Great South Run, 16th October 2022
The GNR’s little sibling, the Great South Run, is a 10 mile race around Portsmouth and Southsea which always takes place in mid to late October. As we have friends who live in the area, Gill and I have taken part a few times as it offers us the opportunity to combine having a catch-up with a good running event. This time our son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Emma, had also joined us for the weekend.
Although the GSR does not attract the big, international names that the GNR does, there were two notable running celebrities on the start line in Kathrine Switzer and Richard Whitehead. Kathrine Switzer is known as one of the pioneers of women’s distance running, famously taking part in the 1967 Boston Marathon even though women were barred from the event. Now 75 years old, Kathrine still finished in a respectable 1:51:19. Paralympian Richard Whitehead is an inspiration in his own right too. Whilst predominantly a distance runner, Richard took gold in a world record time in the 200m at the Paralympics in London in 2012, and we had the privilege of being in the stadium to see him do it.
Following the weather forecast over the previous few days, we were expecting a chill wind and possible showers, but we woke up to a bright blue sky and unseasonably high temperatures. No wind and, if anything, a bit warm for a long distance run. It was a 20 minute stroll from our accommodation to the start line which is on the sea front at Southsea. There were 3 start waves and I was to set off some 42 minutes ahead of Gill. Everything was much more relaxed than at the GNR – nobody checked your number as your entered your start pen, and there were only small barriers separating the runners from the spectators, so Gill walked alongside me as I found my preferred start position, somewhere near the 70 minute pacer. Just as we were called forward to the start line, I heard a voice call “Tom” and there was our friend Pauline. So I got a quick hug, saw Gill and Pauline meet and set off on my way.
The course starts along the promenade, with views across The Solent to the Isle of Wight, then makes its way through the old town of Portsmouth, past the Cathedral and into the Historic Dockyard. Here you get views of HMS Warrior and, around the 2 mile marker, Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and the Mary Rose museum (all well worth a visit).
Just after leaving the Historic Dockyard, I had a real treat as I spotted Richard Whitehead running ahead of me. I realised that I was slowly catching him and, as I did so, I was treated to a close-up view of his running style – and incredibly impressive it is too! As a double above-knee amputee, I am in awe as to how he can run so far and so fast. I had to take the opportunity to speak to him and we exchanged a few pleasantries. I told him that he was an inspiration to us all, and he sent me on my way by telling me to “go and enjoy the rest of your run” (Richard finished in 1:11:53).
The next part of the route is fairly nondescript, before a there and back up a dual carriageway allowed me to catch a view of some of the elite runners on the other side. The route then passes back along the other side of Southsea Common from the sea, and thus back past the start and finish lines. There is fantastic support here as it is where most of the spectators gather as it gives the chance to see runners at the start, in the middle and at the end. Around about the 10K marker for me, the elite women were just on the other side of the road with only about 400m to go – they looked so fresh and so fast that it just didn’t seem right!
The course then goes through a residential area before we turn back for the final 2 miles which are right along the sea front. I knew that I had been maintaining a very good pace, but tiredness was now setting in and some willpower was required to keep on going! The 9 mile marker was a welcome sight and then, at about 500m from the finish line I heard and saw Pauline again, almost immediately followed by Mark and Emma – so I had to find a smile for the photos!
I crossed the line tired but very happy with my time, met Mark and Emma and took them to find Pauline so that we could all cheer Gill home together. Emma and Pauline are both in local rock choirs, so we positioned ourselves where there was a rock choir entertaining runners and spectators just a little further up the course.
Gill had not had the best preparation for this race – throughout the year her training had been thwarted by injury, Covid and other priorities, so she had done not a lot of distance training. She was a bit wary as to how she would perform and said that she would be happy with anything under 2 hours. She absolutely smashed that and had an excellent run, pacing herself well throughout and being well near the front of the pink wave.
So we were two happy running tourists – we had an enjoyable run as part of a lovely weekend and would highly recommend the Great South Run to you all. It is a friendly event on a nice, flat course and has the advantage of being shorter than its northern counterpart. Portsmouth may not be top of everybody’s list of holiday destinations, but we have both been impressed by the area and there is certainly plenty to do to keep yourself entertained for a weekend.
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 485 | Tom Tinsley | 1:08:12 |
| 7252 | Gill Milne | 1:41:35 |
