Inspired by Greatness: Helen Ryvar

The AJ Bell Great North Run has always been about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It started back in 1981, when 12,264 pioneers forged the path from Newcastle to South Shields.

This year the class of 2024 will follow in the footsteps of 1.3 million before them, running the same infamous 13.1 mile route. Each runner inspired by someone, some cause, some moment. Each runner on their own road to greatness.

This year, we are celebrating being Inspired by Greatness as each runner brings their unique story and motivation, showcasing that greatness lies within us all. Explore the extraordinary experiences of the thousands of runners who join us at the start lines each year.

Guiness World Record Holder Running 1,000 Half Marathons

Helen Ryvar, the 43-year-old known for her Guinness World Record of running the most consecutive half marathons for a female – the current record is for 111 and Helen is pushing herself in a new challenge of running a half marathon every single day, back-to-back.

Her goal is to reach 1,000 consecutive half marathons by January 24 2025. Even going on holiday did not stop her from breaking her running streak as she’s running whilst on vacation to Turkey and Croatia. She is currently at 833 out of 1,000.

As part of her half marathon run streak, Helen is taking part in all the AJ Bell Great Run series half marathons – she has already completed Great Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester runs in May this year, and next up is the Great North Run, followed by the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.

Helen is particularly excited for the AJ Bell Great North Run, she said: “I was a student in Newcastle, I lived there for 15 years but never ran this race (I didn’t really run at all back then) so know Newcastle very well and still have friends there, so it’s going to be magical going back!”

Having previously lived in Newcastle with her ex-husband who has sadly passed away, Newcastle will forever be a sentimental place for Helen to run in. Especially that his death is what spurred her to run in the first place.

What inspires you?

Helen said: “I am inspired by many female athletes including Eilish McColgan, Jasmine Paris, Courtney Dauwalter to name a few. I’m following marathonwoman365 who is currently running a year of consecutive marathons, and people like Mika Shevit, an American guy who challenged me to this streak in the first place is always an inspiration – he ran 1,078 consecutive half marathons and has unofficially ran the most a male/female has ever run in the world, to my knowledge.”

In return, she’s been inspiring others to get out there and build a running streak. Setting up her Facebook group called Streak with Helen with almost 500 members. Bringing along people from all over the world to run daily with her, some in person and some virtually.

43 years on, the Great North Run has generated hundreds of millions of pounds in charity fundraising, witnessed some of the greatest road running performances of all time and this year was awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque for its contribution to the worldwide history and development of mass participation road running.

The award is so much more than the Great North Run; it’s about every runner, volunteer, charity, supporter, across every single year. It’s about the unwavering support of the people of the North East who get behind this event like no other and inspire the next generation.

The Great North Run will be broadcast live on BBC One on Sunday, 8 September from 10am to 2pm and around the world, showcasing the best of the region nationally and internationally.

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