Great North Run (BUPA)

"I couldn't run 13.1 miles" is the most common phrase when you mention the great north run to people. Let's start at the beginning. Entering - The way to enter is through a ballot system. To enter this first go to www.greatrun.org and register your email address to be notified when the ballot begins. Then once you receive notification you enter the ballot and will be informed after a month or so if you are successful. And then the hard work starts.... Course and length - the Great North Run is a half marathon (13.1 miles) and goes from Newcastle Upon Type to South Shields. The run is usually around the end of September or early October. ...  Read the complete review

I used to live in Newcastle and every year saw the Great North Run going on in my back yard (not literally). I considered giving it a go, but never go past 30 minutes on the treadmill down the gym. Fast-forward eight years and I had become quite the jogger, and had taken part in a few fun runs and shorter races locally, so I decided to fulfil an ambition. I signed up through the Alzheimer's Society and made my preparations. The Great North Run is part of the Great Run series of events all over the country, but the Great North Run is by far the most popular and widely known. I seem to remember someone saying 52000 people took part last year, but I ...  Read the complete review

New Years resolutions starting to falter? Perhaps you are still looking for a fresh challenge to kick-start 2009? Wouldn't it be brilliant to raise money for those charities that really mean something to you? Well, if you are in reasonable physical shape and are able to commit to a few hours a week of training, why not consider taking part in Britain's biggest annual running event, the very appropriately named - Great North Run..... ****One Amazing Race**** Every year, more than 50,000 people drawn from a complete cross-section of ages (well 17 and above), abilities, and walks of life, gain entry to the annual Great North Run. They each ...  Read the complete review

I've really got into running in the last few years, and have now run the Bupa Great South Run twice- in 2006 and 2008. The run is 10 miles, and takes you round the finest sites of Portsmouth and Southsea, on the South coast. The race starts in Southsea then takes you through the cobbles historic waterfront and into the town centre. You then race past Southsea common, round some resdential streets and back along the seafront. This is a great race and I'd definitely recommend it to any runners or would-be runners. The race is flat (much more so than the Great North Run) which means that you're in with a good chance of a personal best. The course is ...  Read the complete review

The Great South Run is a 10 mile/16km course which takes you around the sites of Portsmouth. Along the way you run past the historic dockyard and the beautiful beach. The course is generally flat, with only a couple of small inclines. This makes it a good course to get a personal best or to start your running career. The race is held at the end of October and therefore the weather can sometimes put a dampener on the event. I have run it the last three years and each time race day has been wet and windy. For those running the race for the first time the final two miles along the seafront can be quite draining if you haven't left enough fuel in ...  Read the complete review