Launch of AJ Bell Great South Run Weekend a Towering Success

The weekend of running celebrations which is the AJ Bell Great South Run kicked off this morning at the iconic Square Tower in old Portsmouth.

Elite athletes Verity Ockenden and Jake Smith, Great South Run Event Director Lorna Hartley, three time Great South Run champion Chris Thompson and a host of inspirational runners from across the South came together to celebrate 35 years of the Great South Run.

Since its inaugural event in 1990, the Great South Run has built an incredible legacy. With countless incredible moments and achievements across 35 years of running greatest along the South Coast, tens of millions of pounds raised for charity, and British and European records broken along the route, the event has cemented its position as a firm favourite in the running calendar.

The main event on Sunday will feature the UK Athletics 10-Mile Championships, which will see the best of British runners take to the course in the elite men’s and elite women’s races with both Jake Smith and Verity Ockenden (below) anticipated to take the winners tape. Success will see them join an evitable role call of top British athletes winners which included Liz McColgan, Paula Radcliffe, Sir Mo Farah, Eilish McColgan.

Two people who have been involved in the Great South Run throughout its 35 year history are Dave Olsen and Pam Rogers. Dave, one of the few runners to have completed every single Great South Run since its first staging in 1990, proudly showed off his collection of medals. Pam’s long standing association with the event started as a club runner at the first 15 Great South Runs before she became one of the event officials.

Following the elite athletes will be over 23,000 runners from across the South of England and beyond. The event is a huge celebration of running that brings communities together to do something incredible together and raise an estimated £4 million for charities.

Portsmouth social worker John Hillage who is running bare foot on Sunday to raise awareness of the long arduous path foster carers locally take to compassion and strength everyday.

The Square Tower, located close to the Great South Run course, was built in 1494 and is among the earliest stone fortifications built in Portsmouth. Together with the Round Tower, the adjacent sea-wall and the Saluting Platform, the Tower is the only part of the Tudor works to survive and retains many of its historic features.

The Great South Run takes runners past some of Portsmouth’s most iconic landmarks as well as picturesque views of the Isle of Wight. Incredible local support along the route will carry them to the finish line close to Southsea Castle and their well-earned medal and lively post-race celebrations.

If you missed out this year, sign up for the 2026 reminder here and be the first to know when Great South Run 2026 entries open.