The Great South Run is an annual 10 mile (16.09 km) road running race which takes place in Portsmouth, United Kingdom providing an intermediate distance between the ten kilometre and the half marathon (21.097 km) runs. Launched in 1990, it is part of the Great Run series created by former British athlete Brendan Foster.[1] It was originally held in Southampton, but the race moved to its current course after the first edition.[2]
The Great South Run has become one of Europe's most popular mass participation races over 10 miles, with a record 21,000 entries for the 2009 race.[3] Although the elite race is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race which attracts some of the most successful professional runners,[4] it is not a recognised distance for purposes of IAAF records.[5]World record holder Paula Radcliffe and 2007 World ChampionLuke Kibet are among the past winners. The event is currently sponsored by AJ Bell. Previous sponsors have been ExpressTest by Cignpost Diagnostics (2021), Simplyhealth (2017–2019), Morrisons (2015),[2]Bupa (1993–2014) and Diet Coke (1990–1992). The 2016 and 2022 races did not have a major sponsor.
The 1999 edition of the race was selected to be the Amateur Athletic Association 10-mile championships that year.[6] In 2021, British runner Eilish McColgan set the current women's record of 50:42.[7]Paula Radcliffe won the women's race in 2008 in a time of 51 minutes 11 seconds, a new British record.[8] Kenyan runner Joseph Ebuya won the 2010 edition in 45:15 minutes, which was a significant improvement upon the previous UK all-comers record held by the 1995 winner Benson Masya.[9]
Channel 5 broadcast the Great South Run every year until 2019. The event is currently untelevised.
Past winners
Previous course record holder Sonia O'Sullivan took consecutive wins in 2002–2003.Mo Farah won the race in 2009.
