This is a big draw race. The ballot is always oversubscribed and hence they can charge £55 per bib.

Plenty of information beforehand. Bibs are sent out a couple of weeks before the race.

 On the day, there is a big race village. Lots of vendors, food stalls, entertainment and charity tents. I found the bag drop pretty efficient. There is a long queue but it moves quickly and there are lots of handover points. I didn’t find problem with toilets as the queue for the urinals went down pretty quickly.

My only gripe as with any other race is people starting in inappropriate pens or running three or four abreast.

The course is fast and wide along most of the route. There are some gentle inclines in Hyde Park but most of the route is flat and speedy. The course itself is one of the best in central and west London.

Support is great around most of the course though a bit more sparse towards the latter stages before the finish.

Unique wood medal, Lucozade sport, water and banana at the finish then back to the race village to queue up and construct your goody bag. I’ve been lucky enough to get there before the masses but I can imagine that later finishers will find the queue long on already tired legs. The goody bag contents is very good and I’ve always gone home with an overflowing rucksack.

Great course, plenty of support apart from last couple of miles, generous goody bag. Big crowds on the course can slow you down but if you can find the openings can be fast. Cost is justified by popularity, course with a view and goody bag. Organisation is as good as one would expect for a big landmark race. There is a free photo of the finish line but this is a photo of the whole finish line from a distance so it will be difficult to pick yourself out. Expect to pay big money for the official photos.