More than 17,000 runners took to the streets of central London yesterday (Sunday 11th October) for the biggest Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon in the event’s history, bringing an incredible wave of runners, supporters and spectators to the capital for a spectacular day of running, fundraising and celebration.
Now in its 19th year, the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon is more than a race. It brings together runners of all abilities, charities, families and communities for an unforgettable 13.1-mile journey through some of London’s most iconic sights. The closed-road course took runners through Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens, passing landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square before finishing between the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial.
This year also marked an exciting new chapter for the event as Oysho joined the Royal Parks Half Marathon as its new Headline Sponsor. The partnership brought together two organisations united by a shared passion for movement and wellbeing, with Oysho supporting the running community both in the build-up to race day and across the event itself.
The race also saw a host of familiar faces take on the 13.1-mile challenge, including presenter Dermot O’Leary, singer Olly Murs, actor Adam Woodyatt, TOWIE star Chloe Meadows, broadcaster Jenni Falconer and TV host and cook Tilly Ramsay.
As runners crossed the finish line, the event village became a hub of post-race celebration, with runners able to explore sponsor offers, refuel and reunite with their supporters. Oysho offered its running clothing collection alongside a personalisation station and race-day photo opportunity, while Salomon brought an interactive trail-running simulator to the park. Pip & Nut served up samples and its toast bar, Tenzing offered its natural energy drinks, and families could enjoy a dedicated kids’ zone. The Community Hub also hosted a beginner-friendly shadow boxing session with Ramla Ali Sisters Club.
Alongside the thousands taking part on the course, supporters lined the route and filled the parks throughout the morning, creating the electric atmosphere the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon has become known for.
The event once again highlighted the power of running to bring people together for good. This year’s event has so far raised £8 million, and with that figure set to rise in the coming days, the 2026 race is on course to break 2025’s annual fundraising record of £8.5 million. The Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon has now helped raise more than £88 million for more than 1,900 UK charities since launching in 2008. The event’s proceeds also support the management and enhancement of London’s Royal Parks.
The 2026 event also continued the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, with initiatives including water refill stations, compostable cups, FSC-certified wooden medals and the ‘Drop the Finisher Top’ initiative, which gives runners the option to support planting around the Serpentine Lake edge instead of receiving a finisher T-shirt.
Commenting on this year’s event, Liz Tack, Head of the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon, said:
“Today has been a brilliant celebration of everything that makes the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon so special. Seeing a record-breaking number of runners take on the streets of London, supported by thousands of spectators, volunteers, charities and our incredible partners, has been fantastic.
“This year has also marked an exciting new chapter with Oysho joining us as Headline Sponsor. Their support has helped us bring even more energy, experiences and opportunities to our running community.
“Whether this was someone’s first ever half marathon, a personal challenge or a race for a cause close to their heart, every runner had their own reason for being on that start line, and that is what makes this event so special.
“A huge congratulations to every runner who took part, and thank you to our charities, volunteers, partners, supporters and the whole team behind the scenes. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
Photography: RB Creates.
