Thinking of competing in the BUPA Great North Run? The world’s most popular half-marathon road-running event returns to Newcastle and South Shields on Sunday 5th October 2008 to celebrate its 28th birthday.
Brendan Foster, a former Olympic 10,000 metre bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator, devised the Great North Run in 1981. The event was initially advertised as a local fun run and attracted 12,000 participants. However, by 2004, the number of participants had risen dramatically to 50,000, making the event one of the most popular races in the world. In fact, in the UK, the London marathon and the British 10K are the only events that attract as many participants.
Double Olympic Gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes started the 2004 Great North Run and shook hands with many of the runners. Her presence at the event was an important one; it marked her first UK appearance since she returned from the 2004 Summer Olympics. The 2005 Great North Run was also a memorable one, although not for the right reasons. The year saw the race reach its twenty-fifth anniversary, but celebrations were marred by the death of four runners en-route. In order to prevent a similar tragedy, more emergency staff were brought in for the 2006 run. However, one runner still died while attempting to complete the event.
Last year’s run was started by Sir Bobby Robson. The ladies race was particularly thrilling, with the USA’s Kara Goucher defeating Britain’s Paula Radcliffe. Other winners of the Great North Run throughout the years include Hendrick Ramaala from Kenya, who has won the event three times, Martin Lel, also from Kenya, and Benita Johnson from Australia.
If you’re a disabled athlete, you can still take part in Newcastle’s most famous sporting event. The Tunnel 2K International warm up race, which takes place the day before the Great North Run, offers an opportunity for wheelchair athletes to compete over a 2km course through the Tyne Tunnel between North and South Shields. Previous winners of this race include prominent wheelchair athletes Ernst Van Dyk, Shelly Woods and Kurt Fearnly.
For more information or to apply to compete in the Great North Run, visit the website.