Inspired by Greatness: Neil Armstrong

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.

52-year-old Neil Armstrong is Running for British Heart Foundation

In Feb 2020, Neil suffered a cardiac arrest while in the gym. A committed runner, Neil had just finished a run and was in the cool down area when he collapsed. The gyms staff immediately went into action and began CPR while calling 999. The medics arrived and worked on Neil for an hour before taking him to Lincoln hospital where he was put in an induced coma. Neil had a stent fitted and was in a coma in ICU for three days before being woken up. His recovery was tough on both his mental and physical health, but he began running again in January 2020 and wanted to take on a challenge to give him a goal to work towards. He is taking on the 2024 Great North Run alongside his daughter Alex.

Recovering from an induced coma after suffering a cardiac arrest in 2020, being a runner most his life, Neil is keen on challenging himself to do the Great North Run this year as he enjoys doing what he likes doing best – running.

Neil admitted that he really struggled with his recovery. “It was really tough on both my mental and physical health, for a long time I didn’t feel like me. I started running again in January 2024. Whilst it felt good to get back into something I enjoyed, it’s tough because you’re always looking back to how you were and compare yourself to what you could do.”

“The Great North Run is one of the most well known running events in the world and the thought of being able to run this race with thousands of runners and being able to support a charity like the British Heart Foundation gives me the motivation and determination to get out there and train and hopefully inspire others that may be recovering from any sort of illness/condition that you can achieve goals that you thought you may never be able to achieve again.”

Neil is running the Great North Run with his daughter Alex, who he says is his inspiration.

Supporting him on the day is his wife Shirley, who he had been together with since they were 17 and they’ll also be marking their anniversary over the weekend. “Shirley is coming to support Alex and I on Sunday and we will be making a celebration out of the weekend.”

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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