AJ Bell Great North 5k
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The AJ Great North 5k is back on Friday 11 September 2026.
Enter now to SAVE with our discounted Super Earlybird Offer.
The AJ Bell Great North 5k is back on Friday 11 September 2026, and entries are open! Sign up now and save with our Earlybird Offer for a limited time.
The AJ Bell Great North 5k is the curtain-raiser event for the North East’s biggest weekend of sport: the AJ Bell Great North Run. It’s a fun, flat 5k dash around Newcastle and Gateshead’s vibrant Quayside and, like all Great Runs, it’s packed with phenomenal local support and entertainment. As well as iconic Tyneside views, an electric atmosphere, and an incredible feeling of achievement, runners will also find a medal and an exclusive finisher t-shirt at the finish line. It’s Friday night: go forth and celebrate in one of the UK’s top cities for partying!
Great North 5k entries are open to runners aged 14+ (5k) on the day of the event. Booking fee (£3.00 per entry) is applied at checkout. 2026 Earlybird offer is for a limited time only.
What Makes it Great?
Bespoke Medal, Optional T-Shirt and Finishers' Pack
Access Exclusive Runner-Only Discounts via Our Rewards Platform
Free Training Plans and Support up to Event Day
Get 10% Off When You Refer A Friend
Run Past Some of the City’s Most Famous Landmarks
Music and Entertainment to Keep You Motivated
Run Number Personalised with your Name
Event Timetable: 11 September 2026
Timetable is subject to change.
Training Advice
View All Training Articles
Find a running club in the North East
… Read More.
Training for a 5k – a complete beginner’s guide
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How to pace a perfect 5k
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Know what to expect – your Great North 5k route
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Interval training – what is it and how does it help your running?
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Embracing Easy Runs
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How Often Should I Run?
All you need to know on how many times a week you should be running Read More.
Our Runners in Action
Find Runner Photos
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RESULTS
OFFICIAL PHOTOS
RUNNER REWARDS
EVENT FAQ
The Course
Your Great North 5k Route…There’s a small change to this year’s route, but all the best bits remain the same. You’ll start in the same iconic spot and cross both the Swing bridge and Millennium bridge, before a Grandstand finish on the Tyne.
Please note: course may be subject to change.
Road Closures
Leave plenty of time to get to the start line as there will be a number of temporary road closures, car park closures, and parking restrictions in place for the event (below).
When travelling to the event, we suggest making use of the public transport options available on the day. You can plan your journey on the Nexus website here. If you are travelling by car, please be aware that there are currently traffic restrictions in place on both the Tyne Bridge . We would encourage you to allow extra time for your journey, plan in advance and use alternative routes to the Tyne Bridge to help avoid delays and congestion.
Newcastle Quayside
From 14:00 Until 20:00
Friday 5 to 20:00 Saturday 6 September
South Shore Road
From 14:00 Until 21:00
Friday 5 September
Swing Bridge
From 15:00 Until 21:00
Friday 5 September
Pipewellgate
From 15:00 Until 21:00
Friday 5 September
What You Get
By taking your place on the AJ Bell Great North 5k start line, you’re already part of something really special. Obviously you’ll have bragging rights for the foreseeable, but you’ll also get…
The Medal
The Photos
The Discounts
The T-Shirt
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 (Find out more here). To view our full Environmental Strategy, please click here.
