Your road to greatness in Manchester

The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is back on Sunday 26 May for another spectacular celebration of running, with over 30,000 participants expected to take their place on the iconic start line on Portland Street.

Making your way through the streets of Manchester in one of the UK’s biggest & best running events is an experience you’ll likely never forget. The event is packed full of entertainment from start to finish, with rocking on-course music zones, mega charity cheer points, unbelievable local support, and a finish line DJ welcoming runners across the line.

We’re pulling out all the stops to make this year’s event the best yet, so here’s a summary of what you can expect to see and hear on event day:

Pacers powered by music.  Our pacing team are always on hand to give runners the best possible chance of hitting a personal best, and this year the Solgar pacers will be blasting out tunes all along the course to keep motivation high.

Brilliant bands on the run. No one brings the noise as much as our bands on the run do. This year Dobcross Community Band, Chorlton Choir, Halle Youth Ensemble, Singing Striders, and Batala Manchester will be the soundtrack to your run.

Unrivalled on-course entertainment. There are some fantastic acts waiting to entertain you and keep you motivated along the course. Very Cherry is returning to blast out the sing-a-long classics at our Karaoke Kicks zone, and in exciting news, she will be joined by Ginger Hunter for this year’s event. It’s time to practice those duets! We’ve also added another music truck to the course, so get ready to be entertained as you hit the TUI Live Happy Runway. Our ‘Beats Boost’ and ‘Pump it Up’ DJ trucks will also be back to keep those legs pumping.

Mega Mancunian finisher rewards. Get ready for one or two post-race selfies with the epic 2024 finisher medal. You can wear it with pride for a whole week (at least)! Meanwhile, a stunning t-shirt inspired by a stunning city is a fantastic reward for runners for taking on the North West’s biggest weekend of running.

Party on the course. With rocking music zones & live bands at every turn, roaring charity cheering squads, plus the incredible local support who line the streets to cheer you on, it’s an experience like no other. Manchester comes to life on race day, and it’s an incredible sight to see.

Après Run = Après fun. Runners, families and friends can kick back, relax and enjoy the post-race celebrations in Great Northern Square, with a DJ truck turning up the feel-good, before heading over to Manchester Central Forecourt to collect bags and ease the muscles in the stretch zone.

A mega Mascot Race. This year we’re introducing our brand new Mascot Race to the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run, on Saturday 25 May. Taking place at 10:45 at the start/finish line in the Manchester Regional Arena, watch on as no less than 8 mascots battle it out for the win, including Great Run’s very own Tyney the Tortoise.

Support from start to finish. The amazing people of Manchester will be turned out in their thousands to cheer you on from the start until the finish, shouting out your name at every turn. Look out for the supporter signs, the high fives and the locals giving out sweets to keep you going.

Iconic sights. Whether you take part in the 10k or half marathon, you’re sure to encounter some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks. All runners will pass the world-famous Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, with incredible views of the Salford Quays and an epic finish at Deansgate. Half-marathon runners will also pass the Etihad Stadium, the home of Premier League champions Manchester City.

We can’t wait to see you on the start line on Sunday 26 May. This year’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run half marathon is SOLD OUT, and there are a limited number of places left for the 10k route, sign up now to secure your start line place here.