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Get set, ready, go! Great North Run weekend begins

Pamela TickellNorth East and Cumbria
News imageGetty Images A Great North Run runner is high fiving a young onlooker. The runner is wearing a rainbow tutu and a green Macmillan Cancer Support top. There are several runners behind her, who are out of focus.Getty Images
Crowds will line the half marathon route on Sunday

The Great North Run (GNR) returns to Tyneside this weekend, with 63,000 runners taking part in the world's biggest half marathon on Sunday.

Saturday's Mini and Junior events on Newcastle's Quayside are in their 40th year and see 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles).

Gladiators Alex Gray (Apollo), Emily Steel (Dynamite) and Matty Campbell (Bionic) are ringing Saturday's starters' bell alongside GNR mascot Tyney the Tortoise, while Newcastle captain Dan Burn is Sunday's starter.

Sunday's 13.1-mile (21km) event sees runners and wheelchair users begin in Newcastle, race through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.

According to organisers, this year's Mini and Junior events are the biggest in its 40-year history.

They give youngsters "the chance to experience their own Great North Run moment - creating memories, soaking up the atmosphere and, for many, getting a taste of what the main event feels like", they added.

News imageGreat North Run A blue mascot, in the likeness of a tortoise, has its arms outstretched in front the race barriers. The mascot has a running number pinned to its front, which reads "Tyney", and appears to be smiling brightly. The archway behind it is red and blue and says "AJ Bell Great North Run junior & mini" at the top.Great North Run
Junior and Mini GNR events take over Newcastle Quayside on Saturday, with Tyney ringing the starting bell

Several road closures are in place across the weekend, including the A167 and A194.

The half marathon is in its 45th year and starts on Newcastle's Central Motorway and finishes on The Leas in South Shields.

The Red Arrows flypast over the city is scheduled for 10:50 BST.

Famous faces, including former footballer Chris Kamara and singer Joe McElderry, will be taking part.

About £25m is raised for charity each year and the total number of finishers to date is 1.4 million, organisers say.

News imageGreat North Run Alex Mulholland is standing beside a large mock-up of the medal and smiling at the camera. The black, green and red cartoon design features the zig-zagged metal features of the Tyne Bridge in the middle, with two heart-shaped characters running on either side. Great North Run
Local artist Alex Mulholland - known as Mul - designed this year's medal

The 2026 medal was designed by local artist Alex Mulholland - known as Mul - and features the Tyne Bridge.

"The design celebrates the stories behind each runner, and the incredible causes that inspire so many people to take on the event," he said.

Last year, the 2024 New York Marathon champion Sheila Chepkirui won the women's elite race, while Alex Mutiso won the men's competition.

Sean Frame won the men's wheelchair race in 49:24 and Mel Nicholls won the women's contest in 1:05:24.

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