Gladiators join Great South Run for junior and mini races

The south coast’s biggest running celebration is soon to return to the streets of Portsmouth, with runners of all ages and abilities taking part in a weekend long festival of running and celebrations for Portsmouth100.

Ramping up the excitement on Saturday 17 October will be stars of BBC’s Gladiators, Karenjeet Kaur Bains (Athena) and Montell Douglas (Fire), the official race starters of the AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great South Run 2026.

Ringing the bell to set over 1,500 young runners on their way around the Mini and Junior courses, the pair will then greet fans at the finish line for high fives and photos.

Karenjeet Kaur Bains (Athena) said: “We love attending the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Run events and can’t wait to be race starters in Portsmouth in a few week’ time. Inspiring a love for being active in young people is at the heart of our mission and something we deeply care about. Seeing so many young runners enjoying themselves is a delight to watch and we can’t wait to ring that bell to set runners on their way, before seeing many happy faces as they cross the finish line and collect their well earned medals.”

Giving children and young runners the chance to experience their own Great South Run moment, minis aged three to eight will complete a fun 1.4km route, while Juniors aged nine to 15 will take on a 2.5km course, receiving a very special, well-earned medal at the finish line.

Since the very first event in 1990, a special relationship has developed between the people of Portsmouth and the Great South Run, which is even more prevalent this year as the Great South Run joins the ‘Portsmouth100’ year-long celebration of being granted city status. The Portsmouth 100/P100 branding will feature on this year’s AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great South Run finisher medals and T-shirts, giving young runners a unique keepsake from this landmark year. The 2026 medal design features the iconic Spinnaker Tower as it celebrates Portsmouth’s identity and heritage.

Inspiring young runners taking part in this year’s AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great South Run are seven year old Dexter from Southsea, who has Down Syndrome and autism, is leading the charge of ‘Dexter Dudes Dynamic Dashers’ running across the weekend to fundraise for Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association (PDSA).

Dexter with twin sisters Uma and Monica will be running the Mini distance, whilst his older cousins are taking on the Junior and 5km distances. His 81 yr old Grandmother is taking on the 5km again whilst Mum Anjali is joining his Dad Simon for the first time on the Sunday 10 mile main event. PDSA has become invaluable to the family providing camaraderie, friendship and support.

Audrey, 10, from Southsea, who is running the Junior event as part of group of children from St Peter’s Catholic School, Waterlooville. The pupils were invited to take part in the Great South after committing to training sessions twice a week at school during lunch times organised by Year 6 teacher Mr. Lands

A Whole Weekend of Running

The Great South Run weekend gets underway on Saturday 17 October, with the AJ Bell Great South 5K kicking things off before younger runners take centre stage on Saturday at the AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great South Run

The main event on Sunday 18 October includes the UK Athletics 10-Mile Championships, which will see the best of British runners take to the course in the elite men’s and elite women’s races followed by over 23,000 runners from across the South of England and beyond.

Runners will pass some of Portsmouth’s most iconic landmarks, enjoy picturesque views of the Isle of Wight and experience the incredible local support along the route, before crossing the finish line close to Southsea Castle for their well-earned medal and lively post-race celebrations.

The Junior and Mini event is expected to sell-out shortly – enter now at www.greatrun.org/events/junior-mini-great-south-run/

For more information on this year’s event visit www.greatrun.org/events/great-south-run/