Sir Mo Farah used his head to win The Big Half in London on Sunday (4 September) as 12,612 people finished London's community half marathon, with nearly 2,000 more taking part in the free to enter The Big Mile later in the day. 

Farah, of Newham & Essex Beagles, was in the leading pack from the start but kept his powder dry for around 10 miles before surging ahead to finish beside the Cutty Sark in 1:01:49, becoming the first man to triumph three times on the course. “It’s nice to make history,” Farah said. “I love London and I love coming back out here. There was massive support.”

Regarding his return to the full marathon distance at the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October, he added: “I’m really looking forward to it – it’s going to be a great race, no matter what happens.”

Last year’s runner-up Jack Rowe (Aldershot, Farnham & District) was second again, in a PB of 1:02:04, while 2021 victor Jake Smith (Cardiff) was third in 1:02:10. 

Meanwhile, the women's course record was smashed by Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) as she used front running tactics from the klaxon to the tape in 1:07:35 to take 2:16 from last year’s winner Charlotte Purdue’s record of 1:09:51.

McColgan, who has had an incredible season during which she ran seven races in 30 days, picking up four major medals including 10,000m gold at the Commonwealth Games, said: “It was a tough effort after a long season. So to run 67:35 today and break the course record, I can’t ask for any more than that.”

Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham & District) was hoping for her fourth win in the event but had to settle for second in 1:10:15, while Samantha Harrison (Charnwood) was third in 1:10:22. 

More than 150 teams split the half-marathon distance into four legs in New Balance Big Relay and 3,000 runners from local community groups received discounted entry from the organisers London Marathon Events to ensure there were plenty of participants from the boroughs the course passes through – Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets – and support from the communities that live within them.

Results and previous reports at runABC South race listing

Image of Sir Mo Farah by Jed Leicester courtesy of The Big Half