A record 17,193 people finished The Big Half today in a unique celebration of running and community.
Now in its eighth year, The Big Half is now the UK’s most diverse and vibrant running festival and is a showcase of the varied people and communities that make up London.
Among those taking part in The Big Half and The New Balance Big Relay, the team event that enables participants to break down the half marathon into 5K chunks, there were members of 280 community run groups from across the capital who benefitted from discounted entries to encourage a wider diversity of people taking part in the event.
The event started close to Tower Bridge and finished at Cutty Sark. Along the route, community groups, musical bands and local schools created cheer zones to create a unique atmosphere for participants.
The Big Mile, for families and children of all ages, saw more than 1,500 people take part on a course held over the final stretch of The Big Half course.
Hugh Brasher, London Marathon Events CEO, said: “The Big Half is both a celebration of running and of community and today a record number of people experienced that powerful combination on the streets of London. From all those taking part in either The Big Half, The New Balance Big Relay or The Big Mile, or to those spectating creating incredible atmospheres at community cheer zones along the route, today was a showcase of what makes London and the people of London great. This is an event like no other, it is the UK’s most diverse and vibrant community running festival and if you want to experience it, entries are now open for next year’s event.”
Coopah’s Refugee Run Club members pride at seeing thousands of finishers with medal and t-shirts they designed
One of the 280 community groups taking part in The Big Half today was The Coopah Refugee Run Club whose members helped design The Big Half finisher’s medal and T-shirt.
One of the designers was Rawand Gurun, who arrived in the UK from Kurdistan in 2020 and found a sense of community in the Coopah Refugee Run Club.
Today he ran The Big Half for the first time, having not been able to run 5K continuously when he joined the club and afterwards he was proud to see thousands of his fellow finishers wearing the T-shirts and medals he helped create.
He said: “Anytime I am in London I feel proud and it was a big achievement for us, and it means a lot to do it as part of the Coopah Refugee Run Club. It makes us feel emotional to see others wearing the T-shirt. Running is community and this spreads the message that we support each other and share love.”
His fellow Coopah Refugee Run Club member Salman Nizni added: “We designed the T-shirt and medal this year, and it is very meaningful to us. We had a really good time during the run, and I am so happy to see everyone wearing the T-shirt that we have designed afterwards.”
The Big Half 2025 began with a series of elite races which saw David Weir break the course record in the elite men’s wheelchair race just weeks after being involved in a collision with a vehicle that left him needing hospital treatment.
Weir, now 46, set a time of 46:58 to win the event for a record fourth time and admitted afterwards he was surprised at this performance given he had to take two weeks off after the training accident in mid-July.
He said: “I’ve not raced for a while after the accident in July and have been left a bit rusty so I am very happy to have set a course record, but I still think there is more than in the tank.”
Elsewhere in the elite races, Jack Rowe won for a third straight year – matching Sir Mo Farah’s record of wins in the elite men’s category – finishing in a time of 64:08 while Eden Rainbow-Cooper, fresh from finishing second at last weekend’s TCS Sydney Marathon, won the elite women’s wheelchair race.
The elite women’s race was won by Jess Warner-Judd who revealed afterwards how much she enjoyed the atmosphere on the route and focusing on road racing after personal struggles on the track.
She said: “I’ve had to start over. I wanted to focus on the track and make [the World Athletics Championships in] Tokyo, but it became clear early on that it wasn’t going to happen. Training was going well, which made it even more frustrating - I’m probably in the best shape of my life, but I just couldn’t replicate it on the track. I’m hoping therapy will help me get back there, but honestly, I’m really enjoying the road. It feels like a fresh start.”
A new look for the 2026 Big Half as entries open
The Big Half revealed a brand-new look for the future today as entries opened for the 2026 edition which will take place on Sunday 6 September.
The London Marathon Events (LME) team have created a new look for the event that reflects the fun, boldness and vibrancy of the UK’s most diverse half marathon.
LME is also working with London-based innovation agency SVNTH Dimension to ensure the event resonates with the capital’s diverse run crews and communities.
Timipre Maxwell founded SVNTH Dimension as well as co-founding the BRKED-OFF run club and having grown up in Lewisham, he is very much at the heart of The Big Half community.
He said: “In today’s world, we have more tools to connect us than ever before, but people feel more alone than ever. That’s why communities like running and hiking clubs are so powerful. They create physical and digital spaces for people to coexist.
“My biggest mission in life is about social change – particularly for ethnic minorities, and eventually for Africa as a whole. That’s why working with London Marathon Events feels so right. It fits with my personal ethos to the core: creating opportunities that lead to real impact.”