Great North Run 2026 Complete Guide — The World's Largest Half Marathon

By Ramon Curto · Updated 2026-05-06

On Sunday, September 13, 2026 Newcastle upon Tyne hosts the world's largest half marathon. ~57,000 finishers, start at Town Moor, Tyne Bridge at km 1 as the postcard welcome and finish on the South Shields seafront with the North Sea as backdrop. The AJ Bell Great North Run isn't just another race: it's the institution that invented mass-participation running in the UK back in 1981 and the event the rest of the international calendar tries to imitate. This guide covers what the official site doesn't quite spell out: what the net downhill really feels like, where the race breaks, how to train for it in 12 weeks, what realistic time to expect and how to nail the weekend logistics across Newcastle and South Shields.

📑 Table of contents

1. Key facts
2. About the race
3. The course
4. History and past winners
5. Registration and prices
6. Getting there and parking
7. Where to stay
8. Weather and forecast
9. How to train for it — 12-week plan
10. Pace calculator
11. Personalised race plan
12. Race plan
13. Nutrition
14. Gear
15. FAQ
16. Compared with other half marathons

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The AJ Bell Great North Run is the half marathon with the most history and the largest field in the world. Organized by the Great Run Company since 1981, it gathers ~57,000 finishers every year, attracts runners from 60+ countries and combines the most intense atmosphere on the international calendar with a net downhill profile that has historically favoured personal bests. ITV broadcasts live, ~250,000 applications come in annually for the ballot — the Great North Run isn't a race, it's the institution that invented mass-participation running in the UK.

Newcastle upon Tyne sits in north-east England, on the banks of the Tyne River, and the race starts from Town Moor (the large green area north of the city centre). The first thing you meet is Tyne Bridge at km 1 — the green bridge linking Newcastle with Gateshead. It's one of the most recognizable visual icons in the international running calendar, the equivalent of the Verrazzano in NYC or Tower Bridge in London. From there the course descends towards the south-east suburbs (Felling, Heworth) until reaching the South Shields seafront with views of the North Sea. Net downhill — ~80 m net loss — but the sea wind can show up in the final 5 km and flip your splits upside down.

• If you've recently run sub-1:30 in another half: target 1:28–1:30 here. Net downhill helps, the seafront wind in the final stretch doesn't.
• If you come from 10K but have never done 21K: yes, it fits debutants very well. Net downhill, epic atmosphere, plenty of official pacers — few better contexts for your first half.
• If you want absolute mass-race atmosphere: Great North Run is the peak. 57,000 runners, ITV broadcasting, crowds across all 21 km, the Red Arrows flying over the finish. Nothing else compares in world running.
• If you're chasing a flat, fast half: try Valencia Half or Lisbon Half. Great North isn't the best track for an absolute record — it's the best track for running with 57,000 people behind you.
• If you're training for Berlin, NYC or London marathon in autumn: use it as a test 6 weeks out — the atmosphere and the distance give you real data on your race-day fitness.

See other half marathons →

The Great North Run course connects two cities: it starts at Newcastle's Town Moor, crosses the Tyne Bridge by km 1, runs through Gateshead and the south-east suburbs (Felling, Heworth), and finishes on the South Shields seafront with the North Sea as backdrop. Net downhill (~80 m net loss) over 21.1 km — a profile that's friendly to a PB, although there are two small climbs in the first half and the wildcard of the sea wind in the final stretch.

Recent editions have started from Town Moor, north of Newcastle's centre, in staggered waves that kick off at 10:10 with the elite block and continue until 11:30 with the final pens. The first kilometre drops down the A167 towards the centre, and before reaching km 2 you meet the postcard: Tyne Bridge — the green art-deco bridge from 1928 connecting Newcastle with Gateshead. Crossing it with 57,000 runners and thousands of spectators on the quaysides is one of the most photographed moments in world running.

After the Tyne Bridge the course climbs slightly into Gateshead (km 2–4, a small rise of 30–40 m) and then snakes south-east on the A184 through Felling, Heworth and the South Tyneside suburbs. The middle section is undulating with a downhill bias — no dramatic gradients but long false flats. Around km 16 the course aims for the final stretch: the last 5K is the most exposed, dropping towards South Shields, with the final 1.5–2 km running along The Leas seafront with the North Sea on your left. The finish is right on the promenade.

Tarmac is the dominant surface (wide urban and suburban roads, no significant cobble). Water stations sit roughly every 3 miles (~5 km) — Lucozade Sport at some key points, and a solid station (gels) around km 13–14. Crowd density is maximum on the Tyne Bridge, in central Gateshead and over the final 3 km to the finish — thinner in the middle suburbs but never fully empty: the Great North is famous for having spectators across the entire route.

Forget the "all downhill" myth. The course loses net altitude but isn't a slide. The elevation breaks down like this:

• Km 0–2: initial drop from Town Moor towards the Tyne — favourable, but keep your heart rate in check.
• Km 2–4: small climb into Gateshead. The one that reminds the pack this isn't flat.
• Km 4–12: undulating with a downhill bias. Long false flats.
• Km 12–16: gentle accumulated descent — this is where most runners log their best section.
• Km 16–19: entry to the coastal final stretch. This is where the sea wind can show up and the "easy" feel of the net downhill becomes deceptive.
• Km 19–21: South Shields seafront. Flat, exposed to wind, finish in sight.

🚨 Where the race breaks

Course data for Strava / Garmin: the organizer publishes the official GPX a few weeks before the race on its site. To preview the profile during the week, search Strava for public Great North segments — several of the route's icons (Tyne Bridge, John Reid Road) have popular segments with hundreds of thousands of attempts.

The Great North Run has been held since 1981, when olympic medallist Brendan Foster — bronze in the 10,000 m at Montreal '76 and a BBC commentator — designed the race inspired by a popular event he had run in New Zealand. The first edition drew around 12,000 participants; in 2014 it reached 41,615 finishers, certified by Guinness World Records in 2016 as the world's largest half marathon. Today it tops ~57,000 annual finishers and ITV broadcasts it live. Title sponsorship has gone through Bupa (1990s–2014), Morrisons (2015), Simplyhealth (2017–2022) and since 2024 it's been AJ Bell.

Race and past-winners data (recent editions):

Verified winners and times from the 5 most recent editions:

Data verified against the public archive at Great North Run (Wikipedia EN).

Registration for the AJ Bell Great North Run runs primarily by public ballot, not first-come-first-served. The ballot opens in early February (~7 months before the race), receives ~250,000 applications for ~57,000 places and resolves by lottery in March. The standard bib price ranges from £64–95 depending on wave. If you don't get in via the ballot, there are three alternative routes: charity bibs (fundraising commitment of £200–500+ for charity organizations), Club Place (for clubs affiliated with UK Athletics) and Champion Place (for elite and sub-elite runners with verified times).

2025 edition reference at close:

• Public ballot: sold out in February after 250,000 applications.
• Charity bibs: available until July depending on the organization.
• Club Place: limited capacity, sold out in April.
• Champion Place: application with verified time, typical close in July.

The Great North Run doesn't work like European halves with early-bird tiers: most runners enter via ballot at a single price. Alternative routes work differently — especially charity, where the bib is included but you commit to fundraising a minimum amount.

Indicative prices based on the 2025 edition structure. Always confirm on the official Great North Run site — amounts and deadlines update there.

What to keep in mind beyond the bib price:

• Refund policy: limited — generally 50% refundable on production of a medical certificate before mid-August. Entries are non-transferable to another edition or another race.
• Deferral: in some editions you can defer your bib to the next year for an extra fee (£20–30).
• Full event cancellation: the entry rolls over to the next edition; no money is refunded.

Bib pickup happens at the Great North Run Health and Fitness Expo, normally held over the two days before the race (Friday and Saturday) in Newcastle (recent editions at the Utilita Arena Newcastle, next to the city centre). In some editions, the bib is mailed to your registration address 2–3 weeks beforehand — always confirm the year's method when you register.

If you need to pick up in person, you'll need:

• The registration confirmation (printed or on your phone)
• Valid photo ID

Friends and family can pick up for you with a signed authorization and a copy of your ID. The race kit normally includes the finisher technical T-shirt, the bib with chip, a bag tag, the race guide and a course map. Finisher medals are handed out in the post-finish area after crossing the line, in the South Shields village.

The Big Half and the Great Run Series. The Great North Run is part of the Great Run Series, a constellation of UK races organized by the same company: Great Manchester Run (May), Great Birmingham Run (May), Great North Run (September), Great Scottish Run (October) and others. If you like the format and you're making a UK trip, scanning the full calendar opens up options.

The most practical way to reach Newcastle is by train: Newcastle Central Station is connected with London (LNER, ~3 h), Edinburgh (~1.5 h), Manchester, York and every major UK city. LNER trains (London → Edinburgh) are the main service on the East Coast Main Line. If you're flying, Newcastle Airport sits north of the city with a direct Metro Tyne and Wear (green line) connection to the centre in ~25 minutes.

For race morning: the Metro Tyne and Wear is the optimal way to reach Town Moor. Haymarket and Jesmond stations are ~10 minutes' walk from the start area. The Metro starts running around 06:00. Plan to be in your pen 45–60 minutes before your wave's start — the platforms fill up fast and the queues at the toilet trailers explode in the final 30 minutes.

To return from the finish in South Shields you have three options:

• Metro Tyne and Wear (green line): the most practical. South Shields station is a few minutes' walk from the finish. Connects with Newcastle in ~30–40 minutes. Saturated after the race (30–60 min waits in peak time).
• Official shuttle buses (in some editions, organizer confirms): leave from the finish village towards Newcastle.
• Taxi/Uber: expensive and slow — South Shields traffic collapses after the race.

For the expo, the closest stations depend on the year's venue. In recent editions the Utilita Arena Newcastle sits ~5 minutes' walk from Newcastle Central Station (Metro green / yellow line).

Coming by car isn't recommended. Newcastle's centre and the roads to Town Moor are closed from early morning until mid-afternoon, and the parking near start and finish saturates. If you have to drive, park at a peripheral Metro station (Heworth, Whitley Bay) and come in by public transport.

For a Great North runner, staying within 15 minutes' walk of either start or finish isn't a luxury: it's logistics. The race spits you out at the finish between 11:30 and 14:00 depending on wave — you head back to your accommodation sweating, hungry, with cramps coming on. The difference between sleeping well with an early breakfast and a 10-minute walk to your pen versus catching a 7:30 Metro with two transfers can cost you 1 minute on the clock and twice that in mental stress.

• Breakfast before 7:30 (or a bag the night before). Eating 2:30–3 h before start time is key; buffets that open at 8:00 are too late.
• Late check-out until 13:00–15:00. At Great North you finish later than at a standard half because of the waves — you need slack for shower, food, rest.
• Bathtub for ice / contrast baths post-race. Useful after 21K, especially if you went hard. Filter on Booking ("bath with bathtub").
• Air conditioning or fan. September in Newcastle tends to be cool, but after the race your body needs ventilation to recover.
• Inside-facing or higher-floor room. Saturday night in central Newcastle is famously loud — "Bigg Market" has international notoriety. Don't gamble with your pre-race sleep.
• Real distance in metres, not in advertised minutes. <1,000 m: you walk easy. 1,000–2,000 m: Metro mandatory. >2,000 m: skip.

• Distance to the start (Town Moor): 1.5–2.5 km on foot (18–30 min) or 1 Metro stop to Haymarket / Jesmond.
• Pros: restaurants for the pasta dinner, 24 h pharmacies, direct Metro and runner expo connections.
• Cons: Saturday night very loud around Bigg Market and Grey Street.
• Best for: runners who value restaurants and city life over absolute proximity to the start.

• Distance to the start: 2.5–3 km on foot (30 min) or Metro to Haymarket. 5 minutes' walk from Tyne Bridge, where you'll be at km 1.
• Pros: the most touristy and beautiful zone, quieter at night than the centre, spectacular river views.
• Cons: slightly further from the start — Metro or long walk required.

• Distance to the finish: 0.5–2 km on foot (5–25 min). The pick to cross the line and collapse in a bed 30 minutes later.
• Pros: unbeatable post-race logistics. No saturated Metro, no waits. Immediate recovery.
• Cons: harder to reach the start on race morning (Metro to Newcastle: ~40–50 min). South Shields is a smaller seaside town — fewer restaurants and city life.

*Indicative race weekend rates (second Sunday in September). Varies depending on booking lead time, availability and current promotions.

The weather in Newcastle in mid-September averages 10 °C low and 17 °C high with grey but mild days about 60% of the time, according to Met Office historical data. Light rain is common (drizzle in 2 of every 5 recent editions), but the variable that defines the Great North Run is the North Sea wind — from km 16, when the course aims for the coastal final stretch into South Shields, the wind can show up head-on and break the splits of the final 5K.

The variable to watch is the wind. For the half, mild temperatures (12–18 °C) are nearly always favourable — the race has rarely been run in extreme heat. What separates a fast edition from a slow one is the wind direction along the coast:

• Westerly wind (favourable): pushes you towards South Shields. Fast edition, splits hold.
• Easterly wind (head-on): brakes you over the final 5K. The gap to your target can be 30–90 seconds.

Plan by forecast:

• <12 °C high: optimal conditions. Hold target pace, dry technical socks, short sleeves or singlet.
• 12–17 °C: perfect half marathon conditions. Most personal records are set here.
• 17–22 °C: watch your pace in the first 5 km — the net downhill is already gifting seconds, don't add more effort. Drink at every station.
• >22 °C (rare in September): drop your target pace by 5–8 seconds per km. Carry electrolyte salts.
• Light drizzle: technical kit (polyester, not cotton), peaked cap to keep rain out of your eyes. Not a reason to drop out — the crowd and the organization stay 100% on.
• Strong sea wind (>25 km/h easterly): prep your head for the final 5K. Drop target pace at km 12, not at km 18.

The coach's tip: if the 48 h forecast shows easterly wind above 20 km/h, revise your plan downwards by 30–60 seconds on your initial target. Net downhill compensates part of it, but not all.

The recommended plan to prepare for the AJ Bell Great North Run is a 12-week block with peak volume in weeks 8–10 (between 35 km and 90+ km weekly depending on goal), one weekly long run and a two-week taper. The key for Great North: train at least two long runs with downhill false-flat sections (to learn not to burn yourself with the "easy" feel of net downhill) and one long tempo session in wind-exposed conditions if you live near the coast.

Approach Great North as a net downhill half marathon with variable wind, not as a guaranteed flat track. Pick your goal and follow the table — these are peak volumes (weeks 8–10), not averages across the full cycle.

How to read the table and build the cycle:

• These are peak volumes (weeks 8–10). The 12-week block average will sit roughly at 70% of your row.
• One long run per week, no more. The last two peak long runs (weeks 8 and 9) hit 18–26 km depending on goal.
• The rest of the volume is easy runs at conversational pace.
• Standard distribution: 80% easy / 20% hard, measured in total time.
• One quality session per week is enough up to 1h45 goal; from there you bring in two.

Three sessions worth their weight in gold for Great North:

1. Long tempo on a downhill false flat (weeks 4–9). 8–12 km at goal pace on a circuit with light negative gradient. Teaches you that the "easy" pace of net downhill hides the real effort — and not to burn out by trusting it.
2. Long run with a final coastal or wind-exposed section. At least 2 of the block's long runs should end with 4–5 km in exposed conditions (seafront, open park). Simulates the final 5 km of Great North.
3. 1 km repeats at race pace (weeks 6–10). 5–8 × 1 km at half-marathon goal pace with 60–90 seconds jog recovery. Teaches you to hold target pace in long blocks.

Taper is two weeks, not three. Week 11 at 65% of peak volume, week 12 at 40% holding race-pace short pickups. The last long run (week 9 or 10) is the one that fills the cup — don't invent a "test" the week before.

Don't know what realistic goal time you have for Great North? Cross your best recent 10K with the "Great North" factor (which includes the favourable net downhill and variable wind):

How to read it: the "flat" column is the unadjusted Riegel conversion (your 10K × ~2.21). Great North gains 1–2% from net downhill in favourable conditions, but loses 1–3% if the sea wind is head-on — that gives you the realistic range. If the forecast is favourable wind and your fitness is at peak, aim for the low end. If easterly, the high end.

Find another half marathon near you →

Once you have your goal time, this calculator gives you the required average pace (in min/km and min/mi) and the cumulative splits at 5K, 10K, 15K, 10 miles and finish. Change the goal time in the field below and the table updates instantly:

The calculator above gives you the pace. But a real race plan answers more questions: which strategy do I start with? How many gels do I carry? When do I take the caffeine? What do I do if at km 10 I'm 30 seconds above target?

Configure your goal, strategy and aid plan. The planner generates a personalised plan by segment (with paces, HR zones, mental cues and minute-by-minute fuelling), a race-morning checklist, and a Plan B for the unexpected (sea wind, crowded waves, drizzle). Download it as PDF to take with you on race day.

You're in the pen on Town Moor. You've done the 12-week plan. What separates a great training block from a great time is what you do over the next 90–130 minutes.

The race plan for Great North must combine conservative pacing in km 1–3 (Tyne Bridge + congestion + small Gateshead climb), goal pace from km 3–15 cashing in on the net downhill without burning yourself, and push or hold from km 16 to 21 depending on how you arrive at the coastal stretch. Each goal time (sub-1:30 to finish) has a specific split pattern.

• Wake up: 3.5 hours before (06:30 if your wave starts at 10:10).
• Breakfast: 3 h before. What you've tested in long runs, no experiments. 60–80 g of carbs.
• Leave the accommodation: 90 minutes before your wave. The Metro and platforms fill from the 60-minute mark.
• Warm-up: light. A 5–10 minute jog + 4 × 50 m strides. If you're aiming sub-1:30, add 5 extra minutes.
• Pen: enter 30–45 minutes before your wave's start. Pens close on time.

• Km 0–3 (conservative, congestion + Tyne Bridge): flatten out, don't get tangled with runners accelerating across the bridge. The wave start is dense the first 2 km. If your watch says 4:00/km at 2 km and you're aiming for sub-1:30, that's already too fast. Enjoy the Tyne Bridge postcard — you've got km 4–18 to actually run.
• Km 3–15 (cruise with net downhill): goal pace at a heart rate you can hold while talking in short sentences. Drink at every station, gel on your cadence. Beware the net downhill trap: the "easy" pace can hide an effort that's too high and that you'll pay for at km 17.
• Km 15–18 (entry to the coastal stretch): the key segment. If you arrive at km 15 with legs, hold the pace. If you arrive on the limit, hold the effort (not the pace) and brace for the wind.
• Km 18–21 (seafront): the last 3 km on the coast. If the wind is head-on, hold cadence and forget the intermediate clock. The finish is at the end of the promenade — visually spectacular, mentally brutal if you're spent.

• Km 5 (~3 miles): drink even if you're not thirsty. The most underrated aid station.
• Km 10 (~6 miles): isotonic (Lucozade Sport at some editions), not water alone.
• Km 13–14 (solid aid station): carry your own gels anyway — the organizer offers one, but yours go with you.
• Km 16–18 (last aid station): the critical one. If you're hurting, walk 20 seconds and rehydrate; you lose less than you'd lose collapsing at km 19 with cramps.

This is where Great North is decided. Three anchors:

1. Name the next three points: km 18, km 20, finish. As long as you have a next point, you keep going.
2. Count down from km 16: "five km, three km, last km". The brain accepts small numbers better than big distances.
3. Cadence on your feet, not on the clock: hold the cadence (175–185 spm). The GPS watch can lie in urban zones; cadence doesn't. And if there's a head wind, remember: the rest of the field is feeling it too. You're not alone.

• Don't stop. Keep walking 10–15 minutes through the finish village. Stopping suddenly is the recipe for dizziness + cramps.
• Hydrate before you eat. Isotonic drink + water in the first 10 minutes.
• Foil blanket: use it. September on the north-east coast can be 14 °C with breeze — body temperature drops fast.
• Very light stretching: hamstrings, calves, quads. 30 seconds each, no bouncing. Better to walk easy than stretch aggressively.
• Stop your watch when you cross the finishers' zone, not before. Your official time is by chip.
• Red Arrows and atmosphere: many editions feature a flyover by the Red Arrows (the RAF aerobatic team) after the finish. It's one of the most iconic moments of the weekend — stick around the village if you have time.

Save this event in SportPlan →

The nutrition strategy for a half marathon pivots around 30–60 g of carbs per hour depending on goal, with 1–3 gels spread every 30–40 minutes from km 6–8. Carb loading over the 2 days before should be 6–8 g/kg/day, and Saturday dinner should be light and familiar (pasta or rice). It's not a marathon — you don't need the massive load nor the 6–8 gels you'd carry for 42K.

Saturday dinner is light, familiar and on the early side (eat before 21:00). Pasta or white rice with grilled chicken or fish, bread, fruit. Zero experiments. Newcastle has plenty of solid Italian options in the centre and Quayside.

Race-morning breakfast depends on whether you wake up hungry. The safe play: toast with honey/jam + banana + coffee (if you take it regularly). 60–80 g of carbs, eaten 2.5–3 hours before the start. If your stomach closes up with nerves, swap for a sports drink with 60 g of carbs.

What the organizer puts on course:

• Liquid aid stations every ~3 miles (~5 km). Water and Lucozade Sport at some key points.
• Solid aid station (sponsor-brand gels) around km 13–14.
• Cold-water sponges at least at one point if the forecast is warm.
• Solid finish-line aid: fruit, bars, isotonic, water, medal, finisher T-shirt.

Carbs plan by goal:

Three mistakes you see every year at the Great North Run:

• Treating it like a marathon. You don't need 5 gels for a half. 3 gels for sub-1:45 are enough — more is dead weight and risk of GI distress.
• Skipping the km 5 station because "I'm not thirsty". September can start cool, but the net downhill hides real metabolic work. Drinking early avoids the funnel at km 16+.
• Relying solely on the solid aid at km 13–14. Carry your own: 2 gels for sub-2h, 3 for sub-1:30.

Hydration by forecast:

• Cold (<14 °C high): water + isotonic at stations every 5 km. You don't need more.
• Mild (14–17 °C): isotonic at every station. Optional electrolyte salts if you're going slower than 2h.
• Warm (>17 °C, rare in September): electrolyte salts every 45 minutes. Drink at every station.
• Light drizzle: keep the plan, don't change anything. Rain doesn't affect nutrition in a half.

Post-finish recovery — the first hour counts:

• First 5 minutes: isotonic drink at the finish + water.
• 0–30 minutes: foil blanket + easy walk + second isotonic drink.
• 30–60 minutes: real food with protein + carbs. Aim for 25 g protein and 60 g carbs in this window.
• 2–4 hours later: full normal meal. The celebratory beer goes here, not in the first 60 minutes. Newcastle is famous for its real ales — treat yourself, but after you eat.

The best shoes for the AJ Bell Great North Run are light carbon-plate race shoes for sub-1:30, carbon plate or super-trainer between 1:30–1:45 (Saucony Endorphin Speed, Hoka Mach X), and a light daily trainer for over 1:45 (Nike Pegasus, ASICS Cumulus, Brooks Ghost). What matters isn't the brand but that they're already broken in and don't exceed 250–350 km of use.

Unlike a marathon, in the half the weight of the shoe matters more than the protection. An ultra-light carbon-plate saves you 4% of energy without the cumulative impact of 21 km wrecking the quads the way it would in a marathon. For runners coming from 10K and stepping up to a half, the light carbon-plate race shoe is the optimal pick if your goal is aggressive.

Recommendations by goal:

Check this before you leave home:

• Your shoe's mileage. A carbon plate loses return after 250–350 km. If you used it for your spring half and have done long runs in it, it'll arrive at Great North worn.
• Drop and footstrike style. Don't drop below your usual drop "to gain 30 seconds" — your soleus and Achilles charge interest from km 15 on.
• Tested in at least two long runs of >18 km. Debuting shoes in a half is an expensive mistake.
• Sole grip: if drizzle is forecast, avoid plates with very smooth rubber. Most current race models have enough grip, but check yours.

• Top: technical singlet if forecast >16 °C, regular short sleeves if 12–16 °C, light long sleeves if <12 °C. Materials: polyester or fine merino, never cotton.
• Bottom: 5–7" shorts with gel pockets. 3/4 tights if <10 °C at start (rare but possible).
• Socks: thin technical, no toe seams, already tested across at least 5 long runs. The cotton sock is the source of half the blisters.
• Sports bra: high support, already tested in long run.
• Anti-chafe: Vaseline or BodyGlide on nipples, armpits, groin, sports-bra zone. If it's going to rain, double the amount — rain + friction doubles the problem.

• GPS watch with >3 h battery. Most modern watches handle 2 hours easily — just confirm you start with >70% battery.
• Pin goal pace + total time to the main screen. GPS distance can come out +0.5–1% in zones with tall buildings (central Newcastle, first km).
• Hydration belt: not necessary for most runners — stations every 5 km cover it if you're going under 2h15. If you're slower or the forecast is warm, consider a belt with a 250 ml bottle.
• Phone: optional. If you carry it, in an arm sleeve or a belt with a pocket. Your partner or family can track you on the official Great North app.

• Sunglasses: if forecast is sunny (rare in Newcastle in September, but possible). Useful too if drizzle is hitting your face.
• Cap or visor: highly recommended if drizzle is forecast — keeps rain out of your eyes and helps focus.
• Throwaway layer: an old shirt or plastic poncho for the 30–45 minutes in the pen. Newcastle can be 10 °C at the start — you don't want to freeze waiting.
• Gel belt or pockets: to carry your own 2–3 gels.

Compare with other European half marathons →

Is the Great North Run course really net downhill all the way?

Not "all the way" — but yes in net terms. The course loses about 80 m of net altitude between Newcastle (Town Moor) and South Shields, but there's a small climb at km 2–4 (entry to Gateshead, ~30–40 m) and undulating sections in the middle part. The general feel is friendly to a personal best — but it's not a continuous slide. And the final 5K on the seafront is flat and exposed to wind, which neutralizes part of the net-downhill advantage.

How does the ballot work and what are my chances of getting in?

The public ballot opens in early February and closes a few weeks later. It receives ~250,000 applications for ~57,000 places — the chance of getting in via lottery is roughly 1 in 4 (~25%). If you don't get in, you have three alternative routes: charity bib (with a £200–500+ fundraising commitment), Club Place (if you're affiliated with UK Athletics) or Champion Place (if you have a verified time).

Is there a cut-off time?

Yes. The Great North Run closes the course 3 hours after the last pen of your wave starts, equivalent to about 8:30 min/km. Walking is allowed; the course has staggered partial closures (streets reopen to traffic after the last runner passes through each zone). If you're aiming for a finish-without-time-limit and your projected pace is around 8:30/km, look at the late waves — entering an early one gives you more margin.

Can I pick up the bib on race day?

No. Pickup is restricted to the Great North Run Health and Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday. In some editions, the bib is mailed to your registration address 2–3 weeks before — always confirm the year's method. No bibs are handed out on race day under any circumstances.

Where do I leave my bag during the race?

There's a bag transfer service that moves your bag from the start (Town Moor) to the finish village (South Shields). Tag it with the printed sticker that comes in the kit, drop it 30–45 minutes before your wave and pick it up in the finishers' zone after you finish. There's staff but no ID check, so don't bring irreplaceable valuables.

Are headphones allowed?

Yes, headphones are allowed at the Great North Run. That said, the urban support along the route is one of the great attractions of the race — live bands, crowds across the 21 km, finish-line PA, ITV broadcasting. Many runners prefer to run without headphones to soak in the atmosphere. If you wear them, keep the volume low so you can hear race-direction calls.

How do I get back from South Shields to Newcastle after the race?

Three options: the Metro Tyne and Wear (green line, South Shields station) is the most practical but gets very saturated in the hours after the race (30–60 min waits). In some editions there are official shuttle buses from the village to Newcastle. And taxi/Uber is expensive and slow because of the traffic gridlock around South Shields. If your accommodation is in South Shields, problem solved.

What shoes are best for the Great North Run?

For sub-1:30, a light carbon-plate race shoe (Nike Alphafly, Adidas Adios Pro Evo, ASICS Metaspeed Sky). For 1:30–1:45, a protective carbon plate (Vaporfly 4, Adios Pro 4, Saucony Endorphin Pro). For over 1:45, a super-trainer or light daily trainer (Hoka Mach X, Saucony Endorphin Speed, Nike Pegasus). What matters most isn't the brand but that they're already broken in and don't exceed 250–350 km of use.

What if it rains or there's strong sea wind?

Light drizzle is common — technical kit (no cotton), peaked cap and stick to the plan. The North Sea wind is what penalizes most: if the 48 h forecast shows easterly wind above 20 km/h, adjust your goal down by 30–60 seconds on your plan. Drop target pace at km 12, not at km 18 — that way you reach the coastal stretch with margin to hold the effort when the wind hits head-on.

Is it good for a first half marathon?

Yes, it's excellent for debutants. Net downhill, epic atmosphere (57,000 runners, ITV broadcasting, crowds across the route), massive organization with full medical cover and plentiful aid stations, staggered waves so you start in your pace bracket. The only catch: the ballot complicates planning — if your first half has a fixed date, look at first-come races like Lisbon Half or Valencia Half. If you have flexibility and you get in via ballot or charity, Great North is a memorable first half.

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The AJ Bell Great North Run is the world's largest and most historic half marathon, with a net-downhill profile that's friendly to personal bests. If you're chasing a pure PB without coastal variables, Valencia or Lisbon are more reliable; if you want absolute mass-race atmosphere and an epic experience, Great North is unmatched.

All are half marathon (21.0975 km), so the choice depends on month, profile and what you're after:

See all half marathons →

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