As forecast, it was wet, windy and pretty wild for the 35th anniversary AJ Bell Great South Run on Sunday, 19 October 2025, causing many competitors' numbers to disintegrate. The foul weather failed to dampen the spirits of 20,000 competitors, or the irrepressible on-course social media reporter who was none other than the former Olympian and Great South Run legend Chris 'Thommo' Thompson!

The Great South Run is a retro classic as it is raced over 10 miles, rather than the ubiquitous half-marathon distance. Pacing is a breeze as it's just a case of dividing by 10 as long as your watch is set to miles, not kilometres. For the elite male athletes, skipping along at five minutes per mile, the target is 50 minutes. For mortals like us, it's more like 10 mins/mile for 1:40:00.

The men's elite race saw 10 finishing inside 50 minutes, with the top three being the 2019 champion Marc Scott (Richmond & Zetland Harriers, 47:21), Iceland's Baldvin Magnusson (47:39), and Jake Smith (Pontypridd Roadents RC, 47:53) – impressive performances in the challenging conditions.

In the women's race, Verity Ockenden (Swansea Harriers, 56:37) took her first Great South Run title after being runner-up in 2019 and third in 2021. The elite women's podium was completed by  Kate Estlea-Morris (Aldershot Farnham & District AC, 56:46) and Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix, 56:48).

The elite women's race was started by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who joined the masses to win her W55 age category in 66:39 – the fourth fastest W55 time this year!

In the mass races, more than 150 runners maintained 6min/mile pace for a sub-60-minute time, and nearly 60 women were under 7min/mile pace. The single-lap route starts near Southsea Castle on the Esplanade, skirts Portsmouth Harbour and Historic Dockyard at Portsea, returns to South Parade, Southsea, before the big finish along Eastney Esplanade.

President of the Great Run Company, Sir Brendan Foster, said: “The Great South Run has a rich history of incredible performances by British elite athletes and today was no exception. Marc and Verity join a veritable roll call of British previous winners, including Liz and Eilish McColgan, Chris Thompson, Paula Radcliffe and Sir Mo Farah. It was great to be back after last year’s cancellation due to the storm. This is an event firmly cemented in the calendar of runners of all abilities and we can’t wait to do it all again in 2026.”

If you are keen to avoid disappointment, as this year's Great South Run was sold out in advance, 2026 Super Early Bird entries are available now for £45 (usually £53) – click here for details... 

Results and race reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Great South Run on Facebook