Entry windows for both events on October 14 are now open

The date for next year's Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run and Birmingham International Marathon has been announced as Sunday October 14, with entries now open.

The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run is firmly established as one of the most popular half-marathons in the country, while the Birmingham International Marathon will be returning for the second time after this year’s debut, which sold out months before the starting pistol was fired.

More than £4.1 million was raised for local and national good causes by runners at this year’s marathon and half-marathon, while the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K generated over £1.4 million for charity.

Families can also play their part in the October weekend of activity with the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Runs taking place on Saturday October 13.

Exact start times and route details for the events are due in early 2018 but runners can sign up now here for the half-marathon or here for the marathon.

Some 20,000 people took to the streets for this year’s Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run and first-ever Birmingham International Marathon, creating one of the biggest days of activity the city has ever seen.

Starting at the famous Alexander Stadium, the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon quickly reached its 10,000 capacity and attracted entrants from across the globe.

Anyone who enters the 2018 Great Birmingham 10k, which takes place on Sunday May 6, will receive a £10 discount off the entry price for either the 2018 Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half-marathon or the Birmingham International Marathon.

Birmingham is widely regarded as the birthplace of mass participation long-distance running events after the city staged one of the country’s first open-to-all marathons, the People’s Marathon, which ran from 1980-85.

Among those taking part in the first Birmingham International Marathon was Coventry-born Steve Edwards, one of the world’s leading multi-marathon runners, who completed his 800th 26.2-mile run in the city. Steve now holds what is believed to be a world record for completing 800 marathons in under 3:20.