With less than three months left, it must be time to get your entry in for one or more Run Bournemouth events on Saturday 12 October, and Sunday 13 October 2024. This runABC South featured race weekend draws thousands of runners to the lovely coastal resort with a population of around 200,000 making it the largest town in Dorset.

Run Bournemouth comprises six races held over two days. The events start with the Junior 2K for runners aged 9-12 years at 2:00pm on Saturday, followed by a Junior 1.5K for those aged 6-8 years at 2:45pm and the Kid's Kilometre at 3:30pm for 3-6 year olds.

As dusk arrives on Saturday evening, so do hundreds of fluo-clad competitors in the Supernova 5K which starts at 7:00pm. The emphasis is on light as darkness falls and the dash onto Bournemouth Pier is an iconic feature of this brilliant race. The brightest sparks last year were Luke Dunham (Herts Phoenix AC, 16:07) and Erin Wells (Poole AC, 18:07).

The Supersonic 10K takes place on Sunday at 9:00am on a flat and fast course, great for setting a quick time. The course incorporates Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier along the stunning coastal route. Last year's winners were Jon Pepin (Southampton AC, 32:50) and Emily Hilliar (Poole AC, 36:49).

Finally, the Bournemouth Half Marathon takes centre stage at 11:00am – the start is timed so it is possible to run this race after finishing the Supersonic 10K. The beautiful course runs along the Bournemouth coastline, including both Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier, offering stunning ocean views and a vibrant seaside atmosphere.

This is an ideal race for first-time half-marathon runners or experienced athletes looking to improve their PB. The October date allows time for training and building up to the distance throughout the spring and summer, making this a very achievable goal. Last year's champions were Ollie Garrod (Belgrave Harriers, 1:10:01) and Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents AC, 1:19:25).

Full details of all events and links for entries are at the Run Bournemouth website here.

Previous reports and results are available at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Run Bournemouth