Great Eastern Run
The Lowdown
The Great Eastern Run is a fast, flat half marathon and 5K through the streets of Peterborough, England, first run in 1982 and relaunched in 2006 as the city's flagship road race. The 13.1-mile half marathon starts and finishes at The Embankment beside the River Nene, looping through Peterborough city centre and the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral and passing along Bourges Boulevard and Bridge Street on fully closed roads, with only around 13 metres of total elevation gain making it one of the flattest half marathons in the country. Alongside the half marathon, the Anna's Hope 5K Fun Run gives families and first-time racers a shorter, closed-road option starting earlier in the morning. Perkins Engines sponsored the race for well over a decade before AEPG took over as title sponsor in 2023. Every finisher receives a medal, and the event features chip timing, five water stations on the half marathon course, professional pacers, medical support and post-race refreshments in the event village.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
The Embankment
Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough city centre
Bourges Boulevard
Bridge Street
River Nene
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
GB
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Half marathon participants must be at least 17 years old
- 5K Fun Run open to ages 4 and up; under-8s must be accompanied by an adult
Required Documents
- Race bib/timing chip
Entry Methods
- Online entry via totalracetiming.co.uk
- Online entry via findarace.com
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entries are non-refundable; deferrals and transfers to another runner are available until 27 September 2026
Founded in 1982; the half marathon was dropped for several years before the race was relaunched in 2006 with the half marathon as the main event
Perkins Engines was title sponsor from 2006 until 2022; AEPG became title sponsor from 2023
Kenyan runners won the men's and women's races most years between 2006 and 2018
Organised by Good Running Events
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
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