The Great North Run is one of the biggest races in Europe. Produced by the Great Run Company, which runs swims, road races and cycles across the British Isles. I was lucky enough to attend Manchester and Newcastle.
Stuart Weir did this piece on the Great North Run.
A record number of runners took part in this year’s AJ Bell Great North Run, with tens of thousands of runners completing the famous 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields, as well as one of the most exciting women’s road races of all time.
The elite women’s race saw a thrilling sprint to the finish line, with six athletes battling it out as the race entered the final mile. Mary Ngugi-Cooper (Kenya) emerged victorious with a time of 1:07:40, Senbere Teferi (Ethiopia) second, Alemu Megertu (Ethiopia) third. Eilish McColgan, perhaps too soon after her Great Half London win, finished fifth in 1:07:45.
Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba was the first to cross the finish line in South Shields, winning in 59:52 after taking the lead early in the race. Britain’s Mark Scott capped off a good weekend which saw him win the British Athletics 5K Road Championships in a battle to finish second in 1:01:11 with Sondre Noen (Norway) third.
Great Britain’s Jade Hall, running her first half-marathon since giving birth in March, won the women’s wheelchair race in 58:56, with Britain’s Claudia Burrow second (1:06:52) and Spain’s Carmen Jimenez third. The British had more success in the men’s wheelchair race, with Johnboy Smith winning in 48:59, followed by compatriot Sean Frame in second (49:39) and Spain’s Rafael Botello Jimenez third.
The Great North Run, which began in 1981, has always been about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. This year saw 60,000 runners follow in the footsteps of 1.3 million before them. Each runner was inspired by someone close to their heart, a worthy cause or a personal goal, helping to raise around £25 million for charity.
Great North Run founder and chairman Sir Brendan Foster said:
“What a day. Every year I continue to be amazed by the running prowess we witness at the Great North Run. This event is a fixture on the running calendar every year, attracting world-class elite runners and thousands of club runners, fun runners and fundraisers eager to take on the challenge. That’s why we founded the event, to make distance running accessible to everyone.”
A memorable day in many ways, today marked the 50th anniversary of Sir Brendan winning the European 5000m gold at the 1974 European Championships in Rome.
There was also a minute’s applause for Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kieran Reilly, official race starter for campaigner and fundraiser Claire Lomas. put runners on their way. Great North running legend Claire Lomas sadly passed away in August.
