The short answer
Check whether your race allows a change of holder: if it does, someone who can't go passes you their bib through the official process. In bib-transfer races you pay the entry to the organiser; in direct-change races, don't pay anything before the bib is in your name. If it doesn't allow it, look for its waiting list or official resale.
A change of holder
In bib-transfer races, someone who can't run transfers their bib to you through the official process and you pay the entry to the organiser. Find your race and reserve one of its listings. If there are none, tap 'Notify me' to join the queue: each new bib is offered exclusively, first come first served, before anyone else.
In direct-change races, the organiser only changes the details and the money goes between runners. Protected purchase, for races with a direct change between runners, is coming later. If you arrange it yourself, don't pay before the bib is in your name.
The waiting list or official resale
Many organisers fill freed places from their own list: the 2026 Seville Half Marathon, sold out and non-transferable, had an official waiting list at €50. Others resell on their website, like the Barcelona Half Marathon with its marketplace; the guide takes you there.
According to our report, 39 out of 62 races that sell out either don’t allow transfers or fill places from their own waiting list.
What to avoid
In forums and groups, people often pay the seller and run on someone else's bib, uninsured and outside the rules. 8 of the 22 races in our report punish selling outside the official process with a 4-year entry ban. Check before you pay for a bib.
Sources
- Seville Half Marathon 2026 rules and FAQ, read on 15 Oct 2026. RulesIts guide
- Barcelona Half Marathon official marketplace, read on 26 Oct 2026. MarketplaceIts guide
- Report 'Changing your bib in Spain 2026': 22 races with their rules read, read on 15 Oct 2026. The report
- Pasadorsal FAQ, read on 8 Nov 2026. FAQ
Reviewed on 8 Nov 2026.