The Serpentine Handicap is a race of 6,975 metres (4.334 miles). Currently the course starts near the bandstand with two laps signalled by the marshals. The original course is twice round the Serpentine and Long Water, starting and finishing near the boathouse.

Unlike other road races you may have taken part in, the start of the Handicap is staggered according to individuals’ past performances, so that all runners finish the race at about the same time. This is the brilliance of the Handicap race – both fast and slow runners have a chance of winning. If all goes well, there is an exciting finish down the final straight. The race rewards not the fastest runner but the runner who performs best relative to their previous performance.

The history of the Handicap and explanation of the handicap system make interesting reading. The Tom Hogshead Trophy is awarded at the end of the year (you can see past winners using the links on the right of this page). The Stratford Cup is presented to the handicap runner who achieves the highest average age-grading in the Handicap over six races in each calendar year, beginning in 2015. The results of the Handicap are published on the Serpentine website. You can also see the Handicap course records.

Registration and race timings

The Handicap is held on the first Saturday of each month. Registration currently takes place from 8:30am near the bandstand and is strictly limited to the first 100 entries. No entries are accepted after 8:55am. New runners should arrive by 8:30am and get a race number (please bring £2) and a Scratch Runner ‘X’. If you have run before but forget to bring your number, you keep the same number and pay £2 for a replacement or £1 for a temporary handwritten number. Please arrive wearing your running kit: note that you are not allowed to change in the toilets at the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Café. You may leave a bag in the registration area where it is watched over by a marshal during the race. The nearest tube stations are Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner.