The Sun Shone On An Epic Weekend In The North-East
In near perfect conditions, runners, volunteers and spectators once again made the UK’s biggest running event a weekend to remember.
More people than ever before supported the event with estimated crowds of well over 200,000 lining the route of the Simplyhealth Great North Run all the way from Newcastle to South Shields.
Around 58,000 people took part across the weekend, completing the Simplyhealth Great North 5k and Junior and Mini Great North Run on Tyneside, the Simplyhealth Great Tees 10K and Junior Mini in Teesside and Sunday’s Simplyhealth Great North Run.
Jayne Fearn, Simplyhealth Great Run Lead, said, “The Simplyhealth Great North Run weekend has been amazing! It was truly inspiring to see so many runners of all ages and ability, taking on the challenge and pushing their own limits. We’re really proud to be supporting runners every step of the way, helping them achieve and maintain better health through being more active.”
Founder Brendan Foster said, “The Great North Run is an icon of the North, but it’s an icon that has been built by and for the people of the region. I have never seen this demonstrated as well as it was yesterday by the impressive number of spectators, and as always, our amazing runners.
“The team at Great Run would like to say a huge thank you for all the support we get every year, from so many different organisations and individuals. We really couldn’t do it without you.”
Sir Mo Farah, who won the race for a record sixth time, in 59:07 echoed these sentiments, “The crowds are always incredible at this race, but this year was really something special, the support gets you round, as much for me as for everyone else taking part, you really can’t beat the support here.”
Behind Farah who clocked his fastest ever time on the course was Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia in 59.13 while Abdi Nageeye of the Netherland’s finished third in 59.55
However, it was the women’s race that set the pulses racing as Kenyan Brigid Kosgei set a blistering pace to lead from the gun and record a Simplyhealth Great North Run record of 64.28 – smashing the previous record set by three-time winner Mary Keitany in 2014, who finished fourth on Sunday.
It was a perfect day for racing in the North-East which resulted in some speedy times, as Kosgei seized the initiative from the off, building up a commanding gap over her rivals Magdalene Masai and Linette Masai – the Kenyan sisters finishing second and third in 67.36 and 67.44 respectively.
The 40th Great North Run will take place on Sunday 13th September 2020. GNR40 will be the boldest event yet, with a whole host of exciting new activities and experiences for runners, spectators and visitors planned. Great Run will be making the first announcement about what to expect from this exiting milestone celebration in the New Year.
You can sign up to the reminder service for the general ballot, which will open on Monday 6 January 2020.
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