The stage is set for one of the biggest races in the UK this Sunday (3 September) when the aptly named The Big Half is expected to be contested by more than 15,000 people, including about 4,000 from community groups across the city, on a route that starts near Tower Bridge and finishes at the historic Cutty Sark in Greenwich. 

Sir Mo Farah will race for the last time in his hometown and an emotional farewell will be signalled by his wife Lady Tania Farah and his children – Rhianna, Aisha, Amani, and Hussein – who will be the official starters of the race. 

Sir Mo’s three wins at The Big Half are a record for the event and he will be hoping to sign off in style with a fourth victory when he will face a strong domestic field who are bidding to win places in the Great Britain team for the World Athletics Road Running Half Marathon Championships in Riga, Estonia, on October 1. 

Marc Scott (Richmond & Zetland AC, PB 60:39), Jack Rowe (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC, 62:04) and Jonny Mellor (Liverpool AC, 62:06) are the leading male entrants alongside Sir Mo while Samantha Harrison (Charnwood AC, 67:17), Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC, 68:55) and Calli Thackery (Hallamshire Harriers, 69:01) are the fastest in the women’s field. 

London’s community half marathon campaign is We Run As One, promoting running for all. To encourage local running and community groups to take part, there are capped entries costing £10, while there is also a discount for residents living in the four host London boroughs. 

This year, members of ASRA, a community and run club for Muslim women have helped design the T-shirts and medals for this year’s event. For the first time ever, the finisher T-shirts will be long-sleeved so members of ASRA and others in the Muslim community can feel comfortable wearing them. 

Incorporated in The Big Half is the New Balance Big Relay which enables a team of four to split the 13.1-mile half marathon distance into quarters. There is also The Big Mile for children and young people which starts in Greenwich Town Centre and finishes at the Cutty Sark.

The Big Half will be shown live on BBC Online and iPlayer from 08:10 to 10:30 as well as on The Big Half Facebook page here

Previous results and news stories are at the runABC race listing here

Photo courtesy of The Big Half on Facebook