The Great North Run returned to Tyneside this weekend for its 45th edition, drawing 63,000 participants to the world’s largest half marathon. Among the runners was Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who completed the 13.1-mile (21km) course in under two hours.
Burnham ran in support of Changing Lives, a homelessness charity based in the North East and Cumbria. He recently visited the organization to launch a national campaign aimed at ending rough sleeping, wearing a pink and purple t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Changing Lives” at the finish line in South Shields.
Reflecting on his performance and the event’s spirit, the Prime Minister said he was “very happy” with his time. “You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause,” Burnham told reporters. “It’s just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it’s together like this. This part of the world, it doesn’t half shine on a day like this. The warmth of the people comes out.}
While Burnham participated for charity, elite athletes secured top honors on the course. Zouhair Talbi won the men’s race, and Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei claimed victory in the women’s elite division. In the wheelchair categories, David Weir and Melanie Woods took the titles for men and women, respectively.
Newcastle United captain Dan Burn had the honor of ringing the starter’s bell, joined by football pundit Chris Kamara and fitness instructor Joe Wicks, who also took on the challenge. The event began with a Red Arrows flyover above the Tyne Bridge and concluded with another aerial display on The Leas in South Shields.
Organizers reported that the biannual event raises approximately £25m for charity. The 2026 medal, designed by local artist Alex Mulholland (known as Mul), features an illustration of the Tyne Bridge to celebrate the stories and causes behind each runner.
The weekend’s festivities began on Saturday with Mini and Junior Great North Run events on Newcastle’s Quayside, marking the largest youth participation in the 40-year history of the program. Approximately 13,000 young people competed in distances ranging from 50 meters to 4 kilometers.
Gladiators television stars Alex Gray, Emily Steel, and Matty Campbell rang the starter’s bell alongside the event mascot, Tyney the Tortoise. Organizers noted that the junior events provided children with an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the main race and create lasting memories.
Despite warm and sunny weather drawing tens of thousands of spectators along the route, the day faced minor logistical challenges. The iconic Tyne Bridge was partially obscured by scaffolding due to ongoing restoration work, and a burst water main near the A189 Redheugh Bridge caused traffic disruptions around Gateshead. Meanwhile, runners showcased their support for various causes through creative costumes, including participants dressed as nuns, horses, and giant ovaries for ovarian cancer awareness.
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