Heading to the Great South Run this year? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2018 run taking place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October!

RUNNERS PLEASE NOTE: If you secured your entry after 10:00am on Thursday 11th October you will need to collect your run pack from the information point. The Great South team will be in a cabin next to the skate park on Clarence Esplanade (opposite the Pyramid Centre) on Saturday 20th October from 8:30am to 4:00pm or on the event day from 7:00am.

The Race Course (10-mile Sunday 21st)

Sunday’s Event Timetable

7:00am: Car parking on Southsea Common and information point opens

7:30am: Baggage room opens

9:00am: Start assembly area open

10:15am: Great South Run elite women’s race start

10:35am: Great South Run elite men and ORANGE wave start

10:52am: Great South Run - WHITE wave

11:09am: Great South Run - GREEN wave

Great South 5k, Junior & Mini Great South Run

This years event kicks off with the all new Simplyhealth Canine Run, where 100 dogs and their owners will take on a 2.5k course in Southsea. They’ll be set on their way by 1500m European Champion Laura Muir.

Then up to 1,000 participants will take on their own running challenge at the Great South 5k, including the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Lee Mason, who is running to raise awareness of his Small Changes Big Difference Campaign, after becoming concerned that his own weight was leading to health problems.

In the afternoon runners from as young as 3-years-old will run 1.5k and 2.5k at the Junior and Mini Great South Run. Athletes competing in Sunday’s 10 mile race will be setting the children on their way.

Saturday’s Event Timetable

9:00am: Canine Run

10:30am: Great South 5K

12:00pm: Mini Great South Run (Wave 1 - PINK) start

12:30pm: Mini Great South Run (Wave 2 - GREEN) start

1:00pm: Junior Great South Run Girls start

1:45pm: Junior Great South Run Boys start

Planning Your Journey by Car

Getting into and out of Portsmouth can be tricky at the best of times. Plan ahead to ensure you take the best route around the island city.

The run route is located to the south of Portsmouth, predominantly run around the area known as Southsea. It starts and ends on Clarence Esplanade in Southsea. If you’re coming by car then there are two main routes into the city. The first and most direct is heading down the M275 and around Commercial Road and Gunwharf Quays before hitting Southsea seafront. This is where the event parking is located and will be the quickest route in.

The second route in will be down the Eastern Road from the A27. The Eastern Road can become easily congested on any normal day, so the increased traffic from the Great South Run will mean this is route will be slow going. You’ll also need to navigate your way across the city towards the south west where the run start and finish is located.

When any large event hits the city the traffic can quickly become jammed citywide. We’d strongly recommend either getting into the south of the city the night before, early on your run day, or parking up in Portsmouth’s Park and Ride, located just 5 minutes outside of the M275 route in.

Bear in mind that race road closures will be in place between 9:00am and 1:00pm.

For information on the Park and Ride service visit www.parkandride.portsmouth.gov.uk

Follow @portsmouthroads on twitter for live traffic updates.

Arriving by Train

There are three main train stations that can be utilised to reach the Great South Run event location. Fratton station is located just to the North of Southsea and will be the less busy walking route down to the race area, it should take you no longer than 20 to 30 minutes walk from this station.

Portsmouth & Southsea station is located near Commercial Road shopping area in the centre of the city and again is about a 20 to 30 minute walk to the race area.

Portsmouth Hard station is the last stop on the Portsmouth train line. It’ll drop you next to Historic HMS Warrior, Portsmouth Harbour and Gunwharf Quays shopping. From hear it’ll also be around 30 minutes to the race area in Southsea.

There are planned engineering works on some train lines. Check before you travel www.nationalrail.co.uk

Coming From Gosport and the West

Event goers travelling from the west of Portsmouth can take advantage of the Gosport Ferry, which runs every 15 minutes from 5:30am until midnight and takes just 4 minutes to cross the harbour. A special 'peak service' is running between 8:30am until 4:00pm with a ferry every 7.5 minutes.

This Year’s Celebrity Spotting

Every year the Great South Run sees a plethora of celebrities running to help raise awareness for their chosen charities. Here’s who you need to look out for in 2018.