Very easy registration online for this race, and I got my number and kit bag in the post a couple of weeks before. The race day info came by email, but not till a few days before the race. It hadn't occurred to me that there wouldn't be any parking - the nearest was 30 minutes walk from the race village at Westfield. I went by tube to Leyton and walked 15 minutes to the festival village so I was warmed up! This bit was really well sign posted.
There seemed to be loads of toilets which is always good! I paid extra for VIP bag drop which was very straight forward.
The race itself was really good. Loads of music along the way and lots of support from the people in Hackney. There seemed to be a huge number of pacers, I didn't quite manage to stay with the one I started with, but she was great!
The aid station were generally good, although there were a couple where there didn't seem to be enough people handing out water (in bottles which was good) so some runners missed out or had to stop completely. The race pack said Lucozade would be in cups to avoid waste, but by the time I got to 11 (ish) miles, the Lucozade station was desterted (not because I'm a slow runner!!) and the route strerwn with almost full bottles. I could have really done with it then so that was tough.
This was described as a flat half, but the last couple of miles round the olympic park were slightly more undulating I thought, but overall its a good route.
The end was unlike any other I've experienced - as I crossed the line I was given a medal and a bag, and then you kind of had to help yourself to a t-shirt, water, Lucozade, crisps and peanut butter. All this caused congestion - usually everything is already in the bag, and it seemed like this could have been done better. Lovely medal, bag and t shirt though.
The whole idea is that runners will stay for the festival or bring people for the fitness classes and food. It did look like there was loads of great food and drink on offer, but I didn't stay this teim, although I'll definitely stay next time.
My entry cost £53, and a lot has been made of the free photos that were included in this. I've run 2 half marathons this year where free photos were included and the cost was under £25, and as it happened there were no pictures of me in Hackney, so I'd say its more like you're paying for the extra stuff in the festival.
It was a good race, I think I just had super high expectations because of the Virgin branding.