BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: AnthonyQ
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My first and, hopefully, not my last -a great day out
In full: I was fortunate to be invited to join the TV Times team running for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research ("The Banana Army") so got to experience the day as a 'VIP'. A coach to the start and the hospitality tent at the end certainly make bookends of the day more agreeable, but the run was more challenging that I'd expected.
I'd run Hastings in 1'40" this Spring, and thought the GNR looked a lot less steep (at least on the elevation maps). Maybe so, but it seemed to roll - up and down, up and down, all the way to South Shields. I ran the second half seven minutes slower than the first, which speaks for itself.
Still managed to get a PB of 1:37:56 - and a great chat with Sonia O'Sullivan.
The VIP treatment was nice, but 13 miles is 13 miles - I'm proud to have done it and hope to return.
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: LEE MARSHALL 7
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: ENJOYED MY THIRD YEAR
In full: This was my third year and the organization gets better and better.But its getting very busy,i was in orange D pen and it was very full where i was.In the race i got stuck behind people and was boxed in so many times.I put a time in i knew i could achive,(not like a lot of people, who like many have mentioned walked after a few miles.)Having said that i don t really come here for a PB,i love the red arrows flying over you and the support was fantastic given the weather at times.The marshalls who give there time up were fantastic also.The goody bag this year was very good with lots of content.
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Trixichick
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic, special event
In full: This was my first GNR and only my 2nd Half Marathon. I was in my pen very early thanks to excellent organisation by Nirvana. The crowd along the route were fantastic despite the very wet weather. Their ice-pops, oranges, jelly babies, hose pipes, biscuits and wet wipes were very much appreciated. Ant and Dec were brilliant. They kept us amused as we waited over half an hour to reach the start. One disappointment was that People who finished long after me were able to start in white/organe pens whilst I was way back in green. People were walking before we had even reached 3 miles and this was frustrating as I seriously wanted to run and couldn't get through for walkers walking 3 and 4 abreast up the middle of the road! However that said the organisers cannot be held responsible for people lieing about their abilities. I will hopefully be back next year! Well done everyone involved
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: paul crowe
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: GNR Virgin
In full: 4th ever Half Marathon and first GNR - thought it would rain all day but turned out to be perfect. Terrific crowd, and the Red Arrows over the Tyne Bridge nearly brought tears to my eyes. PB too, started in Orange and didn't have too mnay problems with slower runners, but perhaps the people crammed in McD and Burger King before the start regretted their breakfast choice rather quickly!
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Neil Sutcliffe
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: We keep coming back
In full: Reckon I've done it 16 times now - and had a bad race - but that was down to lack of training - the event was great. Liked the idea of the funnel just before the start - made the opening few miles more bearable.
Possibly the wettest of the 16 and that was only in the last mile and just after I finished.
Crowds were as great as ever.
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: mikelfc
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Absolutely my favourite race, the last mile was just fantastic, along the sea with thousands of supporters.
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Emma Flynn 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: What can I say? - WOW!!!!!!
In full: My first ever half marathon. I was running in memory of a loved one so it was going to be emotional and must admit I felt like I was staring up at everest on sunday morning! But the music beforehand, the red arrows flying overhead got me going and I somehow ran it all!! I faltered at mile 9 but some lovely lady grabbed my arm and shouted keep going!! All that along with the boost zone and the guy with the hose ensured I got round! Not a great time but since it was my first it was a pb!! It was hard to keep the tears from falling when I got on to the sea front and I really felt like I had done something special - hard not to feel like that when you are running alongside 50,000 others all with their own story to tell! Puts your faith back in human nature!! The travel problems and the queues just faded into the background for me after that!
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: LCJ
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great day but a bit of a let down for me personally??
In full: GNR is an iconic race and, as a first timer both for this race & for a half marathon, I had really high expectations for a stupendous atmosphere. However, the rain & the fact I was ill half way round which destroyed my chances of getting the time I wanted took the shine off it for me. Don't get me wrong - I had a brilliant day & in hindsight, it just gets better too and perhaps my hopes were just too high beforehand.
Our Nirvana coach dropped us off well in advance of the race so there was lots of hanging around in the rain so not great to start cold & damp. I was in the pen well in advance of the start which was probably a good idea. Luckily, I was chatting to some very friendly strangers when they played Abide with Me or I might have completely lost it then (I was running in my mother's memory).
Don't understand the people who say it is hilly, I was expecting worse - but then I trained for Cornwall in a month. I can understand the frustration with those who were "ambitious" with their finish time & so got in others way but was fine with the walkers as long as they stayed on the left (indeed, I walked myself a couple of times). It was those walking in the middle of the field who were annoying, particularly at the finish. I had trained for a sprint finish & no chance of that with the volume of people. You think you are there when you go down the hill & turn left by the sea but that finish line just kept getting further & further away. Luckily, the crowds were fab there.
The locals are brilliant, although I suspect there were less than usual because of the weather.
The organisation was good (although never enough toilets of course).
So - would definitely run it again & have already signed up for next year. Just will take plenty of medicine & fingers crossed for sunshine.
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Sarah Turner 15
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: What a fantastic day!
In full: The Rain came, but it didnt deter the atmosphere of this monumental run, I loved every minute of it. I will be doing this race again next year. Thank you Gordies and Bupa xx
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Ginger Nut
| | 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: This was my first GNR and only second 1/2marathon I just loved every minute
In full: The Geordies are the friendliest most helpful people I have met in the uk which made the weekend just brilliant. Ran for charity with group of people most of whom I had never met and we all had great night out in Tynemouth after the run. The logistics of Metro, luggage buses etc do make it a very long day and when I was in Metro queue for over an hour after the race I said never again but I am already looking for next years accommodation nearer the finish and would absolutely do it again. when I finished it was pouring down but those locals were still there cheering us on, it made me very emotional as I crossed the line. Yes yes yes I will go through it all again
Date of review: September 21, 2010
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