If you can't make the 2021 race date (16th May) or want to complete the Half Marathon virtually, we are giving you the opportunity to transfer to the Virtual race. You can run the virtual race on any day you like, until the 20th September.

You need to run the entire half marathon distance in one go, and upload supporting evidence of your participation using the link in your confirmation email, before the 20th September.

Charities have missed out on millions of vital fundraising raised by runners this year. If you planned to run for charity in 2020, deferring your entry to 2021 will provide you with extra time to help you smash your fundraising target. If you would like to run for our official race charity Northern Lights, you can edit your entry once you have deferred.

You will still receive your medal and the T-shirt size you ordered (subject to availability). We will post your medal and T-shirt after you complete your virtual race and upload your results.

If you originally ordered a hoodie or iTab, we will post your hoodie with your medal and T-shirt and your iTab will arrive shortly afterwards, directly from iTab. If you ordered a photo package, this will be refunded.

Please note that by transferring to the virtual race, you cannot transfer to another race, or another runner, and your rights to defer to 2021 or to receive a refund will be waived, this cannot be undone.

Our events would not be possible without the support of our runners and your desire to run with us. Many of you come from across the UK & abroad to take part.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented us all from getting together to celebrate what should have been an amazing day of running and outstanding achievements.

If you would like to waive your entry fee to help offset some of the unrecoverable costs and support the future of the Essar Chester Half Marathon, we would be very grateful.

Please note that by donating your entry fee, your rights to defer to 2021 or to receive a refund will be waived, this cannot be undone.

If you'd rather take part in the full event and experience all the fun that the Essar Chester Half Marathon race day has to offer, we are giving you the opportunity to defer your entry place to the 2021 Essar Chester Half Marathon which will take place on the 16th May 2021.

Normally we are not able to offer deferrals but these are unprecedented times and your continued support of our races is important to us.

Due to the costs already incurred for planning the event, ordering the medals, shirts, hoodies and goody bag content for the originally scheduled race date in May, and further costs incurred for postponing the event, we are only able to offer a deferral at 50% off the 2021 early bird race price. We are sorry that the deferral discount cannot be more.

To make up for missing out this year, we're planning to make the 2021 Half Marathon bigger and better than ever, so it is extra special for everyone taking part. We hope you can join us.

Charities have missed out on millions of vital fundraising raised by runners this year. If you planned to run for charity in 2020, deferring your entry to 2021 will provide you with extra time to help you smash your fundraising target. If you would like to run for our official race charity Northern Lights, you can edit your entry once you have deferred.

If you originally ordered a hoodie, iTab or photos your payment for these will transfer over automatically.

Please note that by transferring to the 2021 race, as per our normal T&C's you cannot transfer again to a future or different event and your rights to receive a refund will be waived, this cannot be undone. You will still be able to transfer your 2021 place to another runner if your circumstances change.

Normally we are not able to offer refunds but these are unprecedented times and your continued support of our races is important to us.

Due to the costs already incurred for planning the event, ordering the medals, shirts, hoodies and goody bag content for the originally scheduled race date in May, further costs incurred for postponing the event and our insurance not covering us for communicable diseases, we are not able to offer a full refund.

Thanks also to the kind generosity of our title sponsor Essar, we are able to offer you a 50% refund plus 100% of any additional add-ons that you ordered.

We appreciate this is not the ideal scenario you would have liked, but it is the most we can offer. We are sorry that it cannot be more.

• If you entered the race using a transfer from another runner, we do not hold any financial information related to your entry fee or have any financial records of how much you paid for a transfer place so will not be able to offer you a refund.

• If you entered the race using a free place, you are not entitled to a refund but can select to defer to 2021 or run the Virtual race.

Please note that by opting for a 50% refund your entry will be cancelled and your rights to defer to 2021 will be waived, this cannot be undone.

This option is only intended for runners who have entered the race using a transfer from another runner or using a free place, and who are unable to make the date of the 2021 Essar Chester Half Marathon scheduled for 16th May or have decided that running a Half Marathon is not for them.

If you added additional items to your entry after you completed the transfer, such as an iTab, photos or hoodie, 100% of any ordered addons will be refunded.

We appreciate this is not the ideal scenario you would have liked and we are sorry this is all we are able to offer.

Please note that your entry will be cancelled and your rights to defer to 2021 will be waived, this cannot be undone.