Tens of thousands of runners took to the streets for one of the world’s most iconic half marathons on Sunday, with the Great North Run drawing its usual massive crowd of 63,000 participants across the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields.
Among those lacing up their trainers was Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who completed the race alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer, making it a notable day for political figures willing to put their fitness on public display.
The Great North Run has long been more than just a race. It is a genuine spectacle, with thousands of supporters lining the route through the North East, cheering on everyone from elite athletes to first-time runners and charity fundraisers. This year was no different, with the atmosphere described as electric from the starting gun to the finish line on the South Shields seafront.
Burnham, who has run the event before, is no stranger to pulling on his running shoes for a good cause. His participation alongside the Prime Minister added a political flavour to proceedings, though both men were very much there as runners rather than politicians on the day.
The event, which started back in 1981, remains one of the largest half marathons on the planet. It attracts world-class elite runners as well as everyday people taking on the challenge for personal goals or to raise money for charities close to their hearts. The combination of competitive racing at the front of the pack and emotional personal journeys further back is what gives the Great North Run its unique character.
This year’s field of 63,000 runners represented the usual mix of club runners, fun runners, and celebrities, all sharing the same roads through one of England’s most passionate sporting regions. The North East crowd is widely regarded as among the best in the country for events like this, and Sunday’s turnout of spectators did nothing to change that reputation.
For many participants, finishing the Great North Run is a bucket list moment. The route itself is challenging, with some tough hills in the early miles before runners are eventually rewarded with the sight of the coast as they approach the finish. Crossing that line, whatever your time, carries real meaning for the people who put in the months of training to get there.
With high-profile names like Burnham and Starmer completing the course, this year’s event will stick in the memory as one where politics briefly took a back seat to putting one foot in front of the other.