Great South Run

Saturday events

• 5K, Junior and Mini races

Sunday events

• 10 Mile

Team challenge

If you and a group of colleagues, friends or team members fancy taking on a running event together, why not enter the Great South Run Team Challenge? It’s a great opportunity for businesses to encourage a healthy outlook for team members or staff, engage in all-important team building and focus on charity fundraising. So gather your colleagues, enter your team, and join the start line!

How does it work?

• Enter a team of colleagues into the Great South Run
• Your team must have a minimum of 4 people (16 years of age or over on race day)
• There is no maximum number of team members
• The finishing times of the fastest 4 members of your team will be used to calculate the overall team time
• The winning team will receive a Great Run Team Challenge trophy
• 2nd and 3rd place teams will receive a Team Challenge engraved plaque
• Special prize will be awarded to the largest team for each event

Why enter a team?

• It encourages a healthy outlook for team members or staff, and it offers excellent team building opportunities
• It’s a great opportunity to focus on charity fundraising and supporting good causes
• It’s all inclusive – the challenge is open to everyone, with no limits on team size, age or gender
• It’s a great day out! The start line atmosphere, the entertainment and support on course, and the finish line celebrations provide truly special memories
• The experience of running a Great Run event is unrivalled – running through the heart of each city, with tens of thousands of runners and even more supporters, music and entertainment from start to finish and a lively event village for post-event celebrations
• Each team member will receive a shiny new medal, exclusive finishers t-shirt, and a finisher’s bag filled with goodies

Event HQ

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 3LJ
UK

The fast and flat 10 mile course is steeped in history, passing naval landmarks, cathedrals and castles. Experience Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, running past the incredible HMS Victory and complete your 10 mile challenge at the seafront finish line.

Entertainment

Prepare to be entertained from start to finish by a host of live music and local legends, the Beats Boost zones and high-energy Wave 105 crew.

With ten entertainment zones and three charity cheering squads, you'll be bopping, clapping, singing, and running from start to finish.

Water stations

This year, courtesy of the Official Hydration Partner, Highland Spring, there will be two Highland Spring Hydration Stations water stations available out on the course to keep you hydrated as you go.

Sustainability Policy

The Great Run Company is in the process of updating its Sustainability Strategy in light of their collaborative approach and recent survey. Work to minimise the environmental impacts of their events will continue throughout this process, with particular focus on:

• Reducing plastic
• Reducing waste
• Cutting carbon emissions
• Responsible procurement

In addition, they are striving to improve performance even further by making sure that sustainability is embedded at the heart of the organisation and culture.

Before the event

• Your personal run pack sent to you in the post, with your run number and timing chip
• Access to training plans to keep you on track
• Exclusive offers and competitions from partners and sponsors
• Support and advice all the way up to event day
• Regular emails keeping you motivated and moving
• A huge supportive and inclusive social community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to help you on your running journey

On event day

• Access to the free Great Run app to allow your loved ones to track your progress along the route
• Access to the Great Run information point for any last minute queries (or safety pins)
• Closed roads offering a safe running environment
• Food and drink options to refuel
• A shiny new medal, an exclusive finishers t-shirt plus a finisher’s bag filled with goodies
• Plenty of medical support all around our routes should you ever need any assistance
• A huge round of applause as you cross the finish

After the event

• Official event day photos available to view and purchase a couple of days after the event
• Your official result ready shortly after you cross the finish line
• Runners Rewards – access to special offers for participants

Every year thousands of runners take part in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charities it gives the runner advantages too, from supporting a cause that is close to your heart to securing a place in this highly sought-after event and much more.

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

• Fundraising support

  Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous runners.

• Training support

  Whether this is your first run or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and Olympic champs.

• Branded running kit

  When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too.

• Support on the day

  When you're partway through your run and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Many charities set up a cheer station along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past!

• Post-race recovery

  Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

• Exclusive social groups

  You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.

What are charity places?

Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event, especially if general entries are closed.

Running and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?

Charity places are available from £10 + sponsorship pledge.

Entry fees

Amazing run through a historic city, great support from the enthusiastic spectators, great finish line.

An awesome event with such history - amazing to see people who have run every single year still doing the full 10-miles! The course is fantastic.

The course scenery, location and atmosphere are spectacular. If travelling to the event I would recommend having a long weekend.

I love this event. It is one of my annual races now. The route is flat with a nice sea view at the start and end of the course.

I have done the Great South Run three times. I love this race and would recommend it. My children have also done the junior race. Lovely run, lovely views.

It was amazing to be part of an event with so many others raising money for charity. The setting and atmosphere is always great!