BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Marion Oakley 2
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A great day had by all!
In full: The North East People comeup trumps. These folk are always friendly. Found the baggage bus a problem, too far to go to get to them and crowded. To top it all I didn't get a medal!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: huw bibby
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Special and emotional for charity runners(like myself) however I wish the ones who hadn't trained properly or had a FAG before the race where behind me at the start!!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Pink Shoes
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first evehalf-mara & what a FANTASTIC day I had!!!!!
In full: As a beginner the GNR06 was my first ever half mara & I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day!! Sharing stories with other runners on the Metro in the morning, high fives with the kids on route, the OGGIE...OGGIE...OGGIE of the runners running through the tunnels, the 1000's of supporters lining the route (even in the rain!), the friendly locals hosing you down or bringing oranges/biscuits & drinks right down to the Red Arrows flying overhead as you plod on towards the finish line. Every detail of the day made me feel that I was part of something very, very special!! I will definitely run this race again even if it is just to experience the flood of emotions that I experienced on Sunday!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Nicola McCarthy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great day for someone like me doing their first serious distance run!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Caniggia33
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: They started Carol Vorderman walking before the elite men. Need I say any more about the organistaion at the start!!!!
In full: Yes its big, yes its a great occasion but you just think the organisers have lost sight of the fact that people like running the run as a running event and not a fundraiser. The colour coding should have been a good introduction but was just as shambolic as before. I crawled under the fence into the green paddock having been told to make my way to the back of the pack. I dont understand how wave starting the event would make it any worse. How does a man in a rhino suit get a green number? At worst there should be 2 starts based on past times in the event. The 1st start with sub 2h runners, then celebrities (for the tv) and then the fun runners. The predicted timing boards/colour coding of the waves could then be used to help subdivide the field. At least the sub 2h folk have been there and done it in the past and know where to stand.
Other than that the event was better than last year. There definately was water at gateshead stadium and the 1st aiders looked much more experienced at the side of the road. They looked like they had a much higher percentage oftrained paramedics rather than kids with jars of vaseline and as tragic as the death was this year this action hopefully prevented any further fatalities like last year on another hot day.
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Pegg
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fab atmosphere, great support, wonderful day
In full: The wave starts obviously need more organisation - our pink section was walked forwards and then late orange arrivals were trying to squeeze in next to us - made it very busy at the start, more so than last year
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: JohnRobson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: So much better than last year
In full: I did the GNR last year and for a number of reasons had a far far better experience this time round. I was lucky enough to be in the red start pen so didn't experience the problems described elsewhere. I thought the changes that were made worked very well. More water stations earlier in race was certainly appreciated and Lucozade was gratefully gulped down too. You do have to arrive early for this one but it sounds as though it's worth it. I was there 2 hours before the gun and didn't have any problems, you've just got to be prepared o hang around. Great atmosphere again, well done to the organisers and volunteers. I'll be on hols at GNR time next year but may be back again in future.
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: PR 1965
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: The Best Atmosphere In Any Race I've Ever Expierienced
In full: Fantastic. If you haven't done it - do it, if you have - do it again! The spectators are great and really make you laugh.
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Zero
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Employment opportunities for jobsworths......
In full: Why hold the GNR on Tyneside? - why of course - to give all those grumpy people some casual employment for one day a year.
Now I am from the North East and think it's a friendly place BUT the Great Run people have done well to head-hunt the elite force of grumpy old men who staffed the event.
BUS DRIVER(S) "Put yer BAG ON THAT BUS" - pointing to the buses furthest away.
Security Guard at the entrance to Green Pen "NO YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE PEN ONCE YOU'VE GONE IN"
me - "but i need to go and use the toilet" - this was 90 minutes before the race start
GUARD "NO YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE PEN ONCE YOU'VE GONE IN"
-so I went anyway.
It's just as well the fantastic crowds made up for the jobsworths and pain in the ***** who staffed the start of the event. The staff at the end were fantastic (and smiled - unlike the staff at the start).
RANT OVER!
Great scenery - Red Arrows flying over the Tyne Bridge as runners went over was SHEER MAGIC!!!!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Lyndsey B
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great race for my first half marathon!
In full: As you've all said, the start was a disaster...I was in the pink pens and we hung around for ages when I just wanted to get going but once we were off the atmosphere was fantastic, and everyone on such smiley form, it really kept me going! Best bit for me was crossing the Tyne Bridge and then running down the hill to the sea at South Shields where the Red Arrows were just flying past.....awesome! I'd definitely do it again...the atmosphere and friendly supporters made it a really special experience!
Date of review: October 3, 2006
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