01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
A twisty city-centre opening
The route starts in Centenary Square and passes landmarks the organiser lists as the Jewellery Quarter, St Paul’s Square, the Mailbox, Grand Central, St Martin’s Church, Southside and Digbeth. The organiser calls it a twisty one, with plenty of lefts and rights. Corners and crowds make early pace uneven, so run by effort.
Pershore Road, Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston
Half-marathon runners head into south Birmingham on a long, largely straight out-and-back along Pershore Road, with a loop around Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston. The organiser says previous runners describe parts of the route as undulating. When you draw level with Edgbaston Stadium, you are at about the 10-mile point.
Downhill help to Aston University
According to the organiser, the half has some downward running in the second half, from miles 8 to 13. The route rejoins the 10K course, passes the Selfridges building and finishes along Jennens Road into Aston University’s event village.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Prepare for undulations
Include rolling routes in your easy and long runs, and a weekly set of short hill reps. The organiser suggests the Lickey Hills or Cofton Park for hilly training near Birmingham.
Practise long straight stretches
The Pershore Road section is long and largely straight. Build some long straight road runs into your training so you can hold rhythm mentally as well as physically.
Learn to use the downhill
The later miles include downward running. Practise relaxed, short-stride downhill running towards the end of steady runs, so you can use the gradient without your legs tightening.
Keep the running and strength work in one place. Explore MaxMile for your Great Birmingham Run preparation, or compare the levels of personal coaching.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Start in your allocated wave; you can move to a slower wave but not a faster one. Accept a slightly uneven pace through the twisty city centre and focus on steady breathing rather than your watch.
Settle into your target effort along Pershore Road and around Cannon Hill Park. Reaching Edgbaston at about 10 miles with energy left is the aim. From there, let the downward running carry you and increase the effort gradually towards Jennens Road.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
The 2027 Great Birmingham Run is on Sunday 2 May, the start of the early May bank holiday weekend. A 12-week half-marathon block would begin around Sunday 7 February 2027, or a 16-week block around Sunday 10 January for newer runners. Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, about five weeks before race day. Plan one of your longest runs around the holiday rather than skipping it.
Most key sessions will fall in March and April. Use the winter to build consistent easy running and some hill work, and taper over the final week or two in late April.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Your race number, with its timing chip, should arrive about four weeks before the run. Late and overseas entrants collect theirs from the information point the day before or on the morning of the event. Fill in your baggage label before you leave home. Baggage buses are near the start, and bags are collected close to the finish.
Road closures apply over the weekend, so the organiser recommends public transport. In 2026 West Midlands Metro ran extra trams and park and ride for runners. Waves started from 08:30 in 2026. The organiser says the most recent event sold out in advance.
