Runners spread across a city avenue during a marathon

AJ Bell Great Manchester Run

The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is a road race held in Manchester, in north-west England.

Prepare for Great Manchester Run

A plan built from your answers and your race date.

Manchester is a large industrial and university city in north-west England. The race follows an urban route on fully closed roads, heading out through the city centre and surrounding districts before returning to the heart of the city. The surface is tarmac throughout, the profile is flat, and the atmosphere is carried by big crowds along the way.

0975 km and the 10K. 45am, which leaves room to run both distances in the same morning or to watch the other race start. The event is part of the AJ Bell Great Run series.

The formats

2 formats on the program.

Format	Distance
Semi-marathon	13.1 mi
10K	6 mi

Organizer information, checked on September 21, 2026 · greatrun.org

When to start

A build for this distance usually runs 10 to 16 weeks. Counted back from race day, that puts the start somewhere between January 25, 2027 and March 8, 2027.

These ranges are working conventions, not a research finding — no trial has compared plan lengths against each other. What matters more is that the plan was built for the weeks you actually have, rather than shrunk down from a longer one.

How to choose your start date

When to start

January 25, 2027

→ March 8, 2027

Worth reading before you enter

Races and distances 10K, half, marathon: what each one really asks They are all running. They are not the same event. What limits you, how long you need, and how the race falls apart — all three change with the distance. Read Races and distances The big marathons: what each one actually demands A marathon is 42.195 km everywhere. What changes is the profile, the crowd, the weather you are likely to get — and so what your training should emphasise. Read Training Eating and drinking: what’s proven, what isn’t This is where confident advice most often runs ahead of the evidence. Some of it is well tested. Some is opinion wearing a number. And one common habit can kill you. Read

Questions

What is the date of AJ Bell Great Manchester Run in 2027?

AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is run on Sunday, May 23, 2027 in Manchester. Date published by the organizer, checked on September 21, 2026.

What distances does the Great Manchester Run offer?

0975 km and a 10K. Both races are held on fully closed roads, on a flat and fast city centre profile.

Is the Great Manchester Run good for a first 10K?

Yes. The 10K is flat, run entirely on closed roads and well marshalled, which makes it a solid choice for a first race at the distance. Three training sessions a week is enough preparation.

Other races

This list keeps growing; it draws no line. A race that is missing is prepared for in exactly the same way.

Bath · United KingdomHalf marathon GetPRO Bath Half Marathon Mar 14 1 km half marathon run through the streets of central Bath, England. Reading · United KingdomHalf marathon Green Park Reading Half Marathon Mar 21 A Mini Marathon runs alongside it for younger participants on the same day. London · United KingdomHalf marathon London Landmarks Half Marathon Apr 4 0975km route strings together the capital's best-known landmarks on roads shut to traffic. Your race is not here? Tell us about your race You can prepare for it all the same. Any race, anywhere, and even a goal without a race.

Your race is on the calendar. Your plan should be too.

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