September is shaping up to be a key month in British endurance running with The Big Half scheduled for Sunday 3 September, three weeks before the postponed Vitality London 10,000 and Vitality Westminster Mile weekend.

London Marathon Events and UK Athletics have confirmed that this year's The Big Half will incorporate the official trial race for the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon.

The first three British men and women to finish at The Big Half will gain guaranteed places in the Great Britain team at this year’s World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon, in Riga, Latvia, on Sunday 1 October, providing they have the qualifying time of 62:30 for men and 71:30 for women.

Spencer Barden, Head of Elite Athletes at London Marathon Events, said: “We are delighted that The Big Half will be UK Athletics’ official trial race for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon and look forward to welcoming the very best of British distance runners to London on Sunday 3 September.” 

Steve Vernon, World Class Plan Endurance Performance Manager at UK Athletics, said: “We are pleased to be working with London Marathon Events on the half marathon trial race – at The Big Half – for the World Athletics Road Running Championships. We look forward to seeing competitive racing at the event as athletes look to earn their places at the inaugural Championships in Riga, Latvia later this year.”

The Big Half is London’s community half marathon. It starts close to the Tower of London and heads out to the financial district of Canary Wharf before returning to central London, crossing Tower Bridge, and finishing in spectacular style at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

Last year elite men’s race was won by Sir Mo Farah in 61:49, while the women’s event saw Eilish McColgan win in a course record 67:35. Time will tell if we will see a last hurrah from Farah at one of his favourite events which he has won three times.

For a chance to rub shoulders with Britain's elite visit the official The Big Half website here.

Previous results and reports are available at runABC South race listing here.

Image of Sir Mo Farah courtesy London Marathon Events Media