Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately you cannot enter at HBF branches, however should you experience any difficulty entering online, our events team is able to assist you and contactable at 08 6333 0330 or enquiry@hbfrun.com.au. You can register online until midnight on Friday 19 May.

Your entry fee goes towards the costs associated with organising the event and keeping you safe. This includes closing roads and managing traffic around the city, providing you with access to first aid and medical officers across all three distances and the finish line. An event of this size also works with police and other emergency services in the lead-up and on the day all of which are there to look out for you.

The entry fee also helps to cover the cost of items like your HBF Run t-shirt, timing, providing you with free public transport until 3 pm on event day, your finisher medal, and other items at the finish line like free fruit and massages.

Your entry fees don’t go directly to the beneficiaries associated with the event and the millions that have been raised over the past 10 years have come from participants fundraising for a cause close to their hearts.

You can fundraise or make a donation to one of our feature charities or support a charity of your choice – follow the prompts during registration to do so.

Children being pushed in prams don’t need to be registered. However, if you do register your child who will be pushed in a pram, they’ll receive participant benefits like a free event t-shirt and a medal at the finish line – it’s up to you, but the baby event t-shirts are extra cute!

For safety reasons, please note that participants pushing prams must select the Families & Prams category for both the 4km and 12km distances.

No, we do not have the option to enter via post. But if you live regionally, you can register online until 11.59pm on Friday 19 May. If you don’t have access to the internet you can contact our Event Team on 08 6333 0330 or email enquiry@hbfrun.com.au.

Courses refer to the three distances and the route that each takes. There are three to choose from – the Brooks Half Marathon, Specsavers 12km, and the Commonwealth Bank 4km.

Start Groups are assigned depending on the time you expect to take to complete the course. We encourage you to select a finish time so you are surrounded by people running or walking at a similar pace to you. Some people are running to smash their PB and run a 14-minute 4km, others are walking with prams and taking it easy. By selecting the correct wave, it helps us keep you safe and moving at your goal pace.

You must start in your assigned group. If you start in a group ahead of yours, your timing device will not activate and your time will not be recorded. Event Officials may also instruct you to move back to the appropriate group.

We encourage you to select a finish time so you are surrounded by people running or walking at a similar pace to you. Some people are running to smash their PB and run a 14-minute 4km, others are walking with prams and taking it easy. By selecting the correct wave, it helps us keep you safe and moving at your goal pace.

Brooks Half Marathon - we’ve only got one start group for the Brooks Half Marathon which makes things easy! We do ask that you self-seed at the start line. This means position yourself roughly amongst similar paces. There will be signage and our Brooks Pacers there as a guide. For example, if you are hoping to finish under 1hr 45 mins move closer to the start line or looking to finish in 2.30 we suggest starting a little further back.

If you haven’t done this distance before, start out by calculating your goal finish time based on your average pace per kilometre. Hot tip: Use Google ‘pace calculator’ to work out your goal pace per kilometre and finish time.

For the other two distances, please see below – choose your group based on how long you estimate it’ll take you to finish your distance on the day.

We know that many families will want to walk (or run) the course together as part of a special day out – that’s one of things that makes it such a fun day!

Please be mindful that children who intend on walking or running the course must be registered and wearing a participant bib. They also need to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

In a large crowd it can be easy to become separated from children. Please ensure you provide your child with a contact number to reach you on should they become separated and if appropriate plan for a meeting point at the finish.

Check out the A-Z meeting area just outside the medal collection at the finish line.

Absolutely – you’re welcome to walk the 12km or 4km. Just make sure you select the correct category when you enter. We have dedicated waves for walkers, families and prams so that you can take your time and enjoy the atmosphere without too many serious runners.

The Brooks Half Marathon can only be completed by runners or joggers as there are course cut off times due to road closures.

Please also note that due to safety regulations, you’re unable to take part in any of the events on a bicycle, roller-blades or scooter.

No, it’s not – it’s a favourite part of the course for many of our participants. Whilst it is a little warm, it’s adequately ventilated and has lighting all the way through. The tunnel will be closed to traffic well before the event commences to ensure that all car emissions have cleared.

Your pack is like a goody bag for taking part in this special event. They each contain your collectible event t-shirt and participant bib with an in-built timing chip.

Your participant bib must be pinned to the front of your t-shirt and remain attached throughout the event.

The in-built timing chip registers the time you cross the start and finish lines to calculate your time for official publication.

Pack Collection is where you can collect your participant pack from, you will also be able to:

• Submit a late entry
• Change your distance
• Drop your bag for transport to the finish line

T-shirts come with your pack and will be available for collection at HBF Stadium. Opening hours are Thursday 18 May – Saturday 20 May.

If you’ve selected to receive your pack by post during registration, your t-shirt will come in the mail with your pack.

Yes, to keep doing our bit to help the environment, we have worked closely with our supplier to develop the event t-shirts out of 100% recycled polyester – a sustainable alternative to traditional polyester. This means less plastic bottles in landfill and more being recycled.

Recycled polyester is fabric from recycled plastic bottles. It's a sustainable alternative to traditional polyester and involves transforming the plastic bottles into workable fibres which are used to create garments such as this year's HBF Run for a Reason t-shirt.

No, recycled polyester looks and feels identical to normal polyester that the HBF Run t-shirt has been made from for years. The fabric is breathable, lightweight and durable meaning you can wear your HBF Run t-shirt for years ahead.

It’s best if you arrive at least 45 minutes before the start of the event. That way you can use any services you require (like the Bag Compound, toilets), find your starting group and have time to soak up the atmosphere of the start line.

You sure can – there are two options:

Delivery to finish line
Before event day, you can drop your belongings at the Pack Collection area at HBF Stadium. We'll transport it to the finish line so it's ready for you to pick up after the event. All bags must be collected from the finish line by noon on event day.

Drop off closes at 5pm on Saturday 20 May.

OR

Forrest Place storage
You can drop your items at the City of Perth Bag Drop area located in Forrest Place from 6am on event day - just remember that you'll have to collect it from here too by noon on event day.

No bags from the Forrest Place start will be transported to the finish line.

For safety reasons, clear bags will be provided at both locations - no personal bags will be accepted. Event organisers will do everything they can to look after your belongings but accept no responsibility for their security so please leave any valuables at home.

Your FREE HBF Run t-shirt of course! But if you prefer you can wear your favourite running gear. Make sure your walking/running shoes fit well (and you’ve worn them before to make sure they are comfy). And bring a hat and sunscreen to slip, slop, slap.

There is loads of entertainment on course, so leave the headphones at home and soak up the atmosphere!

There will be lots of important information from course marshals and police that you’ll need to be able to hear for your own safety and that of fellow participants. Also, even though the roads are closed there will be emergency service vehicles on course so you’ll need to be aware of what’s going on around you.

Yes, our event partner City of Perth works with their retailers to open nice an early. More information will be available closer to the event. We do ask that you avoid using these outlets for their toilet facilities and use the event toilets as illustrated on the start map.

The atmosphere at the start line can only be described as electric! We’ll be getting the music pumping, having celebrity appearances and taking you through a fun but all-important, warm-up.

Yes, there are toilets scattered at various points throughout the course, however they are limited so we suggest going to the toilets located near the start line.

There are also toilets near the finish line at Gloucester Park.

There sure is. We’ll have a selection of food vendors in the finish area at Gloucester Park. Whatever your mood you can grab breakfast, lunch or a healthy snack.

Most vendors will have EFTPOS facilities however if you do need to cash, there are ATM facilities in the grand stand at Gloucester Park.

It’s best to wear an old jumper or jacket that you no longer need – you can then leave it at the side of the start line and our volunteers will collect everything and donate it to Vinnies.

Make sure to remove any personal items e.g. mobile phones, wallet before you pop your jumper or jacket aside. Please don’t wear/bring any garbage bags or plastic as these can become a serious tripping hazard.

Remember once you flick it, it’s collected, along with approximately two tonnes of garments and taken straight to sorting facilities at Vinnies.

There will be drink stations serving water at the start line, throughout the course and at the finish line. On course water locations can be viewed on the course map of each distance:

• Brooks Half Marathon
• Specsavers 12km
• Commonwealth Bank 4km

You need to wear your bib on your chest throughout the event. The timing device is attached to the back of the bib. Please see the back of your bib for more information on how to wear these correctly – we’ll be providing safety pins in your participant pack.

The event will have a rolling start meaning each wave and distance will follow on from the previous one. To view start times visit:

• Brooks Half Marathon
• Specsavers 12km
• Commonwealth Bank 4km

Everyone must be in place in your appropriate start group (corresponding to your bib colour) before the official start time of your event. Our volunteers will move you across the start line in order. Timing devices and mats will record the time you actually cross the start and finish lines.

You’ll be asked to move. Your timing device and participant bib are assigned to a starting group within each event category.

You must start in your assigned group. If you start in a group ahead of yours, your timing device will not activate and your time will not be recorded.

No. For safety reasons the use of bicycles, skateboards, roller blades/skates or any other similar mode of transport is not permitted with the exception of wheelchairs.

Once you’ve crossed the finish line you can post a selfie, write your finish time, frame it… or dispose of it. Remember if you want to get back on public transport for free, you’ll need to keep your participant bib until you get home.

Results will be available within 5 minutes of crossing the timing mats at the finish line via www.hbfrun.com.au

The finish line is a hub of activity so why not stick around and enjoy the fun and entertainment.

As soon as you’ve crossed the finish line you’ll enter the recovery chute and receive some water plus a piece of fruit and your all-important medal.

Then you’re free to explore - we’ll have free massages on offer, a stretch/recovery zone, food vendors, music and kids entertainment plus be sure to grab some snaps with your friends and family and tag @hbfrun and #hbfrun.

Yes, you can purchase your Refuel Breakfast after registering up until Friday 12 May. Simply log into the registration portal to do so.

• x1 Muesli Bar
• x1 100g Yoghurt (incl. a spoon)
• x1 Wrapped Banana Bread
• x1 100g Healthy Snack Mix (nuts, seeds and dried fruit)
• x1 Coconut Water

You won’t be able to purchase this on event day, it must be pre-purchased for $17.00 per person.

As much as we love furry friends, for safety reasons you can't bring your dog along.

Assistance dogs are permitted.

Make sure you clearly wear your participant bib on your front and smile for the cameras on event day! After the event, we’ll email you a link to view and download your FREE photos by simply searching for your bib number. Additional photo packages will also be available to purchase.

While every effort is made to capture photos of everyone on event day, we may miss you if there’s a particularly large crowd.

Take public transport. Your participant bib doubles as your free ticket to get to and from the event until 3pm on Sunday 21 May – just show it on the bus or train on the morning of the event.

Transperth will be operating rel="noopener noreferrer" special trains to the event – Use this Journey Planner link to arrive on time and get home safely .

Included in the cost of your entry is a free shuttle bus that will pick you up from Hale St, Gloucester Park and drop you back at the entry to the Perth Busport.

Make sure you hold onto your participant bib, because it’s your free ticket home on Transperth buses and trains until 3pm Sunday 21 May. These buses will run continuously on loop throughout the morning.

We encourage participants to take public transport as it’s the quickest and easiest way of getting to the event. If you do want to drive though, we recommend parking in CPP Elder Street Car Park.

Please be aware that there will be road closures in and around the CBD on event day. We’ll release information on exactly which roads are closed and how long for closer to the day.

It’s necessary to close some roads on event day as they form part of the route our participants walk, jog or run. We’ll release information on exactly which roads are closed and how long for closer to event day.

Yes, secure public bike parking is available in the CPP Elder Street car park on the corner of Elder Street and Murray Street.

Yes, you are welcome to bring a pram along to the event on the free transport services however please ensure it is folded while on-board. Also, keep in mind that some buses may be older and have stair access only.

If you can’t persuade them to join you on course, then the best place for them to cheer you on is directly outside Gloucester Park. They’ll be able to see you as you head towards the finish line and then meet you once you’re done to join all the fun in the finish area.

Other places include:

Brooks Half Marathon

• Riverside Drive
• Plus the below 12km spectator points

Specsavers 12km

• Burswood Park
• Victoria Park
• Causeway

Commonwealth Bank 4km

• Riverside Drive

If you choose to spectate, please check the road closures closer to the event as many of the above locations are only accessible by foot.

Get in touch with Grassrootz via their hotline support@grassrootz.com

HBF Run for a Reason allows participants to raise funds for health related charities. There are almost 200 registered charities with new ones being added all the time.

If you know of a WA health related charity that is not registered please contact the charity directly. Charities can't be added by participants. Charities must contact enquiry@hbfrun.com.au where more information will be given on how to get set up on Grassrootz.

Please confirm arrangements with your Team Captain.

Option 1 - Pick up
Your Team Captain has arranged to collect packs for everyone in the team. You'll need to get in touch with your Team Captain directly to find out how to collect your pack from them.

Option 2 - Self managed
If you chose ‘Pick up’ when you registered as part of the team, you will need to visit Pack Collection to collect your pack. Don't forget to bring your e-ticket with you, either print a copy at home or show it to us on your phone to collect your pack. This will be emailed to you from Friday 12 May. If you chose ‘Postage’ your pack will be sent to your chosen address.

No sorry, you’ll need to stick to your assigned start group to prevent any frustration from being surrounded by people going at a different speed from you.

If you start in a group ahead of the one you’re assigned to, your timing device won’t activate and your time will not be recorded. Our event officials will also instruct you to move back to the appropriate group.

No, teams can include participants across all three distances and waves.

Yes, visit the teams page on the HBF Run website or email enquiry@hbffitness.com.au for more information.