The entry ballot for the 40th Great North Run is now open

The general entry ballot for the world’s biggest half marathon, the Great North Run, is now open.

The annual event will add another epic milestone to its rich history when it is staged for the 40th time on Sunday 13 September, having been the first event of its kind to welcome home one million finishers back in 2014.

Find out how to apply here.

First staged in 1981 with an unprecedented 12,000 runners, the iconic half marathon has grown to accept a huge 57,000 entries and is embedded in the fabric of the region, with over 200,000 supporters estimated to line the route from the centre of Newcastle to South Shields.

The 40th Great North Run - GNR40 - will be a celebration of this landmark staging and the people and places that have made the event great.

Last year saw Sir Mo Farah continue his running streak with an impressive sixth win in a row, while Brigid Kosgei became the fastest female over the half marathon distance of all-time, followed across the finish line by runners of all abilities conquering their own personal challenges, with many helping to raise a staggering £15 million for good causes around the world.

The Great North Run remains the jewel in the crown of a spectacular sporting weekend, with a whole host of exciting new activities and experiences planned to celebrate the 40th staging, including a specially commissioned film charting the history of the event.

The Great North 5k will kick off this huge celebration of running in the North East, with the ever-popular Junior and Mini Great North Run transforming the NewcastleGateshead Quayside into a sea of runners.