Mo Farah to compete in 2016 Great North Run

Farah, Britain’s greatest ever male distance runner, is to defend the title which he has won in the last two year’s this September as he bids for his third consecutive title.

Farah will return to South Tyneside on Sunday, September 11, for the world’s biggest half marathon which begins in Newcastle and finishes in South Shields.

He will be joined by about 57,000 other runners on the startline, including his wife Tania, who will be taking part in the event for the very first time.

Having finished runner up to Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele in 2013, Farah claimed the Great North Run crown in 2014 before retaining it a year later with a British and European record time of 59.22.

The 33-year-old, who claimed gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metre events at London 2012, is a huge fan of the region.

Farah, known for his Mobot celebration, is set to compete in this month’s Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

He said: “I love the Great North Run and the incredible atmosphere at the event.

“The noise from the crowd in those last few hundred metres is just unbelievable!”

“It’s a big year for me, but once it’s over it will be great to end my season at one of my favourite events, with Tania taking part as a fun runner too.”

Brendan Foster, Chairman of event organisers The Great Run Company, said: “Mo has become one of the biggest sporting superstars of our time.

“We are absolutely thrilled he will be back on Tyneside in September aiming to make it three in a row.”