What makes the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run the best in the South West? We asked our runners that very question – and these are the answers we got.
Ready? On your marks, get set, and GO for some Great Bristol Run love!
“It’s huge.” There’s something spine-tinglingly incredible about 20,000 runners coming together to put one foot in front of the other. Prepare to feel *all* the emotions, from nerves to pride to complete and utter euphoria at the finish line!
“It’s the best way to see Bristol.” You don’t need us to tell you what a beautiful city Bristol is, but we’re going to anyway. Get ready for plenty of waterside action and river-crossing – and running under the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the half marathon route? Unforgettable. (Psst: want to get to know your route even better? We can help with that…)
“It’s fairly flat.” No wonder it’s a runner’s favourite, with 8 out of 13.1 miles on the half marathon route formed by a fairly simple (and flat) out-and-back stretch.
“Art at every turn.” The hometown of Banksy is known for its art, and specifically its graffiti. Keep your eyes peeled and let those street masterpieces keep your eyes popping and your legs pumping!
“Inspiring history.” History is alive and well in Bristol, and the Great Bristol Run is definitely the best way to experience it. Look out for SS Great Britain at Bristol Docklands, as well as Queen Square, Castle Park and *all* the bridges!
“Entertainment overload.” Why have just one DJ when you can have two (or three, or more) – plus live bands and pacers running to their own sound systems? Every year, the entertainment is a little bit different at the Great Bristol Run – we’ve had samba bands, drag queens belting out karaoke classics and more – but it’s always guaranteed to be epic.
“Superstar supporters.” Tens of thousands of supporters line the race route every year and Bristolians have a great sense of humour. Loads of our all-time favourite signs were spotted on the Great Bristol Run, including ‘It’s giving athlete’, ‘Toenails are for the weak’ and ‘In my half-marathon era’. We also loved the simplicity of ‘Pints @ end’ and the cryptic nature of, err, ‘Powered by potatoes’.
“Brizzle bling.” At the finish line you’ll receive your very own bit of Bristol bling: a medal inspired by Bristol’s history and landmarks. You’ll also receive an exclusive t-shirt, with bragging rights included as standard with every wear.
“An epic after-party.” Beyond the finish line, discover the Après Run Zone with entertainment, a huge choice of food and drink options and more. And if you want to keep the celebrations going, we’ve got a whole load of suggestions here. Hey, you’ve earned it!
You can find out more about the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run, and sign up, here.
