The big day is nearly here, and we want to help you with any event day questions so that you can focus on the important things: soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying your run.
We’ve got all the info you need here, but you can also check out greatrun. org. For last-minute changes and the FREE Great Run app for on-the-day information, live tracking and opportunities to donate to runners’ chosen charities for family and friends.
And to follow all the action as it happens, join the conversation on social media – just make sure you use
Timetable
07:00 Information Point opens in George Square
07:30 10K Assembly opens
08:15 10K Warm-Up
08:25 10K Elite Wheelchair Race
08:30 10K Fast-Paced & Purple Wave Start
08:37 10K Green Wave Start
08:58 10K Pink Wave Start
09:15
HM Assembly Opens – (Purple, Green and Pink Waves)
09:45 HM Warm-up - (Purple, Green and Pink Waves)
10:00
HM Elite, Fast-Paced & Purple Wave Start
10:07 HM Green Wave Start
10:31 HM Pink Wave Start
10:45
HM Assembly Opens – (Red, Yellow and Blue Waves)
11:15 HM Warm-up (Red, Yellow and Blue Waves)
11:30 HM Red Wave Start
11:37 HM Yellow Wave Start
12:00 HM Blue Wave Start
Travel
Our top tip: Where possible, make use of the public transport options available on the day.
Leave plenty of time to get to the start line as there will be a number of road closures in place. You can see a full list here.
The Subway will be open from 07:00AM on Sunday to accommodate runners, with trains running from 07:15AM. You can plan your SPT Subway journey here. Buses will run to their usual timetables with some diversions in place due to road closures.
There is no official event parking however should you need to travel by car, there are pay and display car parks nearby, including George Street, Cathedral, Duke Street and Concert Square.
Any travel updates will be added to the website, so please check the event page ahead of the event.
Information Point
The Information Point is there for last-minute queries, anyone who hasn’t received their race number, or race pack collection for anyone who enters after the cut-off date. Look out for the Great Run branded marquee.
Location
George Square
Opening Times
Sat 5th Oct - 10:00 to 16:00
Sun 6th Oct – 07:00 to 11:30
Jog On Shoe Recycling
You’ll also find our Jog On Shoe Collection point next to the Information Point, and also at finish at Glasgow Green, where runners can donate old and unwanted trainers.
Safety Pins
If you forget to bring safety pins to attach your run number, don’t worry, you can collect some from the stand located next to the Information Point without having to queue.
Wave & Start Time
Due to the size of the Great Scottish Run this year, there will be 3 separate start times, one for the 10K and two for the Half Marathon. This is to ensure there is a steady flow of participants arriving at the assembly areas and to help improve your start line experience overall.
• 10K – Purple, Green, Pink
• Half Marathon – Purple, Green, Pink
• Half Marathon – Red, Yellow, Blue
Your wave colour and start time can be found on your run number, which should arrive in the post approximately 2 weeks before the event. Once you’ve received it, you have everything you need for event day, and you don’t need to visit the Information Point to register on the day. Simply attach your run number (which has your timing chip attached) to the front of your running top with safety pins and head to the start line.
Making your way to the start
Coloured signs will direct you to the assembly area and start point for your wave on the day (see start map for details). Purple & Red waves should access the assembly area via South Frederick Street and George Square, Green & Yellow waves via John Street, and Pink & Blue waves via Montrose Street.
Baggage
Baggage drop is brought to you by Co-op Insurance. All baggage buses for both the 10K and HM will be located on Ingram Street. There will be several buses for each wave colour, so please remember which number bus you use.
Fill in your baggage label (tear off from your run number) before leaving the house and make sure it is secured to your bag. You’ll need your run number to gain access to the buses to drop off and collect your bag, so we can ensure it corresponds to the baggage label.
· Sorry, but baggage buses are not for changing.
· Please make room for other runners as soon as you’ve dropped off your bag – thank you!
· Please don’t leave valuables in your bags - this is a self-service system and, although there are security staff present, we can’t accept any responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Please note: Baggage buses will close 15 mins before each start time:
10K – 08:15
HM Start A – 09:45
HM Start B – 11:15
All baggage buses will leave Ingram Street and head to the finish and park at Glasgow Green. Please remember to pick up your bag before leaving the finish area.
Your Run Number
Your run number must only be worn by you on the day, and it should match the master number on your covering letter. If it’s different, please contact Customer Services here.
Please don’t swap, copy, or change this number - passing your number on to someone else could put them at risk from illness or injury if they’re not properly prepared. If your run number hasn’t arrived through the post, please visit the Information Point to collect a replacement.
Please Note: If you secured your entry after Friday 27 September, your run number hasn’t been posted out and must be collected from the Information Point. We are also unable to send race packs outside of the UK as we cannot guarantee their delivery, so they will need to be collected from the Information Point.
Timing
Your timing chip is attached to the back of your run number. Please don’t remove the chip – it will affect the accuracy of your time. The chip will automatically record your time for you, and you don’t need to do anything else. Your chip doesn’t need to be returned at the end of the run.
You can access your results on the AJ Bell Great Run Series App, or on our website here after the event.
Warm Up
A warm-up artist will be on site to get you warmed up and stretched out. Waves set off separately to help regulate the flow of runners through the course.
Pacers
Achieve your best time with the help of the SOLGAR pacemakers. Follow a pacemaker marked with the time you want to achieve and pace your run to perfection.
Running with friends Walking
If you want to run with a friend but have different coloured run numbers, you can drop back to run together in the same wave, but not move forward.
If you plan on walking or walking/running the event, please start at the rear of your wave and stay to the left-hand side of the road. If you’re walking at less than 17 minutes per mile, you may be asked to move on to the footpath for the later sections of the race.
Start Map
10K Course Map
GLASGOW
Half Marathon Course Map
Entertainment Map
Finish Map
At the finish line
Don’t stop immediately after you cross the finish line – please keep walking for a short distance so that you don’t block other runners. No matter your pace, everyone has run the same event, and everyone will get to cross the finish line.
Medical Support
Medical facilities will be available near to the start and finish line and will be positioned around the course should you require assistance. Please contact a medic or steward if you need help at any time.
Toilets
All the toilets at the start will be on George Street. There are also toilets at the finish and on the course (see map for details). Toilet facilities will be busy before and after the run, so please allow plenty of time.
Hydration
Aqua Pura water stations will be situated at key points on the route to help you stay hydrated (see course map).
Whilst you’re running, remember to drink, drain and aim your water bottles into our on-course bottle collection points.
There will also be a bottle refill point at the finish at Glasgow Green. The bottles we use are 100% recycled and recyclable, with a flip cap to ensure it stays with the bottle all the way to collection point.
Finishers’ Packs
Finishers’ packs will be sorted by t-shirt size and will include a bottle of water, your medal, and other treats. Please take the pack that matches the t-shirt size you chose when you entered the event.
T-Shirt Opt Out
If you selected ‘No T-shirt’ at the time of entering the event, you will not receive a finishers’ t-shirt.
Please follow the signage to the ‘No T-shirt’ lane. This will clearly indicated on your running number and there will be volunteers and stewards on hand to help.
PLEASE NOTE: If you selected no T-shirt, you cannot take a T-shirt on the day. There are only enough on site for all those who requested one at the time of entering.
The Event Village, located at Glasgow Green, along with the Reunion area and our Après Run zone, is open to everyone and features a range of activities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to pop in and check out the stands and look out for freebies given out! Family and friends will be able to wait for runners, as they cross the finish line and exit the finish system. What3words: lifted.store.trade
Event & charity village Après Run
The fun doesn’t stop after you’ve crossed the finish line. Continue the high energy celebration and embrace the post-run high by stepping into our Après Run Zone, located at Glasgow Green. Make sure you celebrate your achievement in style at the finish in the brand new bar from Jim and Tonic, and then fuel up after all your hard work with a selection of fantastic local food options including: Jalapenos (an amazing range of Mexican-style food), Dough Man’s Land (delicious wood fired pizza), Lemon Squeezy (yummy flatbreads), Maclaurin’s Bar (coffee, hot drinks and snacks), and a Street Diner offering breakfast items and hot drinks. There will even be Heart Radio DJ truck providing club anthems.
Enjoy a post-race massage courtesy of our Official Holiday Partner TUI. The TUI Blue massage team can be found in the finish area at Glasgow Green.
Meeting Point
Please arrange to meet family and friends at the Meeting Point at the finish on Glasgow Green. Look for the large A-Z banners and stand by the one that corresponds to the first letter of your surname.
Missing Persons
A missing persons point is at George Square and Glasgow Green. If you come across a missing person please contact the nearest event steward, official or police officer.
Official Photos
Event photos will be going live from the moment you pass a Marathon Photos Live photographer on the course. Don’t forget to check them out here when you finish and share your run number with your friends and family, so that they can register to be notified as soon as your photos are available.
Runners Reward
You have exclusive access to Great Run Rewards powered by Endurance Zone. Great Run Rewards gives you access to a selection of fantastic discounts from our friends at Endurance Zone. Browse through hundreds of offers from a range of lifestyle, sport, fitness and outdoor brands.
Recycling
We’re constantly reviewing our sustainability and recycling practices and are making a concerted effort to reduce the amount of waste from plastic and other materials across the entire event.
We work with local partners to remove waste (plastic, cardboard, wooden pallets, medals and signage) from the run site. We reuse generic signage and keep using it for as long as we can, and our outdated signage is fully recycled. Clothing discarded by runners at the start of the race is collected and donated to the British Heart Foundation.
• We ask that you please use the recycling bins on site to discard any waste accordingly.
• As part of our sustainability drive, there will be no bottled water at the start area. Please arrive hydrated, or bring your own supply, which you may carry with you while you run.
• There will be three water stations along the Half Marathon route and one on the 10k route.
• Look out for our new on-course bottle collection points after each water station, and drink, drain and aim to help us recycle your Aqua Pura bottle.
• If you opt to bring your own standard, single-use plastic water bottle, please make sure you throw it in the clearly marked recycling bins that will be available in the start and finish area.
Saturday 5 October
Find Your Superpower
Calling all future running stars! The theme of this year’s AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Scottish Run is ‘Finding your Superpower’…
We want all our young runners, and spectators, to feel empowered and discover their own superpower – whether this is racing, fundraising or being a superstar spectator.
As well as striving to be their best, we’re also inviting our enthusiastic runners (big and small!) to come in superhero fancy dress! We’re thinking capes, eye masks or something else to showcase your own power!
Tyney the Tortoise, our official Great Run mascot, will be joining us again this year too so look out for them and AJ Bell’s brand new mascot, ‘Investabell’!
Travel & Parking
We recommend using the public transport options available on the day. Leave plenty of time to get to the start line as there will be a number of road closures in place.
There is no official event parking. Should you need to travel by car, there are pay and display car parks nearby, including George Street, Cathedral, Duke Street and Concert Square.
Information Point
The Information Point is located in George Square and is open from 9:00AM on Saturday.
On the course
Mini runners and Toddler Dash runners must be accompanied by an adult around the course.
Timing
Junior runners will be timed and will be able to check their own time on the website here after the event.
At the finish
Don’t stop immediately after you cross the finish line – please keep walking for a short distance so that you don’t block other runners. Junior and Mini finishers will be able to help themselves to a finisher’s bag that contains a bottle of water, two treats, and the all-important medal! Toddler Dash runners receive a bottle of water and a medal. The family reunion point is located in George Square.
Missing persons
A missing person’s point is located next to the information in George Square. If you come across a missing person, please contact the nearest event steward, official or police officer.
Timetable
09:00
Event Site opens
09:30 Assembly open
09:51
Junior Run (9-11yrs) Warm-up (BLUE WAVE)
09:58 Junior Wheelchair start
10:00
Junior (9-11yrs) Wave Start (BLUE WAVE)
10:30 Assembly opens
10:38
10:45
Junior (12-15yrs) Warm-up (RED WAVE)
Junior (12-15yrs) Wave Start (RED WAVE)
11:15 Assembly opens
11:23
11:30
Mini Run Warm-up (PURPLE WAVE)
Mini Purple Wave Start (PURPLE WAVE)
12:00 Assembly opens
12:08
12:15
Mini Run Warm-up (GREEN WAVE)
Mini Green Wave Start (GREEN WAVE)
12:50 Toddler dash assembly opens
12:55 Mascot race
13:00
13:05
13:10
13:15
13:20
Toddler dash Warm-up (2min)
Toddler dash start (Square)
Toddler dash start (Circle)
Toddler dash start (Lightning Bolt)
Toddler dash start (Stars)
13:45 Event site closed
Course Map
Have a happy & healthy run
Please talk to your doctor before the event if you have any long-term health conditions or any health concerns. Don’t run if you feel unwell or have been ill recently. If you experience heart palpitations, light headedness or dizziness, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, excessive wheezing, or severe joint and muscle pain during or after your run, this can be a sign of a serious condition.
Seek advice on taking part in the event after a bout of flu or gastroenteritis. Don’t be tempted to start just because you’ve collected sponsorship to raise money for charity - staying fit and well is the most important thing.
Event day tips
Make sure you’re comfortable. Ideally, run in your shoes for around a month before your Great Run challenge.
Stay warm. Bring old clothes to wear on the start line and throw them away when you start (we donate these to charity).
Avoid chafing. Apply Vaseline to any areas prone to chafing – e.g. groin, upper thighs, under your arms, around your bra band or toes.
Protect your skin. Use weather resistant sun cream if it’s sunny.
If the first few miles are crowded, don’t tire yourself out dodging in and out. Try to maintain a steady, even pace to help you enjoy the event.
When you finish, collect your bag ASAP. Put on some warm, dry clothing and don’t get cold. Take a drink as soon as you can after crossing the finish line.
Try to eat some starchy foods within two hours of finishing the event – your muscles can replace energy most efficiently during this post-run window.
Make sure you’re fully hydrated with water or squash before consuming any alcohol.
In the weeks leading up to the event, the colour of your urine is a useful indicator of hydration. Pale straw-coloured water is ideal.
During your run, drink when you need to. Don’t take big gulps if you’re not thirsty – you could put yourself in a condition called hyponatraemia where your body salts become diluted, possibly causing confusion and vomiting.
Make sure you know where the drink stations are on route. Water will be available, but only take a drink if you need one.
