Club Handicap

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The Serpentine Handicap

The Serpentine Handicap is a race of 6,975 metres (4.334 miles) which is a course of twice round the Serpentine and Long Water, starting and finishing near the boathouse. Occasionally, work and events in the Royal Parks cause the route to be modified; if so this will be clearly signalled by the marshals.

Start of the Handicap near Serpentine

Group starts in the Handicap along the Serpentine Lake

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 should 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, and 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 takes place from 8:30am at the bench near the Boathouse, and is strictly limited to the first 100 entries. No entries will be 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 but will need to pay £2 for a replacement or £1 for a temporary handwritten number. Please come 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 and it will be looked after by a marshal during the race. The nearest tube stations are Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner.

Medals are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

Our Handicap Team

  • Fliss Berridge
  • Diego Caballero
  • Alessandro Dovis
  • Luke Parker
  • Georgie Shanahan
  • Sarah Yates
  • If you want to volunteer for the event or in the team, or any other questions Email us here
Handicap winners 2023

Notes

The Handicap is for members of the Serpentine Running Club only. If you are not a member you can join the club online, but to be added to the Handicap you need to join by the Friday morning preceding a race.

Race times, race points are recorded on the website in your profile.

Race starts are calculated and adjusted considering previous performances. The organisers may at their discretion change a competitor’s start time if they believe it does not accurately reflect the runner’s ability. Any runner suspected of intentionally performing below their ability in order to skew results may be disqualified from the Handicap competition.

Unless it is your first handicap race, you must wear club colours to take part (tri tops, red/gold Serpie t-shirts, and Serpie running tops are all valid). Finally, please note that runners are not allowed to wear headphones while competing, as runners need to be able to hear marshals’ instructions, other competitors and vehicles approaching from behind. Anyone who fails to comply with race rules risks being disqualified.