Sir Mo Farah has confirmed he will be back in action at the 2022 Vitality London 10,000 on Monday 2 May.

Farah, the most decorated athlete in British track and field history, has not raced since last June after a fractured foot dashed his hopes of running at last year’s Tokyo Olympic Games and adding to his four Olympic gold medals, won in London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Back in the running after injury

Now recovered from injury, the 38-year-old is now preparing for the 2022 season, with the Vitality London 10,000 – an event he has won on seven occasions – his first confirmed race of the year.

Farah said: “I’m really looking forward to getting out there and racing again at an event that I really love. I’ve been working hard to get back into shape following my injury last summer and I’ve got a few more months of hard training ahead of me, so it’s good to have a target like the Vitality London 10,000 to work towards.

“I have great memories of the event. I have won it seven times and racing in central London is something you can never get bored of. The atmosphere among the thousands of participants is always fantastic and I can’t wait to be part of it again.”

Farah’s wins at the Vitality London 10,000 came in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019. He set the British 10K record of 27 minutes and 44 seconds in the 2010 race, a time equalled by Emile Cairess in Valencia earlier this year.

A significant return all round

The Vitality London 10,000 returns to its iconic central London in 2022 for the first time since 2019. The pandemic meant that the 2020 event was held virtually and, in 2021, a mass event took place at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire instead. Meanwhile, the popular virtual event also returned with more than 18,500 people signing up to take part.

The stunning course of this year’s event starts on The Mall before heading out through Westminster into the City of London. It takes in some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including Admiralty Arch, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, before finishing by Buckingham Palace.

10 weeks to 10K

Today [Monday 21 February] marks 10 weeks to the event, and the start of the 10-week Run Happy & Healthy Plan training programme, which is the perfect guide for people who are new to running or targeting their first 10K, according to Farah.

Farah said: “The 10K is the perfect distance for those who are starting to run or looking for a first challenge, and the Run Happy & Healthy Plan is a great way to guide you towards Event Day. So sign up and come and join me at the Vitality London 10,000.

“The pandemic has meant some of the great mass participation events like the Vitality London 10,000 haven’t been able to take place in central London for more than two years, so it’s so exciting they’re returning. It’s important events like this are coming back because everyone likes to set a target.

“Whether you’ve won Olympic titles or are just starting out, goals are important to keep you fit and focused, so get down to your local parkrun and sign up for this event – I look forward to seeing you on the Start Line!” 

Joining the Vitality London 10,000

Entries for the Vitality London 10,000 are open now and cost £39 (£2 reduction for members of UKA athletics clubs). Every finisher receives a souvenir medal and a New Balance technical T-shirt (retail value £35).

The virtual Vitality London 10,000 is also back in 2022, offering participants across the UK and around the world the chance to complete the event on the course of their choice at any time during the event period of Saturday 30 April to Sunday 8 May.