Great North Run history
About the Great North Run
The Great North Run is a highlight in the North East’s sporting calendar, welcoming 60,000 participants annually – from professional athletes to amateur runners raising money for worthy causes.
The 13.1 miles city to coastal route begins on the central motorway, a stone’s throw from Newcastle University. Over the years, many famous faces have fired the starting pistol, including another of our honorary graduates, Sting.
Participants then make their way over the Tyne Bridge where they get to witness a spectacular fly-over display from the Red Arrows.
Thousands of spectators cheer from the side lines all the way to the finish line in South Shields. A comment in a 2007 edition of The Courier, from Joe Currin who was a second year Media and Communications student at the time, captures the unforgettable atmosphere that they help to create:
“My overriding memory of the Great North Run is of the spectators. They lined the road for the full 13.1 miles, in part to spot unusual costumes but also to hand out orange segments, ice lollies, cups of water and even Vaseline. One elderly lady took it upon herself to welcome every passer-by to Jarrow. Without knowing she provided many runners with a reason for running that little bit faster.”
The origins of the Great North Run
Former long-distance Olympian runner and BBC Sport commentator, Sir Brendan Foster, is the mastermind behind the iconic race. Having taken part in the Round the Bays Race in 1979, a city to coastal route in New Zealand, Brendan envisioned bringing a similar experience to the North East.
On 28 June 1981, his vision became a reality when 12,264 people joined the start line for the first-ever Great North Run (pictured, courtesy of Newcastle Libraries). Amongst them was alumnus Rob Bramley, who commented:
“As a Newcastle undergraduate at the time, I ran in that first ever Great North Run - in strong winds which slowed it a bit.”
With participation numbers far exceeding expectations, 20,000 spaces were made available for the following year and the number has continued to grow ever since.
In 1976, Brendan was awarded an MBE for services to athletics, as well as an honorary degree from Newcastle University. He was awarded a CBE in 2008 for services to sport.
Becoming the world’s largest half marathon
2014 can be deemed one of the most memorable years in the race’s history. The Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Half Marathon was broken, and Tracey Cramond became the millionth person to cross the finish line, the first event in the world to achieve such a milestone.
Prior to the event, the millionth finish was celebrated with an event on the Quayside featuring live performances from several artists, including Sting, and a firework display.
Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler also re-released the North East anthem Local Hero to commemorate the milestone, with all royalties donated to a collaborative project between Newcastle University and local children’s cancer charities.
Another record was broken in 2016 when participants from 178 nations raced, accounting for the most countries represented in a single running event in history.
Our community take on the challenge
Many of our alumni, students and colleagues have taken on the challenge of the Great North Run over the years.
Newcastle University’s Great North Run team was established by Dr David Golding CBE in 2001. Despite not being a runner himself, Dr Golding took part in the run in 2010 to celebrate his 70th birthday. He spent the other races at the finish line in South Shields cheering every member of the team across the line.
Last year, a team of eight from Cancer Research UK's Drug Discovery Unit, based at Newcastle University’s Centre for Cancer, took part to raise funds for the charity that makes their research possible. The team focus on developing new cancer treatments and is heavily reliant on the funding received from Cancer Research UK.
The race also provides many of our alumni with the perfect opportunity to return to their beloved University hometown. Elizabeth Dodd, who completed in 2022, commented:
“Graduated in 2002, did my first GNR today! I remember seeing all the runners when I was a student and thinking they were all crazy.”
Another alumni member, Jim Grant, added:
“Graduated in 77 and done most of them. I'm in my 67th year and hope to be running for a few more years yet.”
Great North Run 2023
This year’s event took place on Sunday 10 September and marked Sir Mo Farah’s last race as a professional athlete.
Did you take part this year? If so, be sure to tag us in your photos using @nclalumni. Below are some photos that our alumni have shared with us from the past two years.
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