Spectator Guide 2025
Don’t miss a second of the Great Manchester Run action - download the Great Run Event Day app. All you need is a participant’s name or run number and you can track multiple runners at the same time. Thanks to timing mats at split intervals, tracking is super-accurate, and you’ll have lots of other info at your fingertips - average pace, expected finish time – you can also donate to runners’ chosen charities.
Download the app for free on the App Store or Google Play.
Timetable
Saturday 17 May
10:00 START of the Mini Great Manchester Run
10:45 Mascot Dash
11:10 START of the Junior Great Manchester Run Red Wave
11:12 START of the Junior Great Manchester Run Blue Wave
Sunday 18 May
(08:10 ONWARDS)
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run needs no introduction, but we’re going to give it one anyway… it’s a party from start to finish, with a high-energy soundtrack, live music and entertainment zones at every turn. This year is the biggest in a decade with over 35,000 runners lining up at the start line, and many raising millions for charity.
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run will be broadcast live on BBC One from 11am –1pm.
See live stream of the finish line from 9:20am3pm on the BBC Sport website.
Timetable
Sunday 18 May
08:10 10k Elite wheelchair Start
08:15 Half Marathon Orange wave Start
08.40 Half Marathon Green wave Start
11:30 10K Elite women Start
11:45 10K Elite men Start
11:45 10K Fast paced & Orange wave Start
12:05 10k Green Wave Start
12:50 10k Purple Wave Start
13:10 10k Pink Wave Start
Event Village Fun!
The Event Village on Peter Street, and Charity Village on Deansgate is open to everyone and features a range of activities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy. As well as Lucky Saint we have lot of great partner activities and exhibitors at the event village this year including, Mitchum, Solgar, SIS, Eat Lean, Liquid IV, PEBE, We Road and not forgetting music from the Heart Truck.
It’s a great place to meet up with your runner after they have finished or why not head down there at the start of the day to see what on offer before it gets busy.
Lucky Saint at the Event Village
Look out for the Lucky Saint, our Official Alcohol-Free Beer Partner, their team will be sampling and pouring golden pints from their Lucky Saint Caravan in the event village. Head there early to beat the crowds and enjoy yours while you wait for your runner to finish.
Elite Runners to Look Out For
It’s set to be an exciting elite field with both 2024 Men’s and Women’s Champions returning to defend their titles. You can find a full list of competing athletes here.
Official Starters
Get ready for an inspiring start to the event with our official starter lineup! 2024 Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will be setting off the elite wheelchair and half marathon orange wave, while Great Manchester Run champion Eilish McColgan will start the elite women’s race. Adding to the start line excitement, Manchester born and raised Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson will be starting both the elite men’s 10k race and 10k orange wave.
Famous faces to look out for...
Gemma Atkinson Actress and Presenter
Carlos Gu Strictly Come Dancing
Gorka Marquez Strictly Come Dancing
Harriet Bibby Actress Coronation Street
Elle Mulvaney Actress Coronation Street
Jowita Przystal Strictly Come Dancing
Jason Callender Actor Coronation Street
Minah Shannon Contestant
Traitors
Peter Hook Musician
Isabel Hodgins Actress Emmerdale
Kasim Ahmed Contestant
Traitors
Danny Miller Actor Emmerdale
Alex Olesky Contestant
Traitors
Official Event Photos
Photographers from Marathon Photos will along the route to capture moments from the day. Official photos will be going LIVE from the moment runners pass a Marathon Photos photographer along the course. Friends and family can enter the run number and register here to be notified as soon as the first photos of your runner are available online.
Travel Information
Our top tip: where possible, make use of the public transport options available on the day. Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website here to plan your journey by car, train, tram, bus, bike, or on foot.
For live travel updates on the day, follow @OfficialTfGM on X, or check for live disruptions here.
If you plan on driving into Manchester on race day, you can secure parking in advance with JustPark here. If you’re travelling in from outside the city, we’d advise parking further out and using a Park & Ride option to avoid the stress of city centre parking and potential congestion.
Park & Ride Options
Find more information here.
These options are likely to be very busy, so do plan ahead.
Driving From Metrolink Tram Approx. Travel Time
North Bury Interchange 30 minutes
South East Didsbury 25 minutes
East Ashton Moss 25 minutes
West Ladywell
Meeting Runners at the Finish
If you are meeting a runner at the finish, agree a meeting point in advance. The official meeting point is at Peter Street. Look for the large A-Z banners and arrange to meet at the one that corresponds to the first letter of your runner’s surname. See map HERE for locations.
SPINNINGFIELDS
