Share Your GNR Stories

I ran my 10th GNR this year achieved my best half marathon time ever! Over the past 6 years my GNR times were steadily getting longer and I put this down to age but still felt great to achieve the distance each year.  The GNR is my favourite run, the support of the people of the north east is truly remarkable and their encouragement during those final few miles always sees me through to the finish line! Can't wait for the next GNR and hopefully to completing another 10 in the future.

If you have not tried it and you love running, I recommend you experience this run at least once.

I ran my first Great North Run this year and have to say, i thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

I can't wait to go back again next year.

I managed to beat my P.B here at this event (now stands at 02:06:02) which isn't the best P.B but i'm working my way to a quicker time steadily. I thought the route was great taking in lots of views and the people along the run were great. It still humbles me to see so many people who aren't even competing take to the streets to show their support and hand out sweets, ice lollies, drinks and i even got treated to some very much needed Quality Street!! (thank you).

I took my wife and brother and sister in law with me this year for support but they were all so amazed by the size of the event and how much i was raving about it at the finish they have said that they will be doing it next year with me (there is a whole year between then and now though, so things might change lol)

 overall, what an event, what a place and if you haven't done it yet, do it! you wont be disapointed 

Ian Hodgkiss 

Ran my first Great North Run last year and enjoyed every minute of it, so much so I have entered another 5 half marathons this year (including the Great North Run) and also a 40 Mile Ultra Marathon from Glasgow to New Lanark in July.

The people from the area were fantastic and very supportive and can't thank them enough for their support and their jelly babies, oranges, other sweeties and for those kids who nearly drowned me with about 3 buckets of water cheers guys!

The most emotional part of the day was at the start where two women were running for one of their dads who had lost his battle with cancer, they were stood right next to me and they broke down in tears just before the start, but they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and ran and im guessing raised alot of money for their charity. I myself ran for Guide Dogs UK and managed to raise just over £400.

Also thanks to the Guide Dogs team, as when I reached their tent at the end, there was a juice, sandwich and a massage waiting on me

A big thanks to my wife as well who travelled down with me and supported me through my training and through the event itself.

If anyone is thinking of taking part in this event, please do it as it truly is a great race and an amazing atmosphere from start to the finish line. 

First GNR and it was great. I was a bit apprehensive about such a big event, but no need - aside from a bit of a flap at the start which was more down to not realising the length of the walk from the tube to the start (should have known as the organisers do point it out quite clearly).

Highlights - crossing the bridge just at the moment the red arrows went over, the 'oggy, oggy's' as we went under every underpass, the local support over the whole course (but especially towards the end in South Shields).

Lowlights, the hill at about 9 miles that put paid to my knees and dreams of asub 2 hour time.

Already signed up for next year and roped a few other in as well, determined to train properly and post a reasonable time this year, but just being involved is enough.

Winning a place in last years Great North Run through a Runnersworld competition on twitter has turned out to be quite the lifeline, as I now plan on keeping it a part of my calendar until I'm too old to run!

Having missed the luggage buses, panicking and having to leave my bag with a relative, the day didn't have the best start. Cramming myself into the back of a very full zone B, with several thousand people ahead of me I thought were going to hold me up, it didn't get much better before the start. Though the atmosphere with the warm up and red arrows fly by was something special indeed.

I had heard so many horror stories about this race being far too congested, and that you are far too crowded to possibly get a clean run. But after crossing the start line such stories proved to be untrue, in my case at least. It was pretty busy, sure, but everyone was up to speed.

 Plenty of 'oggy oggy oggy' chanting in the tunnels was a nice surprise, I'm sure it was amusing for the spectators by the tunnels hearing it thousands of times as everyone made their way through (either that or rather annoying)! The route was generally pretty rammed with spectators, bands, mini showers, drinks stations, a 'bupa boost zone' and kids shouting your name and giving high fives. Who would have thought a route through otherwise tedious suberbia and hilly dual carriageways could be so entertaining?

I was holding some good pace and flying past people left and right up until I was presented with an impromtu 'heart break hill' at mile 10. It seemed to go on forever, sapping so much energy and was more than a little demoralising. But once it levelled out the sudden drop to the coast and the 'toughest mile in distance running' beckoned along the South Shields coast line. 3 person deep crowds along the way made this a highlight, and was pleased with the last minute rain to cool me down. Charged accross the unexpected 10 metres of grass at the end at stopped the garmin at 1:28:56. Proof that you CAN set of PB at this event if you find yourself with a clear run. The long climbs in places mean it still isn't the fastest course, but it if you use the downhills properly you can come out with a decent time. And where better to do so than at the worlds biggest, most pretigious half marathon. This truly is an event for all runners; beginners and run-walkers, to skinny club runners and those those in between, me included.

So many great memories of this day. Couldn't sign up to a 3 year membership quickly enough. Though next year, I should probably arrive earlier..