Summary

  • Thousands of people take part in the Great South Run 2026

  • The race across the Portsmouth area is 10 miles long

  • It starts on Southsea Common and the finish line is near Southsea Castle

  • There have been 36 races since the event launched in 1990

  1. Thanks for joining uspublished at 13:30 BST 18 October

    Our coverage will be coming to an end shortly.

    Thousands of runners have taken to the streets of Portsmouth today, from elite athletes battling for victory to fundraisers, first-timers and those in fancy dress.

    Congratulations to everyone who has taken part in the Great South Run events across the weekend.

  2. '50% of runners found it really funny'published at 13:20 BST 18 October

    A man in a whoopie cushion outfit holding a medal.

    Dan Farmer, from Lincoln, ran the race dressed as a whoopee cushion and joked that "50% of the runners found it really funny and the other 50% - I was just making them gag".

    He ran the race for Move Against Cancer because he said they supported him during his cancer journey.

    He said he was fitted with a permanent stoma after surgery and this is what inspired his fancy dress outfit.

    "Sometimes it acts as a bit of a whoopee cushion."

  3. The family that runs togetherpublished at 13:11 BST 18 October

    Three participants wearing green Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association running bibs pose for a photograph outside a red-brick building before the Great South Run. One bib displays race number 2026.
    Image caption,

    (Left-to-right) Simon, Anjali and Birbala

    Also running yesterday was grandmother Birbala.

    The 81-year-old took part in the Great South Run 5K as part of Dexter Dashers, an 11-strong family team raising money for Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.

    The charity is close to her heart because her grandson Dexter has Down's syndrome.

    Birbala, a regular participant in the 5K, said: "I walk, I don't run any more. I enjoy it."

  4. In Pictures: Saturday's Mini Great South Runpublished at 12:56 BST 18 October

    As today's runners continue to race along the route, here's a reminder some of the action on Saturday.

    The day saw some Great South Runners of the future take to the start line for the Mini Great South Run.

    Hundreds of kids, aged between three to eight, and parents took part in the frenzied 1.5k run, accompanied by drummers, music and plenty of cheers and high-fives along the way.

    Mini Great South Run 2026
    Mini Great South Run 2026
    Drummers at the Mini Great South Run
    Mini Great South Run 2026
    Mini Great South Run 2026
  5. Another quick finishpublished at 12:36 BST 18 October

    Dale Muffett was the first wheelchair participant to cross the finish line in Portsmouth, clocking in a time of 51 minutes and 12 seconds.

    A man in a wheelchair on the track by the finish lineImage source, GSR
  6. The fastest of the Elite Menpublished at 12:33 BST 18 October

    The Elite Men's Winner is Kadar Omar, crossing the finish line with a time of 47 minutes 26 seconds.

    Kadar Omar wearing a beanie hat and a black vest and running towards the finish line smiling with his arms in the airImage source, GSR
  7. Marathon man completes first Great South Runpublished at 12:26 BST 18 October

    Mark Kleanthous looking at the camera in a vest and holding his medal to the side

    Mark Kleanthous said his first Great South Run was "absolutely amazing".

    Running since he was 10, he said he took part in the first London Marathon in 1981, before going on to complete 126 more marathons.

    Speaking after he crossed the finish line in Southsea, he said the blue and gold medal, which represents 100 years of Portsmouth's city status, is one of his favourites.

  8. Run Forrest, Runpublished at 12:17 BST 18 October

    Nathan Docksey dressed in red shorts a yellow t-shirt and a big fake beard, wearing his medal

    Nathan Docksey has crossed the finish line in his Forrest Gump inspired outfit.

    He said he was only asked to take part a couple of days ago and said the crowd was "brilliant".

    Nathan, whose son took part in the junior event on Saturday, ran today for Mountbatten Isle of Wight hospice, where his dad had palliative care and where he has received bereavement support.

    "They do a great job on the island," he said.

  9. Sun's out, guns outpublished at 12:02 BST 18 October

    Scott and Dan are raising money for the UK Field Gun Academy.

    They will be carrying cannon wheels, weighing about 120lb (54kg), on their backs for the whole run and Dan admits it's not something they have trained for.

    "We're idiots, we came up with the idea on a whim and just decided to roll with it," he said.

    The pair said they plan on taking one mile at a time and hope to finish in under three hours.

    Scott says "the military history around here is massive" and he hopes the pair can help to raise some awareness of that.

    Scott (left) and Dan (right) stood with cannon wheels in a park
    Image caption,

    Scott (left) and Dan (right) will be carrying cannon wheels on their backs

  10. Great South Run Elite Women's winnerpublished at 11:59 BST 18 October

    Hannah Irwin was the fastest of the Elite Women, finishing with an impressive time of 53 minutes and 34 seconds.

    A woman crossing the finish lineImage source, GSR
  11. All of the runners are under waypublished at 11:55 BST 18 October

    Pink and Purple Wave runners were the last to begin the race and that's it - more than 23,000 runners will have pounded their way around Portsmouth by the end of the day.

  12. Former Pompey player sounds the Blue Wavepublished at 11:33 BST 18 October

    People stood ready to run

    Former Portsmouth Football Club defender Linvoy Primus sounded the klaxon which sent the Blue Wave of runners on their way.

  13. Running for children's charitiespublished at 11:30 BST 18 October

    Archie Mcgreal and Toby Smith runners in running gear in a park
    Image caption,

    Archie Mcgreal and Toby Smith

    Archie Mcgreal and Toby Smith are taking on the run for children's charities that mean a lot to them.

    Archie is running in memory of his work colleague's baby daughter, who died from cancer last year.

    He says it is his way of "doing his bit".

    Toby says he is raising money for a local charity, which supports young people with cerebral palsy.

    "Everyone deserves equal opportunities in life," he says.

  14. Postpublished at 11:27 BST 18 October

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  15. Caterpillars on the trackpublished at 11:05 BST 18 October

    Fern Buckley
    BBC Radio Solent

    People attached by kids toy tunnels so that it looks like a caterpillar
    Image caption,

    Susie (middle left) will be running with her friends

    Susie Richardson will be going around the course with a little help from her friends.

    She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January and now cancer-free she says she is raising money for Breast Cancer Now.

    "These guys have been my support crew all year and we're going out just to have some fun," she says.

  16. Green wave are offpublished at 10:56 BST 18 October

    The Green Wave are up and running!

    Among them is Benjamin, who has returned for the Great South Run having previously run the race in 2005.

    He says he's proud his daughter, who was a baby back then, is cheering him on once again.

    The scientist is running for Against Breast Cancer.

    "I know exactly where the money goes and how hard it is to raise money to do that kind of work," he says.

    A man smiling at the camera
    Image caption,

    Benjamin is running for Against Breast Cancer

  17. Running barefoot for foster carerspublished at 10:51 BST 18 October

    A Great South Run participant wearing a lion costume and a Foster Portsmouth running vest gives two thumbs up while standing barefoot in front of a brick wall.Image source, John Hillage

    John Hillage is not only running barefoot but also dressed as a lion to support Foster Portsmouth.

    "We've been celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth this year and lions are our symbol," he said before the race.

    The challenge of being barefoot reflects the resilience foster carers show when supporting children through difficult times, said John, who has been training by running barefoot on Southsea beach.

  18. Warm-up done and race is onpublished at 10:41 BST 18 October

    The elite men and the orange wave have finished limbering up while listening to some disco music blaring from the loud speakers at the start line.

    Now they are under way.

    This is the third wave to set off and they are some of the fastest runners who will take part in the event.

    People on the start line for the great south run
  19. 2026 medal inspired by Portsmouth's centenarypublished at 10:31 BST 18 October

    The Great South Run 2026 finisher's medal hangs from a red ribbon printed with "2026", set against the Southsea seafront. The medal features geometric and nautical-inspired patterns, with the beach, promenade and South Parade Pier visible in the background.Image source, GSR

    This year's medal for runners crossing the finishing line has been designed to celebrate 100 years of Portsmouth.

    The design is split into 10 segments representing each mile of the course and features the star and crescent emblem from the city's flag.

    It also incorporates a rose motif inspired by the Mary Rose, the Tudor warship housed at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

    Geometric and ship-inspired elements pay tribute to the Spinnaker Tower and the city's rich maritime heritage.

  20. The next wave has startedpublished at 10:22 BST 18 October

    The track is starting to get busy now as the visually impaired and wheelchair participants have just shot off from the start line.