McColgan and Farah among star names on way to South London

Commonwealth Games star Eilish McColgan will look to continue her memorable year when she makes her debut at The Big Half next month. 

Sir Mo Farah is also among the top runners due to take part, with the legendary Paralympian David Weir taking part in the wheelchair race. 

The half marathon event takes places on Sunday, September 4, and will be screened live on the BBC and on Facebook.

Behind the elite races, an estimated 15,000 participants are due to take part in London’s community half marathon.  

The event celebrates the diversity of London and, in particular, the four boroughs the route passes through: Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.  

The race starts close to Tower Bridge and finishes beside the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.  

Also taking place on the day, as well as The Big Half, is The Big Mile which begins at 2.30pm and is for all ages and abilities. The route starts and finishes in Greenwich with the finish also beside the Cutty Sark. 

McColgan had a Commonwealth Games she will never forget – winning the gold medal in stunning fashion in the 10,000m and then following that up with silver in the 5,000m.  

McColgan said: “I’m so excited to be coming back to London to run in The Big Half after a wonderful summer of sport for me.  

“To be making my debut in The Big Half after winning a gold and silver at the Commonwealth Games is a dream come true.

“The TCS London Marathon isn’t too far around the corner, so it’ll be great to test my legs and see where I am before taking on the full marathon distance in October.”  

Challenging McColgan in the women’s race will be reigning champion of The Big Half, Charlotte Purdue, who secured her third win at the event last year and set a new women’s course record of 69:51 in the process.   

In the elite men’s race, Farah, who announced he was running The Big Half last month, will be joined by an extremely strong domestic field that includes two former champions: last year’s winner Jake Smith and 2020 victor Chris Thompson.  

The elite wheelchair field will be headed by Weir, who returns to The Big Half for the fourth time. Weir will also be looking to celebrate 10 years since he won his four Paralympic gold medals at the 2012 London Games.   

Weir will be hoping to bounce back from the disappointment of puncturing while leading the Commonwealth Games marathon final in Birmingham.  

Pictured top: Mo Farah after winning the 2019 Big Half (Picture: Steven Paston/PA Archive/PA Images)