BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Ben Younger
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Sort out overweight and fancy dress
In full: I can't understand why overweight and fancy dress runners get to go to the front in this 'fun run'. There should be some kind of system in place where they vet you before you race and if you turn up in fancy dress (not light costumes that won't hamper your run) you head to the pink zone. This race is amazing and the time of year it takes place is just about spot on. Hopefully next year I am able to get a start place past all the false placed runners and go even better.
Date of review: September 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jill McDade
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmosphere
Date of review: September 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Andy Smithsky
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: The most amazing experience for my first half-marathon
In full: I chose this event for my 1st Half marathon and trained from zero fitness in April and was able to run comfortably up to 11 miles, saving the half-marathon achievement until the day. Early morning nerves replaced with excitement as soon as I got the bridge over-looking the start and the two hour wait flew by although could do with some toilets along the outside of the pens as once you're in there's no going back!! Met some friends from RW and others before the start and the warm-up and red arrows fly past was excellent. I started on the left at the start but soon moved over to the right for more space after the Tyne Bridge, everything about the run was well organised, drinks station positions and marshalls and the crowd were exceptional. The rain at 6 miles was refreshing but the monsoon a little later made things a little harder. I won't dwell on someone being worked on by paramedics but my split time was ok for around 2hrs 2mins at 11 miles but unfortunatley my left calf stiffened up on the final climb and by the time I tuned the corner for the final mile it was a case of keeping going spurred on the magnificant crowd and other runners and finished in 2:08:56. Organisation at the end was good and meeting my wife in time for the red arrows fly-past topped off one of the best experiences of my life. I will definitely be back again but now I know that I really need to train to run the distance and introduce hill training although for a first experience completing the distance only on the day adds to the achievement and with over £700 raised for my charity I am a happy runner
Date of review: September 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: phil Lowry
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 9th year of doing it- love it every time
In full: the numbers that do it and the atmosphere make it a special race, yes it is challenging with the profile, but very worthwhile with the support that is equal to the VLM. Depending which zone you start from the course has PB potenial.
Date of review: September 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Derek Brown 7
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fabulous
In full: Great atmosphere,fabulous music in the finishers tent have a beer and a dance after the race!
Date of review: September 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kathryn Booth
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Love the GNR
In full: 7th time out and a pb of 1.43...god I love this race. And the red arrows at the start were pretty special. I agree with other posters though that even starting from orange c (2nd pen of the masses) I encountered people walking after half a mile. Generally however, it's well organised. I wish they'd make you meet family in the athletics stadium at the end where you could stand on the bank and look for people like they used to. Current system does not work.
Date of review: September 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: N Render
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Simply the best, largest and half marathon that is supported 100% by the people of the North East. Fantastic
Date of review: September 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Bryan Bentley
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Just lie about your expected time to get a chance of a time
In full: Once again disappointed by the amount of people that lie about the expected race time just to get an earlier start nearer the camera's. I made this mistake in Manchester too.
I will be knocking at least 45 mins off my expected time next year. I mean people were walking after 1 mile who were in the first group. Apart from that gripe it was a good day out and would recommend it to anyone.
Date of review: September 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Anch
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The Biggest and the Best Half Marathon!
Date of review: September 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: lizzielizard
| | 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: Very special race
In full: My 5th time , definately best !! High fived Mo Farah at start ,gave me such a buzz i ran my fastest first 5km ! Pb 2.17, crowds sensational as ever ,Red Arrows gave me goosebumps , nearly fell over when i saw Tammy Gray at the water station ! Hot and sunny , then torrential downnpour ! A day ingrained in my memory for ever .....
Date of review: September 20, 2011
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