A complimentary scheme is enabling residents of East London to accomplish the goal of finishing a half marathon.
Submissions are currently being accepted for the 2027 HOKA Hackney Academy, an initiative designed to assist local inhabitants in preparing for and successfully finishing the HOKA Hackney Half.
The programme, now entering its third iteration, targets individuals who are new to running or those getting back into the activity following injury, illness, or other significant life events.
The upcoming 2027 edition will accommodate 50 runners, providing them with expert coaching, regular group exercise sessions, running apparel, and complimentary registration for the fully-booked HOKA Hackney Half scheduled for May.
The initiative forms part of the broader HOKA Hackney Moves festival and seeks to eliminate obstacles preventing people from taking up running.
Ian Allerton, representing Motiv Sports UK, the entity behind HOKA Hackney Moves, stated that the Hackney Academy represents one of the most fulfilling aspects of the festival’s offerings.
Each season, remarkable individuals attend their initial session uncertain of their place within a running community, only to subsequently cross the Hackney Half finish line having accomplished something previously unimaginable.
The venture extends beyond athletics, encompassing personal confidence, social bonds, health benefits, and chances for community members to engage in something meaningful.
The team looks forward to accompanying another 50 participants through this experience in 2027.
The HOKA Hackney Half has emerged as one of Britain’s most coveted running occasions, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators annually as part of the HOKA Hackney Moves festival.
Those enrolled follow a systematic preparation schedule comprising regular coached workouts, developing not only their physical capabilities but also self-assurance within a collaborative group setting.
A participant from the 2026 cohort, Jannat, who resides in Hackney and works as a youth support professional, had never identified as a runner prior to her involvement with the academy.
Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 28, she managed to overcome the condition within five months through dietary and lifestyle modifications, and shed 36 kilograms over the course of a year.
Following her enrollment in the academy, she successfully finished the half marathon.
The initiative welcomes adults who are either entirely new to running or resuming after a prolonged period away, provided they can maintain commitment to the regular training schedule.