Power of Running: Gerard Beauvoisin
This year’s AJ Bell Great South Run weekend is set to be the biggest for a decade with over 25,000 runners taking part over Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October. This year we’re celebrating the inspiring runners who are on their own route to victory as part of our Great South Run ‘Power of Running’ series.
At 64 years old, Gerard Beauvoisin, from North End, Portsmouth, has been running for nearly four decades.
“I started back in 1987, running with two of my brothers at the Butser Hill Race. We were looking for a challenge, and that’s what running has always been for me – a challenge, a way to push myself.”
Not long after, Gerard co-founded the Denmead Striders running club with a few others, and today the club boasts over 170 members. Recently, Gerard was awarded lifelong membership, a testament to his dedication.
Gerard’s passion for the Great South Run is unwavering. “There are only five of us who have completed every race, and I plan to keep going for another 30 years! In 2012, I even postponed a major operation until after the race. That’s how important it is to me.”
Running has been a source of strength for Gerard, especially during challenging times. Diagnosed with ameloblastoma in 2012, he found solace and focus in the sport.
“Running kept me grounded when I couldn’t physically run due to being in the hospital. It helped me recover from not only the surgery but also from drop foot. Running gave me a sense of pride and achievement, especially through the friendships I’ve built and the goals I’ve hit along the way.”
For Gerard, the power of running lies not just in personal achievement but in the community and support it offers to others. “Helping others achieve their running goals has been just as fulfilling as hitting my own.”
The Great South Run, and Junior & Mini Great South Run, are now SOLD OUT. There’s still time to sign up for Saturday’s Great South 5k, but enter quickly here, as places are selling fast.
If you missed out on the Great South Run this year, sign up to the 2025 Reminder Service here and we’ll let you know when next year’s entries open.
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