From 23 to 2000 - the rising success of the Brass Monkey Half Marathon

Launching a brand new race can be intimidating, but York Knavesmire Harriers didn't let this stop them! From making continuous losses to now requiring a ballot - here's how the club have nurtured a popular and successful half marathon event.

Back to its roots

The Brass Monkey Half Marathon was originally launched in 1983 by club founder, Brian Hughes. With lots of athletes preparing for the London Marathon, the race was established to support the club's runners with a fast, flat half marathon a couple of months out from the big day. The first year saw 23 runners compete - but fast forward to 2025, there was a total of 4700 people entering the ballot for 2000 spots.

However, it has taken many years to get the race to where it is today. For many years the club was making a loss on hosting the event - as the race got larger, so did the costs. Race Director, Richard, explained how the club have turned the race into a roaring success.

Making big changes

Yes the Brass Monkey is widely known as a PB course, but away from the quick conditions it is the ethos of the race which brings people back. Even when continuously making losses, the athlete experience always came first - with the race being organised for athletes, by athletes. The positive experience, caring volunteers and excellent reputation have been the perfect foundation.

Key changes introduced

• Ballot system: The main problem of the race growing in popularity, was the simultaneous disappointment of those who were not able to enter. The club originally experimented with a fastest finger first entry system, playing with the opening time to not clash with parkrun or key club training hours. However, the crowded servers and Wi-Fi troubles continued to frustrate entrants. In 2023, the ballot system was introduced, giving a wider window for people to enter with a random draw. Similar to other big races like Great North Run or London Marathon, this has made the process fair and open to all.
• Electronic entry systems: For over 30 years, the race operated on paper entry. Runners would need to wait weeks to see whether they got in. Working alongside online entry providers has removed a lot of manual admin.
• Club ballot: The race used to attract local York and surrounding running clubs, however in recent years clubs much further afield have been entering. For the 2025 edition of the race, a club ballot was introduced giving clubs a guaranteed number of spots - which was greatly received.
• Marketing: The internet and social media have been key to getting the word out there, whether that be to clubs for entries, to recruit volunteers or gain potential runners. Another important aspect for Brass Monkey is celebrating the successes of the race after it has taken place - really shout about the positive experiences, as word of mouth is a strong marketing tool to not only get runners to return, but to broaden the reach.
• Sustainability: The club has made huge efforts to improve the sustainability of the race by: collecting discarded clothing and donating to charity; using paper cups over plastic; encouraging car sharing and have a raffle for those with three plus people in their car; encouraging use of public transport and doing a sweep and clean of the roads and facilities post race.

The importance of community

An event of this scale would not be possible without a dedicated team of volunteers, over 200 to be exact. From course marshals to logistics, medical and marketing, it takes a lot of bodies to make the race a success.

Recruitment for the marshals takes place five months out from race day, with incentives for those who sign up early. Despite having a full roster with four weeks to go, it is essential to have spare with the inevitable winter bugs. Having over 200 marshals may seem like a lot but the aim is always to give the runners the best possible experience. From the marshals upwards, the club has created a fantastic structure of team leaders and directors to ensure smooth running and to enable people to learn the ropes - this in turn helps the race to run year on year with experienced hands in charge.

Community is not just about those helping out on race day, it is also about the residents of York. Ensuring that the race course and surrounding areas are just as they were found is essential. It all starts with prior warning of any road closures, pee patrols on the day (stopping urination outside of the toilets), and then a full sweep of the course removing any litter left behind.

Continuous learning

The world is ever changing, and as our sport becomes more popular, it's important that races continue to offer the best possible experience for athletes - something which Knavesmire Harriers are dedicated to. After the race each year, the organising committee meet in order to assess the successes and areas for improvement whilst it is fresh in their minds.

If you are interested in becoming a Race Director and want to take the first step, we have courses over the coming months.

All photos provided by JPO Photography from 2025 Brass Monkey Half Marathon