What Makes the Great North Run so Special?

Ever since the legendary Greek messenger Pheidippides reportedly ran non-stop from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens, bearing news of Greece’s victory, the word marathon has been a byword for a special breed of running race – one that requires unmatched stamina, grit and determination.



When it comes to half marathons – the shorter, but no less gruelling, sibling of the full marathon, there’s no disputing that the world’s most popular race is the Bupa Great North Run. Founded in 1981 by sports commentator and Olympic bronze medallist Brendan Foster, the Great North Run has grown into the largest half-marathon in the world. The 2010 event saw 39,459 runners finish the race, while 54,000 runners are registered for the 2011 race, scheduled for 18 September.



The Bupa Great North Run is now the flagship event in an international series of 11 ‘Great Runs’, including races in Edinburgh, Manchester, Ireland, Australia and Ethiopia. But it’s not only the size of the event which makes it special.



The race, at just over 13 miles (21 kilometres) long, is run along roads between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields, and there’s no chance for participants to lose their motivation along the way, with fifteen ‘Bands on the Run’ stages set-up along the course to provide entertainment, as well as ten charity ‘Cheering Points’. The race also attracts a large celebrity following, with previous races having been started by the likes of Sting, Tony Blair and Ant & Dec.



It’s also been the scene of numerous record-breaking runs. In only its second year, British athlete Mike McLeod smashed the British half marathon record with a time of 62:44, while in 1986 the Kenyan-American runner Mike Musyoki set a world record time of 60:43. Records have also been set by Steve Moneghetti (60:34), Benson Masya (60:02) and Moses Tanui (59:47), while Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse smashed previous world records with a time of 59:05 in 2005.



The Great North Run is not just for the elite athletes, though. It’s also an opportunity to raise money for charity, with many individuals, companies and organisations entering to raise over £28m for charity each year. The Great North Run wheelchair race also sees tough competition, while the Bupa Junior and Mini Great North Runs cater for eager athletes aged three to 16 years-old.



But more than the record-breaking times set by elite athletes, the celebrities, the money raised for charity, the atmosphere, the entertainment, and the sheer number of annual participants, what really makes the Great North Run special is the effort and commitment put in by the runners, who train for months in advance and often travel large distances to participate, all for the glory of beating their personal best – or even just finishing.