Great South Run 2024: Key route details and timings for Southsea event

Taking place over the weekend of October 19 and 20, the AJ Bell Great South Run is a series of running events taking part in Southsea across the two days which includes children’s and mini events, a 5k race and a mascots race on the Saturday, followed by the main 10-mile run on the Sunday which is already a sell-out.

What are the routes?

Main 10-mile run:

The start line is at Clarence Esplanade, west of the Blue Reef Aquarium, and takes in a route travelling westwards along Clarence Esplanade which goes past the pier and then along Pier Road and Pembroke Road before turning up the High Street past the Grammar School. Runners will then travel along St George’s Road and past the entrance on Gunwharf Quays before heading into the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Runners will travel past the Warrior, Victory and Mary Rose museum before skirting around the edge of the naval base and re-joining the main road at Queen Street. Runners will then head south past Victoria Park and then past the University buildings taking in a route east and then west along Winston Churchill Avenue. After travelling south along Hampshire, Landport and then Kings Terraces, runners will then travel around the northern boundary of Southsea Common. From there they will go past South Parade Pier and take a route around the northern side of Canoe Lake before heading along Eastern Parade, St George's Road and Cromwell Road.

The last section of the route is along Henderson Road before joining Eastney Esplanade and then travelling west along the seafront all the way to the finish line infront of the Pyramids.

Main 5k run:

The start line is at Clarence Esplanade and then Clarence Parade heading towards South Parade Pier before looping back down Clarence Esplanade to the finish line infront of the Pyramids.

Junior and mini routes:

Both start on Clarence Esplanade south of the skate park, with the mini route heading up Serpentine Road, around the eastern park of Southsea Common and then down Avenue de Caen before reaching the finish line which is the same position as the start line. The longer junior race takes the same route but with an added portion looping along Clarence Esplanade firstly heading west and then east.

Road closures

The roads adjacent to the start and finish of the Great South Run on Southsea Common will be closed on both Saturday and Sunday of the event. Other roads on which the race will be run will be closed from 9am. Roads are re-opened as soon as possible on a rolling basis but all roads will be re-opened by midday.

Roads and junctions will be controlled by race marshalls always adhere to their instructions for your and the runners safety.

Key timings

Saturday, October 19 - 8.30am Event site and Information Point open; 9.52am 5k warm up; 10am 5k start; 10.30am mascot dash; 10.5am Junior wheelchairs start; 11am Junior Girls start; 11.40am Junior boys start; 12.20am Mini run starts.

Sunday, October 20 - 7am Event site and Information Point open; 7.30am baggage opens; 10.15am Elite female start; 10.19am Wheelchairs & Visually Impaired start; 10.24am Warm up; 10.35am Elite Male start; 10.35am Fast Paced Runner and Orange Wave start; 11.01am Green Wave start; 11.27am Pink Wave start

How to get there

There will be a special PR4 dedicated park and ride service for people travelling to the Great South Run which will run from the Park and Ride base at Tipner.

Visit https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-south-run/