BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2007 race reviewed by: Catherine Posnett
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good Race, but overhyped
In full: Overall this was an enjoyable race and I was suprised that not many people got in my way (my first time running this). I had a few comments on the parking at south shields as there were no indications of where we were supposed to go and how far it was, and it seemed everyone was just following each other. I was also suprised that we had to pay for the parking, not much £3 but this wasn't mentioned in the race guides.
I also wanted to mention the start as I arrived to find that the gates for the orange section had been closed and we were told to go right to the end. I'm wondering how this could happen as I thought the reason that a certain number of colours were given out was so that everyone could fit in the pens.
Overall this race was good, but very boring apart from going over Tyne bridge and by the sea at the end. Maybe I was expecting more as it is built up.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
|
2007 race reviewed by: Big Andy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: The best race I've ever been fortunate enough to run in
In full: Most thanks must go to all the supporters and staff who made this the best race I have ever ran - and a PB
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: IronChimp
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Another year.. another really Great North Run
In full: I'll admit to really liking this race. I spent a lot of time in Newcastle many years ago and it'll always have a special place in my heart, and the GNR was my first half. Confession over with.
The start was better again this year, with moving the baggage buses to the road parallel to the race start, bags of toilets and the start pens were well manned. You can't legislate for the nutters who wildly over estimate their predicted finish time, but everyone who I started and ran with for the first half of the race seemed to be of a similar or better standard than me.
Race itself and finish were as lovely as ever, transport at the end the same old pain.
No PB for me this year due to me recovering from the ironman last month, but then again I set out to enjoy myself, and succeeded royally in that respect.
Thanks again to all the supporters, to Newcastle and for the organisation for putting it on. It's not cheap, it's huge but it makes my year.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Jovi Runner
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Another excellent GNR
In full: this was my third GNR. starting pens worked much better this year. I managed to cross start line within 30 secs of gun and other than first half maile managed to run at my set pace without having to dodge anyone. I managed a PB by 10 mins. the Red Arrows display at the end was fab. If only there wasn't an incline at 10-11 miles! Last 2 miles legs very tired but crowd carried you along. Can't wait for next year.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: LJB1
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Hillier than expected - and I train on hills. Ecstatic to have acheived a PB despite jobsworth pen security, walkers, heat and bottle throwing locals!
In full: This was my first(and last) GNR. Highs - fantastic crowd support and overall atmosphere plus PB. Lows - too far to travel again, nightmare traffic problems going home. Aimed to do it once but happy to give someone else a chance for a place.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: moses 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Why can't people who walk start at the back?
In full: I was one of the runners who took this challenge serioulsy. I trained for weeks (months) up to the event and managed to knock 10 mins!!!!! of my previous time which I was very happy with. However, as stated in a few reviews, I spent the whole run dodging people who were walking running more slowly than their pen time etc. Why start with people who are going to run it in 2 hours if you have no intention of running it in that time. Fast runners slowed down because of fancy dress ditto- start further back!! I'd call this commom sense. Were it not for these people, I would have made my target time.
On the brighter side, atmosphere was great as usual, SOuth Shields people very friendly afterwards and didn't mind me sweatin gin their pub eating my lunch!
No cereal bar to eat in the goody bag was a bit of a letdown after running 13.1 miles, but lucozade sport was greatly appreciated. AND for once in a race I managed to get a small t shirt and din't have to put up with extra large!!! Either I'm getting faster or they're catering more for ladies! I like to think the former...............
Would do it again but am in so much pain today after being stuck in the car for 5 hours trying to get back to Liverpool!
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: ceejaycee
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: In short - A fantastic race!
In full: My first GNR and first half marathon. Having only started running in February this year and 10k races being the longest distances I'd ever entered..... Until yesterday! I loved every minute of it!
Bit disappointed with the job's worth who closed the orange entry point at 10:29 for health and safety reasons whilst the fences were raised by other runners and spectators to allow runners to crawl into the pen.... surely this was much more of a health and safety hazard!?! Pretty shocked to see men relieving themselves through the fence.... onto where supporters were standing waiting to see their friends and loved ones off.... Disgusting!
Apart from that, an amazing day. Great support the whole distance of the route, locals out with hose pipes / oranges / ice pops - true north eastern hospitality at it's best, plenty of water stops / lucozade stops, st johns ambulance on hand with vaseline and plasters if needed.
Particular highlights for me were the Red Arrows just as I came over the Tyne Bridge and again just as I crossed the finish line and the Nike Plus Stand just after 9 miles.... singing along to Queen's Don't Stop Me Now really gave me a boost!
Found miles 10 to 12 pretty hard going but had enough left in me to kick up the pace along the sea front to the finish line.
Will definately be back next year!
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Simon Hewitt 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Support Throughout
In full: Great atmosphere and well organised throughout. Never going to be a PB race, but then I don't believe this is the reason for entering this race.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: John Blenkhorn 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A very good day with some special touches along the way
In full: This was my first Great North Run, I`ve done lots of half marathons before and the London Marathon several times, but what diappointed me the most was the amount of thugs or should I call them "huddys" along the route who found it funny to actually throw half empty bottles of water back into the runners, one actually hit me in my ribs, if it wasn`t for the fact that I was in a batman outfit and didn`t wanted to stop I would of certainly done something about it, the thought of that took away the enjoyment for the rest of my race and remained with me all the way back down the M1 to Birmingham, I certainly won`t be travelling back up north anytime soon.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Paul Shelley
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Too crowded but enjoyable...
In full: Fantastic race... To many people to do a PB as you are constantly dodging feet, bottles on the floor and trying to run past people. The charity work/tents at the end are fantastic although I hear the organisers charge a little too much for them to be in their spot.
Date of review: October 1, 2007
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
