00:02The Great North Run began in 1981 with just over 12,000 people taking part. 45 years later 63,000
00:10runners are expected on the start line making this the biggest staging of the event so far.
00:15There are elite athletes competing for victory but for many taking part the reason for running
00:20is much more personal. I'll be speaking to some of those people in the coming days but first
00:25I've taken to the streets to get people's views of the nation's favourite half marathon.
00:30I did it many years ago I think it was 1984 I was about 37 at the time. It was
00:38run in June then which
00:39was a bit of a baker you know it was absolutely melting and I think it was a good idea
00:45to put it
00:46to this time of year. I think there's a lot of people relieved at the the the the slightly cooler
00:53temperature but having said that we've had some we've had a bit of a heat wave haven't we so you
00:58can't really say but I hope it's cool for them because it's much nicer to be running in a in
01:04the cooler temperature you know yeah. I don't know if it's just the the strong sense of community and
01:10culture in Newcastle that makes it stand out for that reason and because there are so many people
01:15who take part there's just a wider range of types of people and their different goals and and yeah why
01:21you're doing it. The race covers 13.1 miles taking runners from Newcastle to South Shields
01:27and at the front will be a field of international athletes including last year's men's and women's
01:31champions Alex Matiso and Sheila Chepkirui who are both ready to defend their titles. Alongside
01:38them though will be thousands of charity runners raising money for causes that matter to them.
01:43Fundraising through the event is expecting to generate more than 25 million pounds this year
01:48and beyond the runners themselves more than 200,000 spectators are expected to line the course
01:53bringing much needed cheer for all the runners. I think here's something you can have a go at you're
02:00not under pressure about doing a time you know you know the the run as you go and learn when
02:05I was doing
02:06it you know I've just talked to so many people it was brilliant and you just feel encouraged so
02:11it's not about your time in the end of the day it's about you being involved in such an iconic
02:15event.
02:15I've still got me medal and I've got me t-shirt with holes in that are full of holes from
02:22when
02:22I was welding me car up you know doing me a classic car so I you know that's me pride
02:28and joy
02:29and me certificate so it was it was nice it was nice. From its first staging in 1981 more than
02:361.4 million people have now finished the great north run. This year's race will bring another
02:4063 000 runners to the route with elite competition taking place alongside thousands of individual
02:46fundraising challenges. For those taking part the finish line in South Shields will mark the end of
02:52one journey and for many the culmination of months of preparation and fundraising.
