Hackney moved to the beat of 53,000 feet in the HOKA Hackney Moves Running Festival at the weekend (15 – 17 May). And that was just during the climax of the three-day spectacular, when three races brought the sold-out festival to a close on Hackney Marshes.

The showcase event is the HOKA Hackney Moves Half Marathon starting at 9:00am. This year, we saw 23,645 runners finish the 13.1-mile course inside four and a half hours. The top trio were Sam Tyas (Belgrave Harriers, 1:06:34), Chris Bruchhausen (South Africa/Belgrave Harriers, 1:07:09) and Oliver Way (Ealing Southall & Middlesex AC, 1:07:29).

Ciara Boyd-Squires Long (Victoria Park Harriers), from Australia, won a top-quality women's race in 1:14:54, just four seconds ahead of Tessa McCormick (Vale Royal AC, 1:14:58). GB international ultra runner, Becky Briggs (City of Hull AC, 1:16:49), was third.

HOKA Hackney Moves included a HOKA Hackney Trail 5.9K race on Friday (15 May) and the HOKA Hackney 5K on Saturday (16 May). The winner of both races was Olmo Valeyos Hernando in 19:49 and 16:24, respectively. The Spanish athlete competes for Southwark AC and completed the Hackney Moves triple by finishing 13th in the Half Marathon in 1:13:46!

The women's winner of both supporting races was unattached under-17 talent Jude Oyston in 23:36 and 19:01.

Hackney Moves is a renowned fusion of culture and movement with a vibrant Hackney Marshes Race Village and Fitness Festival. The fully inclusive programme of events includes the HOKA Hackney Schools free youth running program. The Hackney Schools Challenge gives local primary school children of all abilities their chance to shine on the HOKA Hackney Half Marathon finish line.

In 2026, the HOKA Hackney Schools Challenge comprised over 30 schools from Hackney and the surrounding boroughs. Pupils cover as many miles as they can in the lead up to the event, either at home or at school. The final mile of the challenge takes place at the Hackney Marshes Race Village.

The Hackney Moves Festival features a Main Stage, the House of Fitness, and the House of Wellness, with around 30 different performers, fitness instructors, and wellness leaders.

Results and previous reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Image courtesy of Hackney Moves on Facebook