00:00Q. Well, Great North Run, how are you feeling this weekend?
00:03It doesn't matter how I'm feeling, does it?
00:06It matters more how the people have ended.
00:08The Great North Run are going to run the Great North Run
00:10and are organising the Great North Run
00:12and are getting ready to meet people in South Shields
00:14because South Shields is so important to the Great North Run.
00:16The Lees, covered with people,
00:18covered with people who have done their thing,
00:22with a charity village at the end,
00:24is an integral part of the Great North Run.
00:27And I think this is going to be the biggest.
00:30So I think, you know, open the doors and welcome people.
00:34Q. Number one, how are you feeling?
00:36I'm a little bit nervous, I'm not going to lie,
00:38but I'm really excited.
00:39It's an absolutely massive privilege to be able to win number one.
00:42I never in a million years thought that it would be something that I would do,
00:46but, you know, as the North East Mayor,
00:49being able to stand there on the start line
00:51with 60,000 people from these incredible elite athletes
00:55and charity winners who have raised millions for charity,
00:57you know, that is a really special thing.
01:00Every year the Great North Run is a do-or-not crown for the region.
01:03It is iconic, it puts this beautiful place on the map.
01:06Where else would you find people,
01:0860,000 people running from an iconic city centre
01:11through to the gorgeous coastline at South Shields,
01:14raising millions for charity alongside the elite athletes,
01:17you know, trying to break world records at the same time.
01:20So we're really proud of it.
01:22It's something that everybody loves to talk about,
01:24everybody loves to go and see, to cheer people on,
01:26and we're also really famous for the welcome we give
01:28the millions of people who come in for the Great North Run.
01:31So is this your first time running it as well?
01:33It's my second time running it, so, you know,
01:35I'm not a runner and it is something that I've had to train for,
01:39so I'll be happy if I beat my last time.
01:41And how's training been?
01:43It's been tough, you know, I'm a new mayor,
01:45I was elected on the 2nd of May
01:48and before that I was Police and Crown Commissioner,
01:50so time is always in short supply.
01:52But I have really enjoyed the training,
01:54however it doesn't stop me from being just a little bit nervous
01:57about the run on Sunday.
01:59The nerves don't go away, do they?
02:01The nerves don't go away, do they?
02:03And I think I'll be joined by a huge number of people
02:05who will feel equally apprehensive,
02:07but what I would say is I have done it before
02:09and the atmosphere is second to none, it's incredible.
02:11You know, everybody has their name on their number
02:14and so people shout your name and it really does get you through.
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