The Great Manchester Run has confirmed that Sir Mo Farah will once again be taking part in the hotly-anticipated event this year.
The sporting legend is set to take on the 10k for the first time since 2018, when he triumphed over Ugandan Moses Kipsiro in a memorable sprint finish in the last 100m.
Sir Mo will be hoping to beat his previous time of 28 minutes and 27 seconds.
The Great Manchester Run will take place on Sunday 22 May, seeing tens of thousands of runners from Manchester and beyond taking to the city’s streets for either a 10k race or a half marathon.
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
There are entertainment zones throughout the course to keep runners entertained from start to finish.
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The race is often considered one of the best in the country thanks to its fast and flat city centre route – perfect for chasing down that PB.
The design for this year’s finisher’s t-shirt has also just been released, featuring a street art-style motif of Manchester’s iconic worker bee.
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The finisher’s t-shirts for the Great Manchester Run 2022’s half marathon and 10k race
Looking ahead to May, Sir Mo said: “I’m pleased to say the injury problems I had last year are now behind me, training has been going well and I am happy with the shape I am showing.
“Any time I race in the UK it is exciting for me because I love running in front of my home fans and I want to give my best for them.
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
“I had an amazing reception in Manchester when I won the event in 2018 so I’m looking forward to racing on the streets of the city again later this year.”
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Sir Mo will be competing against the runner-up of the 2021 staging, Brit Andy Butchart, who set a new Scottish record earlier this month.
Chairman of the Great Run Company, Sir Brendan Foster said: “We’re thrilled that Sir Mo will be returning to the Great Manchester Run this year and we’re looking forward to an exciting elite race in the 10K.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s newly-opened indoor activity park is offering families the chance to visit for half price this spring holidays.
In case you missed it, Salford was chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, an officially opened the doors to its newest state-of-the-art equipment facility above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, inside the former site of I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge down at Quayside MediaCity in mid February.
Since opening to the public, Oxygen MediaCity has already been helping lots of local families stay active and have fun at the same time.
Following a £2.5 million investment, the new park features more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more “epic” activities.
A series of optional games and dance parties are also on offer during each play session, and the new Manchester park also hosts ‘Peaceful Play’ sessions designed for neurodivergent guests, who prefer a calmer and quieter playing environment, as well as there being a ‘Toddler Venture Zone’.
A cafe serving drinks, snacks, and meals also overlooks the park, so once you’re all bounced out, you can recharge with a full feast from the new menu before heading home.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
And thankfully, once schools are out for the spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Easter Holiday Pass, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the park on any five days of the two-week break – including on weekends and bank holidays – for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’.
For a limited time only, you can save some pennies and take advantage of a half price offer and get your hands on an Easter Holidays Pass for only £30.
Little Simz announces biggest-ever Manchester gig ahead of new album
Danny Jones
The queen of British rap, the one and only Little Simz, is coming back to Manchester for what will be her biggest headline show in this city to date.
A whole three years on from her last album No Thank You, the rapper from Islington is heading back out on the road after wrapping up the recording of her sixth studio LP, Lotus.
The first single ‘FREE’ has already dropped, and despite the release date itself being pushed back, news of a new Little Simz tour later this year more than makes up for it, if you ask us.
Little Simz already has two NME Awards to her name for Best British Solo Act and Best British Album, not to mention a BRIT itself for Best New Artist in 2022; oh yeah, and she won the Mercury Prize as well as a BET Hip Hop Award over in the States for ‘Best International Flow’ – all before she turned 30.
With that in mind, you can understand why so many are frothing at the mouth to hear her new record when it does finally drop.
There doesn’t appear to be any problems with the album itself: Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, to use her full name, is simply busier than ever and has just booked a role in a film because, yes, she acts too.
Lotus will now drop on Friday, 6 June, just in time for fans to get learning the lyrics ahead of festival season, which we have no doubt she’ll play a big part in.
You can hear the first taste of the next chapter down below:
Little Simz returns to Manchester for a Co-op Live debut on 16 October with tour supports still yet to be announced.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am for official Co-op members and general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (11 April).
Daisy Jackson -
23rd March 2022 
