Great North Run 2019: a guide to the weekend
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER: Junior and Mini Great North Run and the Great North 5k (Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside)
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER: Great NorthCityGames, and the Great Tees 10k and Junior Mini events (Stockton-on-Tees)
SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER: 39th annual Great North Run
It's back and as big as ever.
This weekend, all eyes are on Tyneside, as sporting superstars join the world's elite and tens of thousands of eager runners for the Simplyhealth Great North Run.
Here's everything you need to know about the bumper weekend.
Here are the numbers:
In 2018, Sir Mo Farah sealed a record-breaking fifth victory, after winning the elite men's race with a time of 59 minutes and 26 seconds.
He'll be joining the front of the pack on Sunday, but can Sir Mo make it 6?
Here's what you need to know:
Where can I watch?
What's great about the GNR, is that it's free to watch! The buzz of tens of thousands of spectators lining the streets across Tyneside is unbeaten.
The big race itself begins on the A167 road just outside Newcastle City Centre. The route then follows through the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne with runners crossing the Tyne Bridge on the Quayside and into Gateshead. But there's plenty of spots along the route, including 'Charity Cheering Spots'. Find out more here.
How about watching on TV?
Saturday 7 September: The Great North CityGames will be live on BBC One and BBC One HD from 13:15 to 14:45
Sunday 8 September: The Simplyhealth Great North Run is live on BBC One and BBC One HD from 09:30 to 13:30.Highlights will be shown on BBC Two from 17:00 to 18:00.
And of course, we'll be bringing you highlights from the weekend in our weekend news bulletins on ITV 1.
Will there be road closures?
Yes. For a full list of road closures and times, click here.
The Swing Bridge, whilst closed to vehicular traffic will remain open to pedestrians at all times. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge will remain open during the event.
How can I travel by Metro?
There will be a train every seven and a half minutes to and from South Shields until the early evening. Plus, about eight trains an hour leaving South Shields after the run.
The nearest station to the start of the run is Haymarket in Newcastle city centre; about a 15-minute walk to the start line. The nearest station to the end of the run is South Shields Transport Interchange, about a 15-minute walk from the finish line.
Remember, runners and spectators will need to go to the new South Shields Transport Interchange to get Metro services back from South Shields. The interchange is located on Keppel Street.
Tyne and Wear Metro have advised that the busiest times for spectators travelling to the finish line will be between 11am and 3pm.
For more information on the timetable of events, keep scrolling...
Great North CityGames
Staged the day before the Simplyhealth Great North Run, the event is once again set to bring world-class competition to the North East.
This year, the event is moving to Stockton-on-Tees in the Tees Valley.
It will all take place in a unique, purpose-built athletics arena in the heart of the city and best of all – it’s free to spectate.
Names to watch out for:
Richard Kilty (GBR), Charlie Myers (GBR), Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (GBR), Jonnie Peacock (GBR), LaShawn Merritt (USA), Marlou Van Rhijn (NED), Allyson Felix (USA), Cole Walsh (USA), Sophie Hahn (GBR).
TIMETABLE:
09:15 Men’s 1 mile – Newcastle Gateshead Quayside
09:22 Women’s 1 mile – Newcastle Gateshead Quayside
09:30 Mini Great tees run (2k)
10:30 Junior Great tees run (4k)
11:15 Men’s Pole Vault Competition
11:45 Great Tees Run
12:25 Great School Sprint – Girls A Final
12:30 Great School Sprint – Boys A Final
12:35 Men’s 100m13:00 Women’s Long Jump
13:20 Men’s IPC 100m
13:30 Women’s IPC 100m
13:38 Men’s 400m
13:46 Women’s 400m
13:52 Men’s and Women’s Mile Package
13:54 Great School Sprint – Girls B Final
13:57 Great School Sprint – Boys B Final
14:05 Men’s 110m Hurdles
14:15 Women’s 100m Hurdles
14:25 Men’s 150m
14:35 Women’s 150m
Great North 5k and Junior/Mini Great North Run
From gentle joggers to those looking to smash their PB, more than 1,000 participants are set to pound the pavements of the NewcastleGateshead Quayside in the Great North 5k.
Watch out for something new this year. The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, offering a ‘bluewave’ of around 200 NHS staff to run the 5k route.
Over 8,500 children and their families will then take on the Junior/Mini Great North Run on the banks of the Tyne.
TIMETABLE:
08:00 START of Simplyhealth Great North 5k - Red Wave
08:05 START of Simplyhealth Great North 5k - White Wave
08:10 START of Simplyhealth Great North 5k - Green Wave
08:10 START of Simplyhealth Great North 5k - NHS Wave
09:15 Elite Male Mile Race
09:22 Elite Female Mile Race
10:00 Junior Great North Run Girls - Green Wave (11 - 12 years)
10:10 Junior Great North Run Girls - Orange Wave (9 - 10 years)
11:15 Mini Great North Run Wave 1 - Purple
11:55 Mini Great North Run Wave 2 - Blue
12:35 Mini Great North Run Wave 3 - Pink
13:15 Mini Great North Run Wave 4 - Orange
13:55 Mini Great North Run Wave 5 - Green
14:35 Mini Great North Run Wave 6 - Red
15:05 Junior and Mini Great North Wheelchair Wave & Junior and Mini 50 Wave
16:05 Junior Great North Run Boys - Red Wave (15 - 16 years)
16:10 Junior Great North Run Girls - Red Wave (15 - 16 years)
16:15 Junior Great North Run Boys - Blue Wave (13 - 14 years)
16:20 Junior Great North Run Girls - Blue Wave (13 - 14 years)
17:00 Junior Great North Run Boys - Green Wave (11 - 12 years)
17:10 Junior Great North Run Boys - Orange Wave (9 - 10 years)
Great North Run 2019
And now the big one... so big, it's the world’s biggest half-marathon.
This year 57,000 people will take on their own personal challenge as they run, jog and walk from Newcastle to South Shields.
The 39th annual event will be off to a running start, with familiar faces will be standing on the start line, encouraging those anticipating the journey ahead. They include Jill Scot and Steph Houghton from England Women's Football team that reached the World Cup semi-finals this year, plus Cricket World Cup winner Mark Wood.
TIMETABLE:
07:30 Information point opens (located on the Town Moor, near Exhibition Park)
08:00 Baggage buses open (located along Claremont Road)
09:00 Event and Charity Villages open at finish area
09:15 Start assembly area opens
10:05 Baggage buses depart for the finish
10:10 Elite wheelchair race starts
10:15 Elite women start
10:15 Mass Great North Run warm-up
10:30 Assembly area closes
10:40 Start of the Great North Run (Elite men and the masses)
In 2020 the 40th Great North Run will take place...
GNR40 will be "the boldest event yet", with a host of "exciting new activities and experiences" for runners, spectators and visitors.