There’s nothing like racing on home soil. You’re not only, most likely, cutting down on your race-related travel and expenses (win), but also making the most of what our amazing nation has to offer – whether that’s picture-perfect routes, pumping local crowds, premium post-race provisions or a first-class party feel.
Hosting first-time runners through to world-class elites, the Great Run’s ever-popular running events are some of the finest in the UK – so read on to find your pick.
Newcastle
Great North 10K
When? Sunday 6 July 2025
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A summertime 10K with a celebratory vibe, this race showcases the very best of Newcastle. Passing prominent buildings including Newcastle University and City Hall and featuring lots of live music and cheer points along the way, the route culminates in Exhibition Park, where a finish line DJ will help to amplify that post-race euphoria.
Great North 5K
When? Friday 5 September 2025
The Friday evening opener to Tyne and Wear’s favourite weekend of running, this 5K involves a fast, flat route around the Quayside, which is renowned for its big-energy atmosphere. Whether you treat it as a shakeout for Sunday’s Great North Run, or as a fun-filled challenge in its own right, you’ll experience nothing less than Newcastle at its best for this 5K.
Great North Run
When? Sunday 7 September 2025
The one we’re always waiting for. A treasured half marathon that starts in the passionate heart of Newcastle and finishes close to the coast in South Shields, the Great North Run is the largest running event in the UK – and one of the most adored. Attracting around 60,000 participants each year – including some of the most accomplished athletes on the planet – the Great North Run is one of the biggest half marathons in the world and raises around £25 million for good causes each year.
Although the ballot to secure a place in the 2025 Great North Run closed in January, you can still apply to run for a charity. If not, be sure to put this race on your 2026 wish list – and remember to enter the ballot at the start of next year.
Birmingham
Great Birmingham Run
When? Sunday 4 May 2025
Encompassing a 10K and a half marathon, the Great Birmingham Run loops around the best parts of its namesake city, such as the Edwardian Chamberlain Clock, the upmarket Mailbox and the buzzing area around Birmingham New Street. Ideally located in the centre of the UK, the Great Birmingham Run is the Midlands’ major running event and a top choice for anyone wanting to scratch that spring race itch.
Bristol
Great Bristol Run
When? Sunday 11 May 2025
A stunning, well-supported and often oversubscribed event situated in the South West, the Great Bristol Run – involving a 10K and a half marathon – blends funky city scenes with charming river views. Both routes loop around Bristol city centre’s most historic neighbourhoods – passing Queen Square and Castle Park in the process – and take in a scenic stretch beside the Avon. In partnership with VI Runners Bristol, the 2025 Great Bristol Run will again stage the VI Runners 10K Challenge, too, for people registered as severely sight impaired.
Due to popular demand, general entries in this year’s half marathon have already sold out – but charity places in the 13.1-mile race, as well as spots in the 10K, are still up for grabs. You can also add your name to the priority list for a pre-sale place in the 2026 event here.
Manchester
Great Manchester Run
When? Sunday 18 May 2025
Whether you opt for the 10K or the half marathon, the Great Manchester Run will see you run the vibrant ground between Manchester City centre and Salford Quays, the home of the Imperial War Museum and Manchester United’s football ground. If you’d prefer to take on the longer distance (and, in particular, if you’re a fan of the other team), the half marathon will tick the box for you, as the route takes you up to Manchester City’s football ground as well.
Glasgow
Great Scottish Run
When? Sunday 5 October 2025
Get your running fix in Glasgow with the Great Scottish Run, which features a much-loved 10K and half marathon. Blending bold urban architecture with the soft green spaces of Pollok Country Park and Glasgow Green, these races trace the finest parts of this historic city. You’ll also be treated to an incredibly warm Scottish welcome (no matter what the weather is doing) from the thousands of locals who turn out to support from the roadside.
Portsmouth
Great South 5K
When? Saturday 18 October 2025
The perfect outing to precede the Great South Run on Sunday, this seaside 5K offers fresh coastal air, sweeping views of the Solent and plenty of on-course music to keep you moving. Flat, friendly and accommodating, it’s an excellent event for beginner runners attempting the distance for the first time, seasoned speedsters seeking a new 5K PB, runners wanting to shake out their limbs ahead of the next day’s 10-mile race – or anyone, really.
Great South Run
When? Sunday 19 October 2025
That ‘next day’s 10-mile race’ is none other than the Great South Run – a long-standing gem in the UK racing calendar that covers the best of maritime Portsmouth and Southsea and offers glimpses of the Isle of Wight, located just across the water. Deliciously flat with an unbeatable atmosphere, it’s a haven for rapid times and good times, which is why it continues to attract both amateurs and elites almost 35 years after it was first staged in 1990. In fact, this 10 miler is such a popular event that you’ll want to secure your place pronto to avoid disappointment.
Virtual
Great Run Solo
If you can’t make it to any of the Great Run cities on the relevant race days, or if you have an even better event location in mind, a virtual Great Run solo challenge could be for you.
There are four Great Run Solo challenges to mark each season of the year – Spring, Summer, Halloween and Christmas – and you have the choice to complete 30, 60 or 100 miles for each, wherever and at whatever times you wish. Want to complete some virtual challenge miles in the morning on the trails? Go for it. Rather run along your local roads in the evening? It all adds up.
You’ll still get a medal (which, crucially, doubles as a coaster for your pre- and post-run brews) for completing a Great Run Solo challenge – and if you finish the quartet of challenges in a calendar year, your four medals will connect to form a collectable set.
