For 35 years, the Great South Run has been a constant fixture in the south's calendar, apart from last year when the main event succumbed to the fury of Storm Ashley. The weekend always starts with the exciting AJ Bell Great South 5K, and this year's edition was held in mild conditions on Saturday, 18 October, with 814 finishers in 1:09:23.

The AJ Bell starting bell was rung at 10:00am, and the Great South 5K was underway on Clarence Esplanade, Southsea Common. The fast, flat course is traffic-free and enjoys superb views across the Solent, an incredible atmosphere, and every prospect of nailing a PB.

It is also ideal for beginners and charity runners like the happy group above, who were supporting Sophie's Legacy, running in memory of a remarkable young girl who touched so many lives before her life was lost to cancer when she was 10 years old.

The benign weather conditions were conducive to good performances. The top seven men were inside 16 minutes on the single-lap course around Southsea Common and out to the Canoe Lake before a final kilometre along Clarence Esplanade.

The first three, after a great battle, were under-17 Oakley Knipe (City of Portsmouth AC, 15:31 PB), under-20 Archie Pearson (Isle of Wight AC, 15:35 PB) and baithle (running and swimming) international Malek Roostaei (City of Portsmouth AC, 15:42) – pictured below.

In a similarly close women's race, the top five went under 18 minutes. The podium places were claimed by under-20 Imogen Edwards (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, 17:08 PB) and City of Portsmouth AC athletes Florence East (under-20, 17:11 PB) and Rhiannon Navesey (17:37) – pictured below.

After the excitement of the AJ Bell Great South 5K, it was time for the enthusiasm of the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great South Runs, supported by the ever-popular Mascot Dash and the presence of the Great South Run's mascot Tyney the Tortoise!

And so the stage was set for the 35th Great South Run on Sunday, 19 October 2025, with officials casting a wary eye to the skies as rain and wind were again in the forecast...

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

Photos courtesy of Great South Run on Facebook