Great North Run
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Event
The AJ Bell Great North Run is a half marathon of 13.1 miles held annually on a route between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. The event accommodates up to 60,000 participants and is open to runners aged 17 or over on the day. A booking fee of £3.00 is applied at checkout. Entry is allocated via a September ballot; a January ballot is available for applicants who were unsuccessful. Charity and membership entry routes also exist. Great North Run membership guarantees a place and includes benefits such as a technical training top and discounts; new membership places for 2026-2027 are sold out.
Route and on-day services
The race starts on the A167 close to Claremont Road and finishes in South Shields after a final mile-long seafront stretch. The course includes both uphill and downhill sections; miles 1-2, 5-8 and 12-13.1 are mainly downhill, while miles 8-12 include several uphill miles. Road closures are put in place on the route and surrounding areas.
Baggage buses are available in the Runners Hub; baggage labels are on the race number and bags are collected at the finish using the race number. Race numbers, which include the timing chip, are posted 1-2 weeks before the event or can be collected at information points if not received. An event app provides runner tracking and photos. Every finisher receives a medal; action photos are available and optional finisher tees can be declined to trigger a donation to the National Trust Woodlands Appeal. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
