Always a firm favourite event of mine, this was my 4th running of the Great South Run.

In the few days before the event, there had been a few concerns regarding the weather, Storm Brian which had forced the organisors to cancel all the Saturday planned runs was still hanging around, but thankfully it was deemed safe to go ahead and I am so glad it did. Event staff removed a few barriers and advertising hoardings and banners due to the strong winds but it did not effect safety at the event.

Easy sign up for the run through the Great Run website, with a Great Run ID, its so straight forwards as your information is stored on the site, the price may be a little steep in some peoples eyes, but I do not mind paying for what is always a wonderful day.

Race village is easy to find and there was car parking on the common at Southsea close to the start and finish area, with a park and ride service available as well. A good amount of toilets on site served the 20,000 expected runners well

The start is well organised, wave starts based on predicted finish time, this is my one moan, and it's not the fault of the organisors. Please people be realistic when putting down your predictions!!, I started in the first wave and said I would do 1hr30 and yet I was forced to sid estep and sweerve around walkers after just 1km of the run who started ahead of me!

The course is a little narrow at about 2km, another problem area with runners in the wrong wave walking and causing a problem for runners behind, but widen aout soon after, a highlight is always running through the Historic Dock yards past the HMS Victory and Mary Rose Expo, before heading into the usually off limits Navy docks with the Royal Navy ships moored up. Stunning sight seeing the New Queen Elizabeth Aircraft carrier close up. 

Great support throughout the route from locals, almost the whole of the route was full of cheering crowds, which was complimented by a few bands at various intervals. 

Aid stations handing out bottled water were well positioned and marshalled well, and there was a good medical support team throughout, which unfortunatly I noted had to be called into action on 3 or 4 occasions to help runners in difficulties.

The final 2 miles along the sea front was a little harder than in previous years, due to the strong winds, but once you reached the final 1km and could hear the finish line announcer, all thought of the wind was gone and it was a sprint to the end.

Nice goodie bag with finishers t shirt and medal inside awaited you as you crossed the line and a good variety of stalls and stands along with food and drink vendors were a welcome sight. 

Really can not fault the whole day again, maybe do without the wind in 2018 please, but I will be back again