BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: scotty1875
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic atmosphere. Great day for all.
In full: This was my third Great North Run and unfortunately didn't train as much as I should have done. My time highlighted this together with my aching limbs. All in all though the Great North Run is a great day out for not only beginners but seasoned athletes as well. Perhaps not the best place to get a personal best but aa very enjoyable day out. The weather was great again and the event was run like clockwork. Roll on next year. This time I am going to train much harder!!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Tina K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A must do - at least once
In full: This was my first GNR. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Crowds and support were fantastic. Great organisation. Red arrows were fab.
Only a few niggles; one being that people clearly lie about their expected finish time (I thought you were supposed to prove it). I was honest and, as a result, was passing people all the way, which was frustrating. Still, that said, it was very enjoyable.
Not sure whether I'd do it again, mainly because of the actual logistics of getting to the start and getting away afterwards - well organised but still a nightmare!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Julie Nisbet
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A wonderful challenge, brilliant day.
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Josie Jo
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The aches and pains are worth it!!
In full: This was my second GNR and the lack of training showed this year, so I have no one to blame but myself that I can hardly walk today!!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Tracey.
| | 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: Loved it
In full: OK, so it's crowded and you're dodging people all the way, but the support, the organisation, the route, the end, the Red Arrows at the finish are all MAGIC. I loved it!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: MVI
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fun, but...
In full: It can't be easy to organise this, but: the new baggage bus system didn't seem to work, with long wait to get on them at the finish (obviously most of the 'orange' runners finish at the same time, so what do they hope to achieve?). Also they moved the family reunion area in to a cramped field with fencing so that there were only one or two entraces (and most crucially nowhere to sit down!)
Also, I have knocked 15 minutes off my time in the last 3 years, but always seem to be allocated at the same start point - so still struggle with congestion.
I'll be back next year nonetheless.
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Steve Rush 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Day Out
In full: This was my first Great North Run, the day was fantastic but the run was hard, not the course but the sheer number of people, givin what i know now you should treet this as an event and dont get hung up on a time, i started about half way down the start area whick took 15 mins to get over the line.
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: SuperRunningMum
| | 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: Yet another Great Day!
In full: Second GNR, even better than last year!!!So looking forward to next year! Expo was good, better venue. nike+ tent was brilliant. only minus was that lot of the charities didn't have people giving massages and i was the last one to get one by the premier training people. walked like John Wayne all day today!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Rebecca C
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fab event
In full: My first GNR but not first 1/2 marathon. Was not expecting a PB due to amount of runners, but matched PB.
The atmosphere was great and thank you to the people en-route for the support and generosity.
Very congested and wanted to go faster. The red arrows was the icing on the cake when running and they flew overhead. I enjoyed the atmosphere with the other runners.
Please can we have more wc next time!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Kerry Brady
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Those inclines were almost the death of me
In full: I took in a whole weekend in Newcastle with my friend for the sole purpose of doing this run. I had a fantastic time and even though I found the run extremely hard (believe it or not, I found the London (WHOLE) marathon easier) I still enjoyed the day. We were blessed with the weather, considering it had been very wet and windy the day before.
I think the majority of organisation was very good but there seemed to be a lack of signage at the beginning and end. Marshalls/organisers were happy to help and guide though.
As per usual with all the Great Runs, never enough toilets... or is that too many people?
Scenery, well there wasn't really any was there? The bridge was good to run over and the beach front at the end was nice but the course of roundabouts was a bit on the dull side. Watching the red arrows in the last mile was a nice touch.
Time-wise, this was my worst race ever, but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and the fun of the day. Sadly I hadn't trained hard enough due to illness so there's nothing I could have done to improve the run on the day other than not run it at all but I'm not the type of person to give up!
Date of review: October 6, 2008
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