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Great Manchester Run 2027: Course, Entry And Race Day Guide
Updated: 17 hours ago
The Great Manchester Run brings thousands of runners into the city for a 10K or half marathon, filled with music, crowds and Manchester landmarks. Both distances start on Portland Street and finish on Deansgate, while the half marathon adds a longer loop past the Etihad Stadium.
The Great Manchester Run 2027 takes place on Sunday 23 May. Whether you are entering your first 10K, aiming for a half marathon personal best or running for charity, here is what to know about the routes and race day.
The Destination
Manchester is an easy city to turn into a race weekend. The centre has a wide choice of places to eat and stay, alongside museums, music venues and good transport connections. The run takes you beyond the busiest central streets towards sporting landmarks and the waterfront at Salford Quays.
The Portland Street start and Deansgate finish are both central, although they are in different locations. If you are booking accommodation, consider your journey to the start as well as what you want to do after the race. Supporters should check road closures before planning where to watch.
History Of The Great Manchester Run
The Great Manchester Run was first held in 2003 as a legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. It began as a 10K, with a half marathon added in 2017.
The event has grown into one of the UK’s biggest running occasions, bringing together elite athletes, first time runners and people raising money for charity. Great Run reported 38,000 runners at its 2026 event, its largest field at that point. The weekend also includes Junior and Mini events for younger runners.
When Is The Great Manchester Run 2027?
The Great Manchester Run 2027 takes place on Sunday 23 May. The organiser currently lists an 8:00am start for the half marathon and an 11:45am start for the 10K. Check your allocated wave and arrival instructions in the final event guide.
The Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run is scheduled for Saturday 22 May. Families travelling for both days should check the separate timetable for those events.
Great Manchester Run Race Packs And Event Facilities
Your race pack will include your number and timing information. Great Run provides collection arrangements for runners who enter after the postage deadline or use an overseas address. Check the organiser’s instructions closer to race weekend if either applies to you.
Free baggage storage is available. The organiser also provides water on the courses and at the finish, with toilets near the start and along the routes. Locations and opening times will be shown in the final event information.
Race Morning
Both distances start on Portland Street and finish at the lower end of Deansgate. Plan how you will reach the start and allow time to find your wave, use the toilets and leave a bag if needed. The half marathon and 10K start at different times, so follow the instructions for your own race.
Road closures will affect travel across the city centre. If friends or family are coming to watch, agree on a meeting place away from the immediate finish area before you set off.
The Great Manchester Run Courses
Great Run’s published description has both distances starting on Portland Street and finishing at the lower end of Deansgate. The half marathon separates from the 10K route soon after the start, heads east past the Etihad Stadium, then rejoins the shorter route on Chester Road. Both races continue towards Old Trafford and through Salford Quays before returning to the city centre.
The organiser says the routes are subject to change. Check the final 2027 course maps when they are available.
The Great Manchester Run 10K Course
The 10K takes runners from central Manchester towards Old Trafford, then through Salford Quays and back to Deansgate. It is a largely flat course with long stretches where you can settle into a rhythm, although the size of the field may make the first part feel busy.
Portland Street And The Opening Kilometres
The race begins on Portland Street, where the crowds and music give the start plenty of energy. Both distances use the same opening stretch before half marathon runners turn away onto their longer route. Give yourself time to find space rather than trying to pass everyone around you immediately. The 10K stays closer to the centre and heads west towards Old Trafford. Once the opening crowd spreads out, use the longer stretches of road to settle at an effort you can maintain through Salford Quays and the return to Deansgate.
Old Trafford And Salford Quays
The route takes runners towards Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium before moving into the Salford Quays area. This is one of the most distinctive parts of the 10K, replacing the broad approach roads with views of the waterfront and buildings around the Quays.
Great Run’s route guidance places the Imperial War Museum North beyond the halfway point for 10K runners. The course also passes the Coronation Street set’s Rovers Return.
The Return To Deansgate
After Salford Quays, the course heads back towards the city centre. If you have kept your effort controlled, you can begin to pick up the pace during the closing kilometres. If you are running your first 10K, focus on reaching each distance marker rather than worrying about the whole distance remaining. The finish is at the lower end of Deansgate. You will hear the crowds build as you approach it, making the final stretch one of the most memorable parts of the race. Save enough energy to enjoy that moment.
The Great Manchester Run Half Marathon Course
The half marathon adds an eastern loop to the route taken by 10K runners. After the shared Portland Street start, it heads onto Mancunian Way and out towards the Etihad Stadium. Runners then return to join the 10K route on Chester Road, continue towards Old Trafford and pass through Salford Quays before finishing on Deansgate. This makes the half marathon a race of two distinct parts. The earlier miles include long, exposed road stretches where you need to manage your own pace. Later, the course brings more landmarks and the atmosphere of the shared route as you work towards the city centre.
Mancunian Way And The Etihad Stadium
Half marathon runners leave the 10K course for Mancunian Way. Great Run’s route guidance describes a long section towards the Etihad Stadium using Mancunian Way, Ashton Old Road and Alan Turing Way. These straights give you space to run consistently, but they can also make the next turn feel a long way off. The Etihad Stadium provides a clear landmark on the eastern loop. Treat this part of the race as an opportunity to establish your rhythm. If you are aiming for a particular time, check that your effort feels sustainable rather than pushing harder simply because the road has opened up.
Back To Chester Road And Old Trafford
The route turns back towards the centre and rejoins the 10K course on Chester Road. Great Run’s guidance puts half marathon runners well beyond seven miles by the time they reach this point. You have completed the distinctive eastern loop, but there is still plenty of running ahead. The course continues along Chester Road and Bridgewater Way towards Old Trafford. Passing the areas associated with both Manchester football clubs gives the half marathon its own character. This is a sensible place to assess your race: hold your planned pace if you feel comfortable, or ease back slightly if the early miles have taken more out of you than expected.
Salford Quays And The Final Miles
From Old Trafford, the route moves through Salford Quays, passing the Imperial War Museum North and the Coronation Street set. The change in scenery can be welcome as fatigue starts to build. Concentrate on maintaining your effort through the Quays before thinking about a faster finish. The final miles bring you back towards central Manchester and the finish on Deansgate. If you still feel strong, increase your pace gradually rather than making one early surge. The crowds near the finish will give you a lift when you need it most.
How Difficult Are The Great Manchester Run Courses?
Great Run describes both routes as relatively flat, which makes them attractive to runners aiming for a personal best. Flat does not necessarily mean effortless: the 10K starts with a large field, while the half marathon’s long straights towards the Etihad can test your concentration.
For the 10K, the main challenge is finding your own pace amid the excitement and keeping enough in reserve after Salford Quays. For the half marathon, prepare for sustained running on broad roads as well as the distance itself. Both routes reward a controlled opening and leave the best of Manchester’s support for the journey back to Deansgate.
What Makes The Great Manchester Run Special?
The event combines the scale of a major city race with a choice of two distances. Both routes take runners towards Old Trafford and Salford Quays, while the half marathon adds the Etihad Stadium. Music, entertainment and spectators help maintain the atmosphere along the way.
The field brings together runners with very different goals. Some are looking for a fast time, others are taking on a new distance, and many are raising money for a cause close to them. Everyone shares the build up and a finish in the heart of Manchester.
Is The Great Manchester Run Good For First Time Runners?
The 10K can be a good first major event if you give yourself time to prepare. It offers a substantial challenge with plenty happening along the route. Entrants must be at least 15 years old on race day.
The half marathon can also suit someone running their first 13.1 mile event, provided they build up their endurance beforehand. Entrants must be at least 17. Whichever distance you choose, reading the final participant guide and planning your race morning will help you arrive at the start feeling ready.
How To Enter The Great Manchester Run 2027
Entries for the 2027 10K and half marathon are open through the Great Run website. The organiser currently advertises saver prices of £45 for the 10K and £54 for the half marathon, with higher final entry prices. Check the price and availability shown when you book.
Choose your distance carefully and read the entry conditions before paying. Your confirmation and later event communications will provide further information about your place and race day arrangements.
Running The Great Manchester Run For Charity
You can use either distance to raise money for a cause that matters to you. Some charities offer places with a fundraising commitment, while runners with their own entry can contact a charity and ask to join its team.
If you are considering a charity place, check the registration fee, fundraising target and support before accepting. If you already have an entry, contact your chosen charity early so you have time to set up your fundraising page and tell supporters why you are running.
Our Verdict
The Great Manchester Run offers two appealing ways to experience a major city race. The 10K takes in Old Trafford and Salford Quays before a central finish, while the half marathon adds a longer section past the Etihad Stadium.
Its scale, entertainment and support make it a strong choice for a first event, a personal best attempt or a fundraising challenge. Prepare for your chosen distance, pace the opening stretch sensibly and check the final 2027 course map before race day.
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