form. Please collect your replacement pack between 10:00 - 18:00 from the address specified above.

The official start times for each race are listed below as found on the organiser's website, but please check your Event Guide email for your allocated arrival and specific start time!

Both assembly areas lead to the same start line, but it's essential that you go to the correct one. You will be able to meet up with friends from the other assembly area as you move towards the start.

If your bib number begins with N, you'll need to head to the North Assembly Area.

If your bib number begins with an S, you'll be heading to the South Assembly Area

After the Elite Races, the the first mass wave will set off at 8:30am and follow every 10 minutes until the final wave at 10:00am. The letter on your bib refers to your start wave (A-K).

Runners are not permitted to move forwards into faster waves, but you can move back to join friends or family on the day. However, we strongly encourage you to start in your allocated start wave as this is based on your predicted time. The number of runners in each wave has been capped to ensure that you have enough space in the start area and on the streets.

The pre-race buzz makes for a busy commute! Due to the closure of roads around the race route and engineering works affecting trains on the south side, we'd urge you to plan your journey well in advance. You can find detailed travel information here.

The closest station to the South Assembly Area is London Bridge, but Tower Hill tube station and Tower Gateway DLR station are closest for the North Assembly Area.

The Big Half starts on The Highway near Tower Bridge, heading towards Canary Wharf and looping back across Tower Bridge to finish at the Cutty Sark ⚓️

The New Balance Big Relay follows the same route, with changeover points at Canary Wharf (3 miles), Wapping High Street (~6 miles)and Rotherhithe (~9 miles).

Finally, the Big Mile is a fantastic free event for the whole family which starts by the Greenwich Train Station and finishes with a medal by the Cutty Sark!

For more information regarding the routes, including first aid stations, water stations and more please check the official route map here!

Pacing can be tricky, especially with the initial downhill from the start line! It can be easy to off too hard, so please be careful. Make sure to iron out the final details of how you're going to use Runna (ie. on your phone or with another device) before the start line, including audio cues and choice of target pace or RPE. Why not practise using your race-day workout during your shakeout and delete the recording? ⌚️

Please download any playlists in advance and open your Runna app before you get to the start line! Be aware that with so many other runners around you, you may have some issues with signal quality and bluetooth connectivity. If you're using headphones, make sure these are suitable for safe running, and consider turning off your music for the first few miles/kilometres - things can be quite crowded on the roads! Equally, you may wish to soak in all the amazing support from the crowd and fellow runners - perhaps save a few power ballads or pump-up jams for those tough latter stages! 🎤🥁

Here are a few more tips on race pacing for you too!

You've certainly got plenty of experience recording your runs with Runna, so we'd advise using the same method as you've been training with. Please be aware that with the tall buildings and sheer volume of runners, you may experience a few issues with your GPS and your completed run may take a little longer to upload than normal.

However, please don't panic! Just make sure to save your activity and refresh your Runna app when you have a stronger signal or Wi-Fi connection. You can check out more tips on how to troubleshoot common GPS issues here too.

Please feel free to reach out to our Customer Experience team if you have any further issues and we will help you as soon as we can! 🙏

You've done it, 13.1 miles, 21.1 km completed and what a journey! 🥳🏅

Having been presented with your medal and finisher's long-sleeved t-shirt (if you opted for one), a bottle of water and Lucozade, you'll find yourself either in the Festival Village at Greenwich Park. Grab a drink, have a snack, loosen your shoelaces and try not to sit down immediately! 😅

Pop on that warm top, display your medal (you've earned it) and wander over to your support crew for a gentle stretch and some post-race celebrations! 🎉

Once you have finished, submit your race details to our weekly race round-up form here to be featured on our Instagram! 📸

One of the trickiest things is meeting up with any friends and family post-race. Leave them to plan their spectator spots, but suggest a meet-up point in the Festival Area for post-race celebrations! There's a handy selection of A-Z signs that you can use for this, so make sure to agree on this beforehand.

The Festival Area is likely to be very busy, so it's also a good idea to plan your route home. Local buses will be operating in Greenwich, but you can also head to Greenwich Train Station, Cutty Sark DLR and Maze Hill Station too.

Check out the video below for some more of our Coaches' top tips for race day!