Jack Rowe targets historic third win at The Big Half to equal Sir Mo Farah’s record
Now in its eighth year, The Big Half was created to not only showcase the rich and varied communities that make up London, but to be an event that is truly for the people of those communities.
Aware the cost of entering mass participation events can be a barrier to taking part for many, The Big Half has pioneered the use of discounted community group entries to encourage a wider diversity of people taking part in the event.
This year, 280 community groups from across London have places in The Big Half, from groups such as Emancipated Run Crew, ASRA and Black Girls Do Run, which have been part of the event from the outset, to new groups such as Overtime Club, Rocup and Tom’s Run Club.
It is not just participants that are drawn from the capital’s communities, there are community groups and local school cheer zones lined along the route, as well as musical groups who will play to keep participants entertained.
One of the community groups, The Coopah Refugee Run Club, has also designed The Big Half finisher’s medal and T-shirt.
Sanaa Qureshi, Senior Community Engagement Manager at London Marathon Events (organiser of The Big Half), said: “The Big Half is not your typical mass participation event, it was created to make a positive impact on communities by both celebrating the richness and variety of cultures in our communities, and to make a genuine difference to local people by giving them opportunities to be part of this incredible event. We know there is still significant inequity in access to mass participation events, and sport and physical activity as a whole, which London Marathon Events is committed to tackling and events like The Big Half is a huge part of this.”
About the 2025 event
The main event of The Big Half is the half marathon which starts close to Tower Bridge and finishes at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. More than 23,000 people have registered to take on the 13.1-mile challenge which will start with the elite wheelchair races at 08:25. Five minutes later, at 08:30, the elite men and women will set off with the thousands of mass runners behind them.
The festival of running will also include The New Balance Big Relay, which encourages groups of up to four people to break down the half marathon distance together, and The Big Mile, a family-friendly run for all ages that also finishes at the Cutty Sark.
A festival area will run in Greenwich Park throughout the day, which is free and open to everyone. It will include food and drink vendors, entertainment, a multi-faith prayer space and sensory calm zone, plus a stall from Kitround, which sells pre-loved sports kit and clothing at a reduced price (with a focus on providing sports kit for young people and children as they return to school) and a JogOn collection point where people can donate unwanted or unused running shoes.
