Great North Run 2023: Thousands tackle half marathon

Thousands of people have taken part in the 42nd Great North Run.

The race in 2020 had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and changes were made to the event in 2021 to allow for social distancing.

Last year's run started with a minute's silence following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Organisers, The Great Run Company, said about 60,000 runners followed the traditional route from Newcastle, through Gateshead to South Shields.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was chosen to officially start the run.

The event was also Olympic champion Mo Farah's final race as a professional athlete. The 40-year-old finished in fourth place.

Friends Katharine and Cathy, from Bradford, and Cheryl, from Bristol, were raising money for different charities but all dressed in inflatable fox costumes.

Cheryl said this was their 13th time and they had worn "random, inflatable things" for the past few years.

"The atmosphere and the support from fellow runners and all the people on the route - it's the best race that I have ever done," she said.

"Although it's not going to be a race this year - we're definitely walking it."

Cathy said they competed in other races but the people along the course "handing out lollipops, jelly babies, shouting your name" made the Great North Run the best.

"For them to put that effort in then we can put some effort in and put a costume on," she said.

Katharine said it was "such a fun, family event" with everyone cheering on the runners.

But she was "absolutely terrified" about the heat, she added.

"Nobody will want to be downwind from us on the final section."

County Durham entrepreneur and BBC "dragon" Sara Davies, comedian Lee Ridley, who lives in Newcastle, and Emmerdale stars Laura Norton and Isabel Hodgins were among the celebrities who took part.

Ahead of the half marathon, BBC pundit and former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer sent a message telling Sir Mo to "enjoy the Geordie welcome and the Geordie goodbye" and wishing him luck.

Many runners tackled the 13.1 mile (21km) route to support charities and other causes, raising an estimated £25m.

One planned to run the half marathon carrying a 6st (40kg) tumble dryer.

Stephen Sinclair, 35, from Ashington, Northumberland, was told he might never exercise again after a life-threatening blood clot and is raising money for the North East Autism Society.

Bill Cooksey - at 102 years old - hoped to become the oldest person to finish the Great North Run.

The centenarian, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, who walks about two miles a day to keep fit, is raising funds to support his local NHS Trust charity.

Another participant, Andrew Leather from South Shields, wanted to complete the run 10 years after a life-altering stroke.

Caroline Quibell, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent - who recently had a hip replacement surgery - ran in memory of her late husband Michael, who died in October after having motor neurone disease for seven years.

Additional mainline and Metro train services were in operation to cope with the extra demand from thousands of people travelling into Newcastle city centre to the race starting point.

Some Metro stations closed at certain times to assist with crowd control.

On Saturday about 10,000 children took part in the Junior and Mini Great North Run events on Newcastle Quayside.

The run's organisers said it was the most entrants there had been for the three to 16-year-old events.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].