Courant launches race within a race

The Hexham Courant has teamed up with the event’s organisers to create a Race within a Race for local entrants.

And that means there will be awards handed out for the first male and female finishers who reside within the Hexham Courant catchment area.

A spokeswoman for the Great North Run Company, which organises the event, said: “We will once again welcome 57,000 participants to the North-East of England for the annual celebration of running, which forms the pinnacle of a weekend of top-class athletics action. Shown live on the BBC, the Great North Run is the biggest half marathon in the world and runners from the region will take their place on the start line to battle for local bragging rights.”

Of course, not all participants are running the Great North Run to win or record a personal best time.

Many will run for worthy causes close to their hearts, including the Courant’s head of sport Joseph Tulip, who is running in aid of Scope, which provides vital services and support for people with disabilities.

Joseph said: “Every year, our district is proudly represented by runners of all ages at the Great North Run.

“Everybody has their own reason for taking part, and many, like myself, will be happy just to complete the route.

“However, there will be some strong competitors from our area, and we want to recognise our top male and female finishers.”

The weekend will kick-off on Saturday, September 8, with the Great North 5k, and the biggest ever junior andmini Great North Run, with almost 9,000 children taking part.

Also on the Saturday, some of Britain’s leading athletes will be competing at the Great North City Games, a live, televised athletics event in a pop-up arena on the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside.

l Are you running the Great North Run for charity? If you have a fund-raising story to tell, please email joseph.tulip@newsquest.co.uk

For more information about the event, visit greatrun.org/north