There's nothing quite like the feeling demonstrated by these members of Haslemere Border Athletics Club. It's the satisfaction of completing a challenging, mass participation event and relaxing together with the well-earned event T-shirt and medal on display. These nine friends were among a contingent from the Surrey running club who completed the 32nd Great South Run on Sunday (16th October).

Around 20,000 people of all ages and abilities took on their own personal challenges as part of the Great South Run weekend. After a blustery day on Saturday (15th October) for the Junior and Mini Great South Run and the Great South Run 5K, the warm and calm conditions were a bonus for runners, spectators, and volunteers at the headline 10-mile event on Sunday.

Chief Executive of the Great Run Company Paul Foster said: “It was fantastic to be back in Portsmouth today for the Great South Run. Well done to everyone who ran this weekend, whether you were raising money for charity, aiming to beat a PB, or just out to enjoy the experience. The people of Portsmouth always give our runners incredible support and today was no different, the atmosphere was unbeatable".

Among the most notable athletes taking part was Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead who ran an impressive 1:11:53 on his blades. Meanwhile, marathon pioneer Kathrine Switzer (75) – who became one of the sport’s most inspiring role models when she took on the Boston Marathon in 1967 despite the prevailing attitudes around women and distance running at the time – finished in great shape in 1:51:19.

The elite men's race was won by Tokyo Olympian Ben Connor (Derby, 47:19) from Ellis Cross (Aldershot, 47:32) and Birchfield Harrier Omar Ahmed (47:49). Connor said: “It was a fantastic event. We don’t get the chance to run many ten-milers and this is the biggest one there is. This is my third time running the Great South Run. I’ve come third, second and now first, so I’m really pleased. It’s my thirtieth birthday tomorrow, so I’m off to Barcelona tonight and will be celebrating the win.” 

At the head of the women's elite field, GB international Lily Partridge (Birchfield Harriers, 54:29) was first in a closely contested race. Welsh athlete Natasha Cockram (Micky Morris Racing Team, 54:35) and another Tokyo Olympian, Steph Twell (Aldershot, 54:51) completed the rostrum. 

Partridge said: “It was a great race, the three of us were together up to about eight miles. I hit the front at about six miles. It wasn’t really planned, so I thought I’d just try and make it a hard run race. It was a good opportunity for me to put myself under pressure and gain some confidence and it really paid off.”

The Great South Run 2023 will take place on the 14th & 15th of October 2023. Entries are now open at a discounted early bird rate for the first 1,000 applicants.

Results and previous event reports at runABC South race listing

Image courtesy Great South Run on Facebook