Record Entry for Greath South Run 2011

This year’s Bupa Great South Run, the world’s leading 10 mile road race, has reached its entry limit five months ahead of the race on 30 October 2011.

The hugely popular event takes place in Portsmouth and is the only 10 miler in the world to hold the prestigious IAAF Gold Label Award status.  In 2011, it has attracted a new record entry of 24,000 runners.

“This year, we have accepted the 250,000th ever entry, which shows how far we’ve come since the first Bupa Great South Run in 1990.” said David Hart, communications director, Great Run.

“World class athletes have taken to the streets every year, with a mix of runners of all abilities, to make the Bupa Great South Run such an outstanding success.

“Its popularity is a reflection of the support we have always been given by Portsmouth City Council, who are fantastic location partners.”

Hart added: “Best of all, runners have raised an estimated £20 million for charity since the Bupa Great South Run was first held.”.”

Some of the world’s greatest male and female athletes have graced the streets of the coastal city, producing thrilling, record breaking performances.

The two fastest-ever 10 mile performances on UK soil have been achieved by Kenya’s Benson Masya and Joseph Ebuya.

Masya, a former World Half Marathon gold medalist, achieved a sensational UK All-Comers’ record of 45min 56sec in 1995, which remained unbroken until Ebuya, the World Cross Country champion clocked 45min 16sec last October.

The women’s competition has reached even higher standards. .  Olympic 10000m champion, Derartu Tulu, set a course record of 52min 39sec in 1996, which was smashed 12 months later by Liz McColgan, a World 10,000m gold medalist, who clocked 52min dead.

Five years later Ireland’s greatest ever sportswoman, Sonia O’Sullivan, decimated that time, finishing with a world record breaking 51min.

With Paula Radcliffe, the world marathon record holder, setting the current UK national record of 51:11 in 2008, the fast, flat course regularly produces world class times.

The event will be preceded by the Bupa Junior and Mini Great South Runs on Saturday 29 October. More than 2,000 children from the ages of 3-16 took part last year.