AJ Bell Great North Run
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60,000 incredible participants run from the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields each year to fundraise, have fun, achieve a fitness goal, and join an amazing running community, no matter their experience or ability. From the rush of the Red Arrows flying overhead to the oggy-oggy-oggy chants, Great North Run magic can be hard to understand – until you’ve experienced it for yourself. Since 1981, the Great North Run has captured the imagination of runners across the globe, and in 2026 we mark an incredible 45 years of the famous event.
Anyone who didn’t enter the September Ballot, or was unsuccessful with their ballot application, can try again in the January ballot or can enter with a charity place. Sign up to our Reminder Service here to be notified when the January ballot opens.
AJ Bell Great North run entries are open to runners aged 17+ on the day of the event. A booking fee (£3.00 per entry) is applied at checkout. For more information on the September Ballot, see our September Ballot FAQ . Existing Great North Run Members do not need to enter the ballot.
September Ballot
Information
The September ballot has been drawn, and all ballot entrants have been sent an email confirming their ballot result.
If you were unsuccessful with your September Ballot application, don’t give up on your 2026 GNR dream! You can try again in the January Ballot, or, you can enter with a charity place.
Sign up to our Reminder Service here to be notified when the January ballot opens.
Join the conversation on social and be part of the AJ Bell Great North Run online community. Share your memories, stories and photos from this year’s event!
2026 Ballot Reminder
Sign up below for updates and we’ll notify you when the January ballot for the 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run opens. We’ll also provide you with useful running information and guidance, special offers, training advice, top tips and exclusive Great Run Series event updates (you can unsubscribe at any time).
Great North Run Membership
AJ Bell Great North Run Members skip the ballot and guarantee a place on the start line of the Great North Run. A Great North Run membership also entitles you to other benefits, including a technical training top and discounts. Find out more about what’s included here.
New membership places (2026-2027) are now SOLD OUT. To find out more about memberships, click on the button below.
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RESULTS
PHOTOS
REWARDS
iTAB
Event Timetable: 13 September 2026
Note: Provisional timetable subject to change.
Event Information
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I receive my race number for the Great North Run?
Your race number also contains your timing chip and will arrive 1-2 weeks before the run. If your run number doesn’t arrive, you’ll need to collect your race number from one of the information points the day before, or morning of the event (Bring ID with you). Information point locations and opening times are in the event guide, which is linked above.
Can I move to a different wave in the Great North Run?
If you wish to move to a slower wave then that is fine, simply assemble with the later wave. You do not need to visit the information point. It is not possible to move to a faster wave. Waves are allocated based on your estimated time and cannot be changed.
Where does the Great North Run start and finish?
The Great North Run starts on the A167 close to Claremont Road. 60,000 runners make their way along the 13.1 mile route to the finish at South Shields after a final mile-long seafront stretch. Check out the route map for the full route and elevation profile. If you’re a participant, please see the event guide for your arrival time, arrival route and assembly access for your wave colour.
How difficult is the Great North Run?
The Great North Run route has both uphill and downhill sections. Miles 1-2, 5-8 and 12-13.1 are mainly downhill, whereas many runners report that they find miles 8-12 the toughest section – there’s quite a bit of uphill during this four-mile stretch. But don’t worry – there’s music, entertainment and thousands of supporters at every turn. Know exactly what to expect with some detailed advice on training for your Great North Run route in our training advice (see page below).
How do I track runners at the Great North Run?
Easy – with the free Great Run event day app. Use our accurate tracking feature to keep tabs on family, friends, celebrities and elites, see professional photos as soon as they’re uploaded and stay up-to-date with race day info and last-minute changes. The Great Run app is free to download from the Apple app store or Google Play, or click on the Download The App banner above.
Can I leave my bag at the start of the Great North Run?
Yes. Baggage buses can be found in your Runners Hub. Please see the event guide for your baggage bus opening times and location. Allow plenty of time for dropping off. Make sure you fill out your baggage label (found on your race number), detach and fasten it securely to your bag before you leave home. At the finish, you’ll need to use your race number to collect your bag at South Shields.
When will I receive pre-event information for the Great North Run?
Keep a lookout for regular emails from the Great Run team in the run up to the event with your Event Guide and other important event info. It’s also available here on the website (above), Please do check again shortly before race day on Sunday 7 September to catch any updates.
Where can I download a training plan for the Great North Run?
We’re glad you asked. No matter your running experience, we’ve got free, easy-to-follow half marathon training plans on our Training Plans page You’ll also find some bespoke information on training for the Great North Run in our training section.
Where can I celebrate after the Great North Run?
The fun doesn’t stop at the finish line. Check out the Great North Run event village and Après Run Zone with its very own beer and entertainment tent, exhibitors, food and drink vendors…the list goes on! There’s also lots of cafés and bars around the local area in South Shields, if you want to soak up the atmosphere before heading home.
How do I get home?
With 60,000 runners plus family and friends supporting them, transport systems are extremely busy after the Great North Run. It’s vital that you plan your route home in advance. We recommend getting the Metro from South Shields, if possible, but be aware that you may have to wait for some time. Although extra services will be running, some Metro stations will be closed or have limited access after the run. Use the Great North Run travel assistant (above) to plan your journey.
Nirvana, the official travel and accommodation partner of the AJ Bell Great North Run, have a range of hotels and accommodation options available in great locations, fully integrated with start and finish line shuttle and transfer services. Let Nirvana take the stress out of your run logistics!
Training Advice
View All Training Articles
Know what to expect – your Great North Run route
The Great North Run requires no introduction – but, just in case, here’s a quick explainer. The Great North Run is the world’s biggest and best half marathon, attracting 60,000 runners each year to its iconic 13.1 mile route. And once you’ve experienced that Great North Run magic, it’s… Read More.
How to train for a half marathon
Congratulations – you’ve taken a big step and committed to a half marathon. You’re in good company – half marathons are a popular distance event, and make a perfect next goal to aim for after hitting your 10k stride. There’s no doubt that running 13.1 miles is a challenge, so… Read More.
A runner’s guide to tapering
The idea of tapering – decreasing your training load in the week or two leading up to a big running event – might sound counter-intuitive, but in this case less really is more. And just about every running authority out there stresses the importance of tapering as a vital part… Read More.
How to hit your perfect half marathon pace
Great Run is proud to partner with Runna – your personalised running coach app. As the official training partner of the AJ Bell Great Run Series, Runna is supporting our runners with comprehensive, expert-approved training content. No matter your experience or ability level, Runna’s tips and hints can… Read More.
Find a running club in the North East
The North East is a friendly place, as anyone who’s ever taken part in the AJ Bell Great North Run would agree. And it’s that trademark North East warmth that makes it a fantastic place to join a running group. In fact, just about every club in the region… Read More.
The super simple runner’s exercise routine
Wherever you are on your running journey, building some simple gym or home exercises into your schedule is guaranteed to maximise your performance. And once you start establishing those routines and seeing those benefits, it’s so much easier to keep your motivation levels high. Read on for a quick and… Read More.
Great Places To Run In And Around Newcastle
Whether you are a local or a runner who wants to explore the area before the Simplyhealth Great North Run, Newcastle has plenty to offer. Read More.
10 things to expect at the Great North Run
It’s the world’s biggest and best half marathon and a North East institution – but if you’ve never taken part in the Great North Run, what can you expect when you line up on that start line? On your marks, get set, let’s find out! An unbeatable start-line atmosphere… Read More.
Road Closures
There will be a number of road closures in place for the event, on the route and surrounding areas. Click below to see a full list of road closure and opening times.
What You Get
The Medal
The Photos
The App
The Discounts
We have made the decision to introduce optional finisher tees to our Great Run events. You can choose to forgo a finisher tee shirt at the point of entry, and in lieu of this we will make a donation to the National Trust Woodlands Appeal. We will donate a portion of the fulfilment costs for each runner who chooses this option to the fund and commit that this donation to be approx. £20,000. To view our full Environmental Strategy, please click here.
Run for Charity
Choose a charity
Secure a Place
Start fundraising
Fundraising tips
AJ Bell Great North Run
Charities
Alzheimer’s Society has been proudly selected as the official charity of the AJ Bell Great Run Series. Together we’re investing in a world without dementia. Together, we’ve got dementia on the run.
As the country’s biggest killer, someone develops dementia every three minutes in the UK.
Dementia is everywhere, and it’s an urgent concern for us all. It can affect anyone – including people in their 40s who have young-onset dementia and young families struggling to cope with responsibilities of caring for a loved one. Dementia touches every generation and every community.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we know the steps it will take to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives. We’re the only dementia charity doing everything it takes to beat the condition. Delivering vital support services, funding pioneering research and campaigning relentlessly for change.
We’re now so close to lifechanging treatments being available for people who need them most. For the first time, we’ve truly got dementia on the run.
Hope is on the horizon but to get there, we need everyone on the team. Because it will take a society to beat dementia.
The money we raise from the AJ Bell Great Run series will help us get there faster. Join us.
Join forces with the team that will get you to the finish line. We’re the only ones fighting over 200 cancer . Our life-saving work is funded entirely by the generosity of our supporters, so every step we make towards beating cancer relies on every pound, and every runner. One in two people now survive cancer. Together we’ve achieved so much, but we won’t stop until we’ve beaten it altogether. Join the team today and we will beat cancer.
The Bobby Moore Fund was set up in memory legendary footballer Bobby Moore, who sadly died from bowel cancer aged just 51.To date the Bobby Moore Fund has raised over £20 million. The funds are spent on world class bowel cancer research carried out by leading scientists working across the UK. With your support, bowel cancer stands no chance. Let’s make Bobby proud and help beat it sooner. Join the Bobby Moore Fund team today.
We’re Blood Cancer UK, a community dedicated to beating blood cancer. We do this by funding research and supporting those affected. Since 1960, we’ve invested over £500 million in blood cancer research, transforming treatments and saving lives. Run with us at the Great North Run and every pound raised will help beat blood cancer, because the finish line’s in sight.
We’re Breast Cancer Now, the charity that’s steered by world-class research and powered by life-changing care. We’re here for anyone affected by breast cancer, the whole way through, providing support for today and hope for the future. Join our team today and you can help us be there for anyone facing breast cancer.
When you run for BHF, you can help us achieve our vision of a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. You run for the people you love. You run to help us fund lifesaving research and support people affected by heart and circulatory diseases. You run to help keep families together for longer.
It’s because of you, BHF-funded research is possible. Together, we can make the impossible possible. Thank you.
We are the leading charity dedicated to improving life for everyone affected by diabetes across the United Kingdom. We fund pioneering research into treatments and cures, campaign for better access to care and technology, and provide tailored advice and support from the moment of diagnosis onward. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm, and every person lives with confidence and hope.
When you choose Diabetes UK for your Great North Run, every stride transforms lives. We’re on a mission to stop diabetes from holding anyone back—whether that’s by funding pioneering research, shaping policy, or delivering tailored support from diagnosis onward. Your run becomes part of a movement powering better treatments, stronger communities and a future where diabetes no longer defines anyone’s life.
With your commitment, you help rewrite the story for 4.9 million people living with diabetes today.
At Guide Dogs we’re here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. 1 in 5 people will live with sight loss in their lifetime and every day 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight. This is equivalent to one person every six minutes. Our guide dogs give these people the confidence to get out and about safely and we campaign to make sure children and adults with sight loss can live actively, independently and well.
At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can. And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one. We’re doing whatever it takes, but we couldn’t do what we do without you, thank you so much for your support.
We’re Mind. We’re here to fight for mental health. We produce trusted information all about mental health problems. We support people through our helplines and online Side by Side community. We campaign with the government to get a better deal on mental health. And we speak out when something isn’t right, demanding mental health support respects our rights. There’s so much we do – and we couldn’t do it without you, so thank you.
Join Prostate Cancer UK’s legendary Great North Run team to raise funds for lifesaving research and support services for the most common cancer in men. Run with us and help save men’s lives.
The Stroke Association are the UK’s leading charity dedicated to conquering stroke. We deliver stroke services across the UK, campaign for better stroke care, invest in research and fundraise to expand our reach to as many stroke survivors as possible. There are over 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK with 100,000 strokes happening in the UK each year. That’s one stroke every five minutes. We believe in life after stroke and rely on your support to change lives and prevent stroke. With your support, together we can conquer stroke. and prevent stroke.
We are the leading charity stopping the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and making pregnancy and birth safe – for everyone. Half of adults in the UK have experienced baby loss or know someone who has.Tommy’s fund vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, so we can keep saving babies’ lives.
