The popular Great Birmingham Run 2023 will take place in May, and the date and route has now been announced.
A new-look route for the popular Great Birmingham Run this May has been announced with new sponsors AJ Bell. This year’s 10k and half marathon routes will showcase the best of Birmingham city centre and beyond and take in St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter for both distances and also Cannon Hill Park for the 13.1-mile run.
Taking place during May Bank Holiday weekend - the same weekend as King Charles’ Coronation - entries are now open for the event, with thousands of runners and walkers planning to take to the streets to challenge themselves or raise cash for charity. The race takes place on Sunday 7 May 2023 - the first May Bank Holiday, which is also the bank holiday date for the Coronation of Prince Charles III and Camilla, which takes place on the Saturday, May 6.
The start line for both the 10K and half marathon will be at Birmingham’s showpiece Centenary Square and finish line at Smithfield. Starting on Broad Street at Centenary Square, runners for both the 10k and half marathon distances will head for the Jewellery Quarter, passing the Chamberlain Clock at Warstone Lane and Vyse Street, 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.
Half-marathon participants will follow the same iconic landmarks before heading out of the city centre along Pershore Road, reaching Selly Park at eight miles and a return route that takes in glorious Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston Stadium. Both distances enjoy a grandstand finish at the Smithfield site near Bullring; home to Commonwealth Games beach volleyball and basketball.
Finishers will also collect a shiny new AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run medal, an exclusive (optional) finisher’s t-shirt plus a finisher’s bag filled with goodies. Runners Rewards – access to special offers for participants, from partners and sponsors as a well done are also available via the Great Run app.
Charlie Musson, brand and PR director at AJ Bell, said: “We know that inspirational mass-participation events such as the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run can have a really positive effect on physical health and mental wellbeing. Everybody taking on the 10k or half marathon is either working towards a personal goal or supporting good causes along the way and we are really proud to be a part of this fantastic Birmingham event.”
Chief Executive of the Great Run Company, Paul Foster, said: “The 2022 Great Birmingham Run 10k was such a special occasion but we were determined to go one better this year and I’m so excited to reveal a route that shows off the best of Brum. We can’t wait for May Bank Holiday Weekend and the chance to see Birmingham come alive once again with the colour and energy of a Great Run event.”
