00:00Where last year's Great North Run was wet and windy, this year's brought heat and humidity to Tyneside,
00:06as once again upwards of 60,000 runners prepared themselves to take on the world's biggest half marathon.
00:12Crowds began gathering in Newcastle from about half past eight in the morning,
00:16with the thousands of participants all heading to their designated entry point.
00:19As usual with the Great North Run, the atmosphere has been energetic and vibrant.
00:24You can almost feel the adrenaline surging through the runners as they get underway.
00:28But, of course, the key is to not go off too early.
00:32Whether some listen to that advice is another matter, of course.
00:35But, with the masses setting off on their journey to the coast,
00:39let's go back to the start of the day, when some of the big names began to arrive at the start line.
00:46Preparing to get underway were boxer Tommy Fury, reporter Luke Edwards and content creator Joe Sugg.
00:52You know, I run all the time as a boxer and I just think, do you know what, if I'm running,
00:55I might as well come down and run an amazing event like this.
00:59It'd be good to tick off the box half marathon, so why not?
01:03If being in the North East, obviously it's the world's biggest half marathon, does that inspire you?
01:06Yeah, definitely. I think that's the reason why I'm here.
01:08I mean, it's such a big event, you know, and obviously to be in Newcastle, it's absolutely amazing.
01:12First time here.
01:13Like I said before, I'm looking forward to getting the run done and having a little look around the town.
01:16Most pressing question, what have you had for breakfast this morning?
01:18For breakfast? I've had a Squares bar, banana, black coffee and a crumpet with jam and honey.
01:22And are you running for anyone today?
01:26I'm running for everybody. I'm running for everybody.
01:29But, listen, I'm here with my brother and we just come out to do a good run today.
01:33That's my first one. George Colkin of the Athletics has been trying to get me to do it for about a decade.
01:39And I finally relented.
01:41Actually, it's been a shining beacon on the horizon for me because it's been a long, hard summer.
01:46A very stressful summer, I think, for anybody who covers North East football because of the man who has no name, Alexander Ethak Saga.
01:55So this has been quite a nice release to have this to focus on.
01:58I'm dreading it, but I'm really, really excited as well.
02:00Now, of course, you mentioned George Colkin has roped you into this and you're all running for this Bobby Robson Foundation,
02:04a man revered by the whole North East.
02:06And that seems quite appropriate given the event where he's at.
02:08Yeah, Bobby was the first Newcastle United manager when I first started covering Newcastle United.
02:13He was the manager. He was like a childhood hero for me from the 1990 World Cup.
02:18I got to know him on a personal level. Great, great man. Even better football manager.
02:22And I think if I was going to do it for anybody, it was always going to be in the memories of Bobby Robson.
02:26So I like to think that when I hit the wall about eight, nine miles, I'm going to have Bobby's voice in my head saying,
02:33you can do it, son.
02:34Oh, I'm so excited. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
02:36I feel like the weather is really behaving today.
02:39We've got a bit of sun coming out.
02:41It might be a little bit of rain later on, but I think by that point, it's probably needed.
02:44So we, you know, so it, but yeah, really looking forward to it.
02:47People here are great. The crowds are ready.
02:51Spirits are high, which is good.
02:52I've, I've, I have trained, but I am, I'm not going to put too much pressure on like a time.
02:59If I can get anywhere close to what I got last year at the Oxford half, I'll be delighted.
03:04But it's a bit more hillier here, I think.
03:07Oh my God.
03:07It's a bit more hillier.
03:08It's a bit more hillier here, I think.
03:11Most pressing question.
03:12What have you had for breakfast?
03:13Not enough is the answer.
03:14I'm a little bit worried.
03:15I got here and I was like, I, I, I woke up at a reasonable time, but I just had a couple
03:20of bits of sourdough bread.
03:21I've got some fuel on me, but I'm just hoping that there's going to be people in the crowd
03:26handing out sweets and things like that.
03:27And I think I'm going to have to survive on that.
03:29Soon, though, it was time for official starters Nick Pope and Jacob Murphy of Newcastle United
03:34to take their positions and get the run going.
03:44Stopwatchers were being started as the runners crossed the line, with Pope and Murphy on high-five
03:51duty for runners going past.
03:53Two miles into the course and across the time bridge, in Gateshead, supporters were lining
04:02the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of their loved ones taking part.
04:07Well, some runners will be done in around two hours, whilst others will take their time
04:11and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the moment, which of course is what the Great North Run
04:16is all about.
04:18All the days and all of the nights of preparation have come down to this, making sure they get
04:22across the finish line, as well as, in many cases, supporting worthy causes.
04:27And perhaps to top it all off, after they were absent last year, the Red Arrows return
04:31for 2025 to once again create that iconic shot over the time bridge that so many love to see.
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