Half Marathon
Sun 4 May 2025 Birmingham, West Midlands, UK

Great Birmingham Run Half Marathon

Take on a thrilling run at the Midlands' biggest and best running event! Thousands of Brummies pound the streets every year, from the heart of the city with an incredible atmosphere all the way.

Charity places
  • Sun 4 May 2025
Centenary Square, Birmingham

Half Marathon

08:30

Age 17 & over

£43-£45

  • 13.1 miles road running

Event overview

Be your greatest in 2025!

Take on the Birmingham Half Marathon or 10K challenge, where countless runners raise money for worthy causes.

Beginning and ending in the heart of the city, soak up the electric atmosphere, exchange high-fives with spectators along the route, and revel in your success as you cross the finish line.

Experience all the hallmarks of a Great Run – from the energetic start line buzz and first-rate entertainment throughout the course, to the festival-like event village celebration – all embodying the vibrant spirit and enthusiasm of the local running community.

Last year sold out, so book your place on the start line early!

Highlights

  • Run past some of the city's most famous landmarks
  • Music and entertainment to keep you motivated
  • Start line DJ, on course music zones, Event Village
  • Bespoke medal, optional t-shirt, finishers' pack
  • Free training plans and support up to event day
  • Run number personalised with your name
  • Exclusive runner-only discounts via rewards platform
  • Free Great Run series event day tracking app
  • £10 off your next Great Run if you refer a friend

This event is part of Great Birmingham Run.

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Wheelchair users

Timetable

  • 08:00 | Information point open
  • 08:30 | Half Marathon and 10K orange wave start
  • 08:46 | Half Marathon and 10K green wave start
  • 09:02 | Half Marathon and 10K pink wave start
  • 10:00 | Half Marathon and 10K purple wave start
  • 10:16 | Half Marathon and 10K red wave start
  • 10:32 | Half Marathon and 10K blue wave start

Wheelchair entrants

The Great Birmingham Run is suitable for wheelchair users. There is a question on the entry form that asks if you are a wheelchair user and if you will be participating in a self-propelled racing wheelchair, or if you will be participating in a standard wheelchair and will be assisted (pushed).

Business Challenge

The Business Challenge is a corporate running challenge in the biggest cities across the UK. It’s open to organisations of all shapes and sizes, is suitable for groups large or small (minimum team of 4) and is great for all ages and abilities. If you’re tired of cringey teambuilding exercises, it’s a great way to invest in workforce wellbeing for a happier and healthier team.

  • A team can be four or more, there is no maximum number of team members.
  • The finishing times of the fastest 4 members of the team will be used to calculate the overall team time.
  • Manage your team through an easy-to-use group dashboard. Swap runners up until six weeks before the event.
  • The winning team at each event will receive a trophy to display with pride.

  • Accommodation
  • Bag storage
  • Cafe
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Centenary Square
Birmingham
West Midlands
B1
UK

  • Distance markers
  • Entertainment
  • First aid
  • Marshals
  • No cut off time
  • Sweeper
  • Toilets
  • Traffic free
  • Undulating
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

Description

Starting on Broad Street at Centenary Square, runners for both the 10k and half marathon distances will head for the city’s world-famous Jewellery Quarter, passing the Chamberlain Clock at Warstone Lane and Vyse Street, beautiful St Paul’s Square and a city-centre route that features the Mailbox, Grand Central at New Street station, St Martin’s Church, Southside and Digbeth.

Half-marathon participants will follow the same iconic landmarks before heading out of the city centre along Pershore Road, reaching Selly Park at eight miles and a return route that takes in glorious Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston Stadium. Both distances enjoy a grandstand finish at the Smithfield site near Bullring; home to Commonwealth Games beach volleyball and basketball.

Map

map

  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy
  • Trees not tees

Sustainability Policy

This event is in the process of updating its Sustainability Strategy in light of its collaborative approach and recent survey. Work to minimise the environmental impacts of this event will continue throughout this process, with particular focus on:

  • Reducing plastic
  • Reducing waste
  • Cutting carbon emissions
  • Responsible procurement

 
In addition, it is striving to improve performance even further by making sure that sustainability is embedded at the heart of the organisation and culture.

Trees not tees

Finisher tees are now optional. You can choose to forgo your finisher tee shirt at the point of entry, and in lieu of this the organiser will make a donation to the National Trust Woodlands Appeal.

The organisers will donate a portion of the fulfilment costs for each runner who chooses this option to the fund and commit that this donation to be around £20,000.

  • Certificate
  • Chip timing
  • Event app
  • Goody bag
  • iTAB
  • Map
  • Medal
  • Race photo
  • Training plan
  • T-shirt

Included

  • The medal

    A shiny new, Great Birmingham Run medal, an exclusive finishers t-shirt plus a tasty treat after your amazing achievement.

  • The app

    Event day tracking and results ready to view on the app shortly after you cross the finish line.

  • The discounts

    Access to exclusive runners only discounts and offers via the rewards platform.

Optional extras

  • iTAB

    Make it personal with an iTAB. Order yours when you sign up.

  • T-shirt

    For environmental reasons the official t-shirt is now optional.

  • The photos

    Official event day photos available to view and purchase straight after the event, so smile for the cameras!

Charity places

These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and complete the form to ask a question or get signed up.

All charity places
Health and Medical

Stroke Association

Rebuilding lives after stroke.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£250

Mental health

SANE

Supporting those affected by mental illness to change mental health for good.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£200

Free sign up Hospice

Birmingham Hospice

Together, we’re making every moment matter.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£250

All charity places

  • Age 17 & over
  • Entries open
  • Charity entries open until 18/04/2025
  • Charity places
  • Enter online
  • Event merch available
  • Race pack by post

Entry fees

Entry fee

£43.00

Entry fee

£45.00

The good people of Birmingham are wonderful, turning out in droves all along the route to cheer you on. They are fantastic. The atmosphere in the village is excellent and helps you get your war-face on. Martin

I loved it, great atmosphere throughout the whole course. I will definitely do this again. Amanda

Great event. Lots of different cultural music along the course which was great. Love the name on your number now as it helps hear your name to give you a boost. Jane

I love the atmosphere! Great, lovely, and friendly spectators, marshalls, and fellow runners. The first kilometres seemed difficult because there were hills here and there, but once you faced the flat surfaces, all was well, even though you wanted to rest in between. Haha. Thank you for organising such an amazing event; I hope to rejoin next year! Eunike R

Fantastic welcome from Birmingham for this event. Brilliant support for runners from all hospitality venues around the start. Loved the route. Ginny D

An absolutely amazing day, so well organised, stay were lovely and the crown were amazing. So many people had a great experience and we all helped each other get over the finish line. It was my first half marathon and I completed it in 2 hours 24 with all the help and support, water stations and sweets. Perfectly organised too! Thank you. Gieona C

Excellent route and very well put together event. Lorna H

The atmosphere made the event special. The start in Centenary Square was better than other locations used in the past. The course was tough in parts. Overall, excellent and will do it again! Claire B

Really enjoyable event with amazing organisation and fantastic support!! Thoroughly recommend to anyone thinking about doing a half marathon, you will not be disappointed!! Philip A

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck