Now it’s farewell to the Christmas Market and so-long to those chocolate selection boxes, it’s time to stretch the legs and set yourself a New Year fitness goal. And what could be better than signing up to take part in the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run.
Entries are now open for the Midlands’ biggest running event, with thousands of Brummie runners and walkers beginning their training plans to hit the streets and challenge themselves or raise cash for charity. The Great Birmingham Run will be back with a bigger-than-ever junior and mini event at the famous Alexander Stadium.
They will be followed by a city centre 10k and half marathon over the weekend of Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, 2025. Last year’s events sold out before the big day, with more than 14,000 runners of all abilities taking to the streets of the city.
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The 2025 routes are once again filled with iconic landmarks including the world-famous Jewellery Quarter, beautiful St Paul’s Square and a city-centre route that features the Mailbox, Grand Central at New Street station, St Martin’s Church, Southside and Digbeth.
There will be on-course music zones providing a festival vibe all along the route, according to organisers. The finish line will be in Smithfield at the site of the city’s former wholesale markets with an event village being set up.
If you need some family inspiration to get you active this year, The Junior & Mini Great Birmingham Run is a brilliant introduction to running events for kids and this year’s events will be the biggest yet, taking place at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium – the home of Commonwealth Games heroics – on Saturday, 3 May.
Or if you and a group of colleagues, friends or team members fancy taking on a running event together, why not enter the Business Challenge? It’s a great opportunity for businesses to encourage a healthy outlook for team members or staff, engage in all-important team building and focus on charity fundraising.
The Great Birmingham Run website has a range of free-to-download training plans aimed at all abilities for both 10k and half marathons to help you prepare and get the most out of your running experience. Simply select the distance you are aiming for and the level that suits you – beginner, improver, or run/walk.
Enter now at: greatrun.org/events/great-birmingham-run/. Organisers say the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run is an event for everyone, whether it’s the beginning of your running journey, you ’re doing it to hit a fitness goal, or to do something amazing for a charity close to your heart.