Great South Run 2025: Results, Route & Highlights

Marc Scott didn’t just win the 2025 AJ Bell Great South Run — he became the first athlete in over two decades to claim back-to-back titles in the elite men’s race, clocking 00:47:21 on the Southsea seafront. More than 25,000 runners descended on Portsmouth for the 35th edition, turning out in force after last year’s cancellation left thousands without their race. The question now is whether the 2026 event can match — or exceed — the energy of its record-breaking return.

Date: 19 October 2025 · Distance: 10 miles · Location: Southsea, Portsmouth · Event Type: Road race · Next Edition: 18 October 2026

What is the Great South Run route?

The 10-mile course is a fixture of British running, tracing its history back to 1990 and serving as the world’s favourite 10-mile running event with inspiring history, salty air and glorious sea views. Starting and finishing on Avenue De Caen in Portsmouth (start postcode PO5 3AE), the route passes along Southsea seafront with views across the Solent.

A minor route change at the beginning was introduced for 2025 due to sea defence works on Clarence Esplanade (runABC race report), redirecting runners away from the affected section. The course is generally flat and fast, though the coastal terrain and wind exposure add their own challenges.

Route map details

The route follows the seafront promenade before heading inland briefly and returning along the coastal path. Runners can expect approximately 10 miles of largely flat terrain with the characteristic wind exposure that comes with running along exposed waterfront. The start and finish on Avenue De Caen provides easy access for spectators and runners alike.

Key landmarks

The course passes the iconic Southsea Castle before turning east along the seafront, offering panoramic views across the Solent. An estimated 75,000 Portsmouth supporters lined the course in 2025, creating an electrifying atmosphere throughout the race (Great Run Official race report).

Elevation profile

• Predominantly flat with gentle undulations
• Clarence Esplanade section: primary hill challenge
• Wind exposure along Southsea seafront adds perceived difficulty

How many people did the Great South Run in 2025?

The 2025 Great South Run was the biggest ever, with over 25,000 runners participating across the weekend (Great Run Official). The event rebounded powerfully from 2024’s cancellation due to Storm Ashley, when over 10,000 runners took part virtually (runABC event summary). An estimated £4 million was raised for charity during the 2025 event.

Participation numbers

The Great South 5K, Junior and Mini events on Saturday 18 October 2025 hosted 2,000 runners alongside the main 10-mile race (Runner’s World event guide). The Saturday programme continues to grow, offering shorter distances for runners not ready for the 10-mile challenge.

Comparison to previous years

The contrast with 2024 is stark: where Storm Ashley forced the cancellation of the 10-mile race, 2025 delivered a record turnout that proved the enduring appetite for this event. Runners who missed out in 2024 — and new participants drawn by the buzz around the comeback — drove numbers beyond expectations.

For those considering the 2026 event, demand is almost certain to exceed supply again. Early registration — rather than waiting until spring — will be the difference between securing a place and missing out, as happened to thousands in 2024.

Biggest ever turnout

The 35th edition marks a milestone in the event’s history, cementing its status as one of Britain’s most popular mass-participation races. The Great Run Company’s flagship event continues to attract runners from across the UK and beyond, drawn by the combination of competitive racing and scenic coastal route.

Is the Great South Run hard?

The Great South Run sits at an interesting midpoint on the difficulty spectrum — not as demanding as a marathon or even a half marathon, but serious enough that casual fitness won’t see you across the line comfortably. The 10-mile distance requires proper preparation, and the coastal conditions can amplify the challenge considerably.

Difficulty factors

The route’s reputation for being flat and fast is accurate, but the seafront setting introduces variables that inland courses avoid. Wind direction and strength on the day can add minutes to slower runners’ times or provide a useful tailwind for faster athletes. Weather conditions during the 2025 event included the wet and windy conditions that characterise autumn on the south coast.

Hilly sections

• Clarence Esplanade: the most demanding section, with a gradual climb
• Southsea seafront: gentle undulations throughout
• Overall: moderate elevation gain, not mountainous

Time expectations

Elite runners complete the course in under 48 minutes, with the men’s winner Marc Scott crossing in 00:47:21 and the women’s winner Verity Ockenden in 00:56:37. For typical club runners, times between 65-90 minutes represent a strong performance, while first-timers should anticipate 75-100 minutes depending on fitness level.

How hilly is the Great South Run?

The Great South Run is not a hilly race in the traditional sense, but calling it flat sells short the reality of running along exposed coastal terrain. The moderate elevation gain throughout the course is enough to challenge runners who have only trained on completely flat routes.

Elevation gain

Total elevation gain for the 10-mile course sits at roughly 100-150 metres — modest by mountain race standards, but noticeable after months of flat training. The cumulative effect of small climbs, combined with wind resistance, creates a fatigue that surprises runners expecting an easy course.

Toughest parts

• Clarence Esplanade: the most sustained climb on the route, coming in the first half
• South Parade Pier area: short but steep sections
• Wind-exposed sections: not elevation, but wind functions as an additional resistance

Training tips

Hill repetitions remain the most specific preparation for the course’s demands. A single hill repeat session per week — 6-8 efforts of 90 seconds to 3 minutes — adequately prepares the legs for the Esplanade climb. Long runs at race pace should include at least one section of sustained effort to build the muscular endurance the course requires.

What day is the Great South Run?

The AJ Bell Great South Run 2025 took place on Sunday 19 October 2025, with elite women starting at 10:15am and elite men at 10:35am (Runner’s World). The format follows the established pattern: Saturday hosts the supporting 5K, Junior and Mini events, while Sunday belongs to the main 10-mile race.

2025 date

The event returned on 19 October 2024 after the 2024 cancellation, delivering what runners had been waiting a year for. The date placed the race in the familiar autumn window that has characterised the event since 1990, though the specific date was shifted to avoid potential conflicts with other major events.

2026 date

The next edition is confirmed for Sunday 18 October 2026, maintaining the traditional mid-to-late October slot that gives runners the full British summer to prepare. The Great South 5k will again take place the day before, on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Event weekend schedule

• Saturday: Great South 5k, Junior Great South, Mini Great South
• Sunday: Main 10-mile race, UK Athletics 10-Mile Championships
• Elite waves: women 10:15am, men 10:35am
• Open waves: rolling start from 9:30am

Timeline

The Great South Run’s history shows a pattern of growth punctuated by disruption, with 2024’s cancellation creating the largest ever demand for the 2025 return.

The implication: each disruption has been followed by record-breaking returns, suggesting the event’s resilience outweighs any single cancellation’s impact on participation.

Confirmed and unclear

Two sources of uncertainty cloud the 2025 picture: the exact breakdown of runners between wave groups — while over 25,000 participated across the weekend, the precise split between 10-mile participants and 5K/Junior/Mini runners isn’t consistently reported — and the residual course conditions following Storm Ashley, which may have affected erosion along the seafront path.

The AJ Bell Great South Run 2025 returned bigger and better than ever, with over 25,000 runners.

— Great Run Official (event organiser)

For UK runners, the message is straightforward: register early for 2026 or risk missing out again. For those targeting a personal best, the course rewards disciplined pacing and hill-specific preparation — go out too fast chasing the seafront views and the wind will remind you by mile 6.

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Beyond Marc Scott’s back-to-back victory and Verity Ockenden’s strong women’s win, the date entry route guide provides essential details on event timing and Portsmouth’s seafront course.

Frequently asked questions