London Marathon Events (LME) and UK Athletics (UKA) have confirmed that The Big Half 2024, on Sunday 1 September, will incorporate the official trial race for the half marathon event at the 2025 European Running Championships.
The first four British men and women to finish at The Big Half will earn selections for the inaugural edition of the European Running Championships, provided they have achieved the qualifying time of 62:30 for men and 71:30 for women and meet the required criteria outlined in the policy.
The 2025 European Running Championships take place in Leuven, Belgium, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April and feature three races over two days: 10K, half marathon and marathon.
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 half marathon at the 2025 European Running Championships and look forward to welcoming the very best of British distance runners to London on Sunday 1 September.”
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 Cutty Sark in Greenwich.
Last year elite men’s race was won by Jack Rowe in 61:08, while the women’s event saw Calli Thackery triumph in a time of 69:15.
London Marathon Events, organisers of The Big Half, are now accepting the following entries for the men’s and women’s elite races at the 2025 event:
British Elite Invitation
Men – Elite Platinum Invitation (UK travel plus one night accommodation included)
For anyone who has run a sub 63:00 half marathon or sub 2:13:00 marathon in the past two years
Women – Elite Platinum Invitation (UK travel plus one night accommodation included)
For anyone who has run a sub 72:00 half marathon or sub 2:30:00 marathon in the past two years.
Men – Elite Gold Invitation (elite bib only, no UK travel and accommodation support)
For anyone who has run a sub 66:00 half marathon in the past two years.
Women – Elite Gold Invitation (elite bib only, no UK travel and accommodation support)
For anyone who has run a sub 75:00 half marathon in the past two years.
To apply for an elite invitation, email Spencer Barden
All entries are subject to approval by London Marathon Events’s Head of Elite Athletes and must be received and accepted by London Marathon no later than Friday 23 August 2024.
All invited British elite athletes must be eligible to compete for GB & NI on the day of the race (Sunday 1 September).