The Great South Run is a 10-mile road race that takes place in Portsmouth. The race was first held in 1990 and has since become an incredible event for the south of England.
If you’re planning on running the Great South Run, you will need to figure out how to get to the start line.
How to get to the Great South Run by train
There are three train stations near the start line of the Great South Run. The closest is Portsmouth Harbour station, which is about a 15-minute walk from the start line. The others are Portsmouth & Southsea Station and Fratton Station.
What to do at the Great South Run
The Great South Run is a 10-mile road race held in Portsmouth. It’s an extremely popular race, attracting over 15,000 runners from all over the world.
If you're planning on spectating at the Great South Run, there are a few things you can do to make the most of your experience.
The first, and perhaps the most important, is to find a good spot. The best places to watch the race are along the seafront, near the Historic Dockyard and around Southsea Castle. These offer great views of the race and the city as a whole.
The weather in Portsmouth can be unpredictable so it's a good idea to dress in layers. It’s also worth wearing comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of standing and walking.
Make sure to cheer on the runners as they go past. Although the run attracts some elite runners who will speed past you in an instant, there will also be plenty of amateurs.
These runners will appreciate your support, so be sure to give them some encouragement as they go by.
The Great South Run is a great event with an electric atmosphere. Be sure to enjoy the music, the cheering and the excitement of the day.
About the Great South Run
The Great South Run was conceived by British Olympic athlete and television presenter Brendan Foster. It was devised as a race that would be accessible to runners of all abilities.
The course is flat and fast, with only a few gentle inclines. It starts and finishes on the Southsea seafront, taking runners past some of Portsmouth's most iconic landmarks. This includes the Spinnaker Tower, the Historic Dockyard, and Southsea Castle.
In addition to being a great way to see Portsmouth, the Great South Run is an amazing event for charity fundraising. Over £100 million has been raised for charity since its inception.
If you're looking for a challenge, a fun day out, or a fun way to raise money for charity, the Great South Run is well worth attending. To learn more about the event, or how to apply for a spot, visit their official website.
Ways to save on your train ticket to the Great South Run
To save money on your train ticket to Portsmouth, booking in advance, travelling off-peak where possible, and taking advantage of Railcard discounts are key.
By planning your travel ahead of time, you can use Avanti’s Best Fare Finder to get the best deal on your tickets. You can also set up Advance Train Ticket Alerts to secure the lowest price ahead of time.
If you can be flexible with your journey time, you can travel off-peak. This involves travelling between 10:30 and 14:30 or after 20:00 on Monday to Thursday, or any time on Friday or at the weekend.
Those booking train tickets to London as a family can also save with Family Tickets, child tickets for those aged under five, or a Family & Friends Railcard, which gives discounts of between a third and 60%.
Get the Avanti app
Make your journey as easy for yourself as possible and download the Avanti West Coast app.
Book in advance, make changes to your route, or even choose your seat. All of this is possible with the app, which also allows you to track your train, buy tickets with your payment method of choice and store all your tickets in one place, all with zero booking fees.
