Summary

  • More than 63,000 entered the run including the Prime Minister Andy Burnham

  • It was the 45th time the half marathon was held

  • Runners started in Newcastle before running over the Tyne Bridge and finishing in South Shields

Live Reporting

Edited by Julie Cush

  1. Well done to all the runners

    Well what a day it's been - tens of thousands of runners, glorious sunshine, crowds along the route and even the Prime Minister.

    Well done to everyone who completed the course today and we hope you enjoy a well-deserved rest tonight with plenty of lovely food and drink and basking in the glory.

    You can catch up with the live coverage on the Watch and Listen stream above and there will be highlights on BBC Three at 21:00 and on the iPlayer.

    And you can read more about the day here - Andy Burnham among Great North Run finishers.

    Right then, tempted to sign up for next year? We'll see you there.

  2. More images of the day

    Here's another set of images telling the story of this year's Great North Run.

    A runner is cooled down with a spray of waterGetty Images
    Runners with yellow faces, arms and legs dressed as The Simpsons charactersGetty Images
    A sea of runners streaming across the Tyne BridgeGetty Images
    Runners at the finish line in South Shields. Some of them are walking and some are lying on the grassGetty Images

  3. Volunteers ready with spray bottles to cool down runners

    Callum Rowe
    North East & Cumbria

    It's still incredibly warm here at the finish line in South Shields and the light, cool breeze is doing little to provide relief to the runners.

    Thankfully there are a number of volunteers ready with spray bottles of water to help lower body temperatures.

    Being here is a free hit of dopamine, even just watching. I can't imagine the levels of joy and euphoria the runners are feeling as they're crossing the line.

    Some people are sprinting across the line, others walking, and some limping arm in arm with one another.

    Each has achieved the same goal - completing the 45th Great North Run.

  4. Some image highlights of the day

    Here's a selection of some of the images of the day.

    Thousands of runners stream over the start line at the beginning of the Great North RunPA Media
    The elite women just after the start of the Great North RunPA Media
    Great North Run starter Dan Burn talking to TV presenter Ben Shepherd and former footballer Chris KamaraPA Media
    A blind runner and their guide. They are both wearing light green running vests and black shortsPA Media

  5. Traitors' Rachel Duffy running with siblings in mum's memory

    Robin Davies
    North East & Cumbria

    Rachel Duffy, who won series four of BBC series The Traitors, ran alongside her brothers and sister today in memory of their mum.

    Throughout the TV show Rachel spoke about her mum Anne and her hopes of being able to make lasting memories with her if she won any prize money.

    But she died soon after the show had finished.

    It is the first time Rachel has done the run and they are fundraising for Parkinson's UK and Dementia UK, which she said was "a nice way to spur you on to complete it".

    She said it was "huge and crazy" and she was loving the "positive atmosphere".

    Rachel Duffy in the centre with her four siblings at the start of the Great North Run

  6. Plenty of famous faces running today

    Those watching the run today will have spotted plenty of famous faces dotted in between the tens of thousands of other runners.

    Among them were former footballer Chris Kamara who was on the start line with his son Jack and TV presenter Ben Shepherd.

    Also there were presenters Helen Skelton and Sophie Raworth, athlete Kelly Holmes, former footballer and manager Peter Reid and Newcastle footballer Dan Burn, who started the race.

    Jack Kamara, Chris Kamara and Ben ShepherdNorth News and Pictures
    Kelly Holmes at the start lineNorth News and Pictures
    Helen Skelton at the start line of the Great North RunNorth News and Pictures
    Dan Burn at the start line of the Great North RunNorth News and Pictures
    Sophie Raworth at the start line of the Great North RunNorth News and Pictures

  7. Joe Wicks talks about 'amazing support'

    Callum Rowe
    North East & Cumbria

    Fitness coach and presenter Joe Wicks is among the well-known faces who have taken part today.

    Speaking at the finish line he said: "The support you get from the people here in the North East is always amazing."

    Joe Wicks at the finish line in South Shields. He is wearing a blue T-shirt with a finisher's medal on a red ribbon around his neck and is holding a microphone with a red BBC News muff on it

  8. 'Such a great atmosphere'

    Eve Connor
    North East & Cumbria

    Suzy and Zoe Fielding and Emily Swanson are among those here at the Tyne Bridge and are supporting their parents, who are running for Great North Children’s Hospital and Gateshead Hospital.

    Suzy says: “It’s been so fun, there’s such a good atmosphere.”

    Emily adds: “We are in a great place and can see everyone."

    The girls said they had to run down to the bridge to be here on time to catch their parents.

    Supporters with signs near the Tyne Bridge

    Vanessa Thorndycraft, 51, is among the masses supporting family along with her dog Ernie.

    She has run the GNR twice, but this year she has taken on the role of spectator to cheer on her daughter Holly who is running for Diabetes UK, in honour of her friend who she lost to diabetes at the age of 20.

    She said: “It’s fabulous, it’s always fabulous. I’ve run twice before and it’s just the crowds that get you through, it’s amazing. Come rain or shine they’re always here.”

    Vanessa Thorndycraft wearing a yellow marie Curie tabard and holding her dog

    While many come out to support their friends and family, some turn up just to support the masses of runners taking part.

    Six students from Newcastle University - Sophie, Sophie Rachel, Katie, Odile and Anna - are here with their signs hoping to help encourage the racers to keep going.

    Rachel said: "The energy is amazing, and so many are cheering for people they don’t even know, it’s perfect."

    Her friend Sophie added that it’s their first time seeing the GNR, but "it’s the best city to live in, so it was always going to be a great race".

    A group of students holding signs supporting the runners

  9. Andy Burnham finishes in under two hours

    The prime minister crossed the finish line in South Shields in a highly-respectable time of under two hours and said he was "very happy".

    "I loved it. It's just a brilliant occasion," he said. "Today, particularly, so many people out there, such positivity."

    He said a special moment had been the Red Arrows flying over.

    "You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause.

    "It's just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it's together like this," he said.

    "This part of the world - it doesn't half shine on a day like this. The warmth of the people comes out - the people in the race with you, the people on the sidelines. It really is a wonderful thing."

    Andy Burnham being interviewed at the finish line in South Shields. He has the red ribbon of a medal around his neck and is wearing a pink and purple T-shirt with changing lives on it. A microphone with a yellow muff is being held by a hand in front of him

  10. Runners cross scaffolding-clad Tyne Bridge

    Eve Connor
    North East & Cumbria

    The Tyne Bridge looks a little different this year as it is mid-way through a major restoration project which means parts of it are still covered in scaffolding.

    Here are a few images as runners stream across it.

    Runners stream across the Tyne Bridge
    Runners stream across the Tyne Bridge
    Runners stream across the Tyne Bridge

  11. How the elite races were won

    BBC Sport

    Kenya's Brigid Kosgei achieved a convincing victory in the women's race at the Great North Run after Great Britain's Eilish McColgan withdrew with injury.

    Kosgei, an Olympic silver medallist and former London marathon winner, eased to the win in one hour, six minutes and 15 seconds.

    American Zouhair Talbi produced a brilliant kick in the final mile to win the men's race as he got the better of last year's champion Alex Mutiso.

    The pair were running side by side for most of the course before 31-year-old Talbi surged ahead in the closing stages and held on to win in 59:47.

    Britain's David Weir won his 10th Great North Run title in the men's wheelchair race as he finished in 43:06, while Melanie Woods was the women's winner in 50:19.

  12. Relief and elation on faces as runners cross the line

    Callum Rowe
    North East & Cumbria

    The first finishers from the masses are crossing the line in South Shields.

    Their faces are filled with relief, elation and exhaustion.

    Runners crossing the finishing line at South Shields. The finish line is a red structure with the words AJ Bell Great North Run in white writing. Runners are checking their wacthes as they comes across the line and there are marshals in high-visibility jackets

  13. Preparations and anticipation at the finish line

    Jim Scott
    BBC North East & Cumbria

    Noah Robertson, a volunteer, is helping to get the thousands of medals ready - it looks like the right bridge this year - last year there were issues with the River Wear on it instead of the Tyne which caused some red faces.

    A volunteer in a pink high visibility jacket holding a handful of Great North Run medals

    Beverley Southern, from Middlesbrough, arrived early this morning.

    She’s cheering on her husband, Andy who runs it every year. He is now 60 and his wife says he’s been doing for as long as she can remember.

    Beverley Southern sitting on the grass at the finish of the Great North Run in South Shields

  14. Steet artist has designed this year's medals

    There were a few red faces last year when medals given to runners featured the wrong city and river - Sunderland and the River Wear rather than an aerial view of Tyneside and the River Tyne.

    This year Newcastle street artist Mul is behind the design with his well-known Running Heart characters alongside the Tyne Bridge - elite athlete Eilish McColgan stands beside the design below.

    As part of the collaboration he created a mural on the Newcastle Quayside. And hoardings with the design on have surrounded the base of Grey's Monument in the city centre.

    Athlete Eilish McColgan has long blonde hair and is wearing a light grey top on top of a white T-shirt and dark grey leggings. She is smiling at the camera. Behind her are red hoardings with the words AJ Bell great north run in white. It also shows the design of the Great North Run medals which is a circle with two running heart characters at either side - red hearts with one big eye and white arms and legs above a stylised image of the Tyne Bridge.North News

  15. Andy Burnham raising money for homelessness charity

    The prime minister is raising money for North East charity Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

    Andy Burnham donated 15% of his first month’s salary in the role to Changing Lives, after promising to give a share of his wages to charity each month.

    Stephen Bell, Changing Lives chief executive, said: “When he visited our service in Newcastle, he heard directly from people about their experiences of homelessness and the support that has helped them move forward."

    Andy Burnham running - he is wearing a pink and purple top and has a look of concentration of his face.PA Media

    Burnham said: “I’ve been doing a bit of training, as people might have seen, even in the newspapers.

    “But the dodgy running shorts have definitely been left at home in Manchester.

    “I couldn’t offend all of the great people of the North East.

    “So they’re at home and I bought some new ones.”

  16. First time runner aims to beat grandad's time

    One runner is taking partfor the first time after being inspired by his grandad who ran the event 27 times in a row.

    Dan Turnbull, from South Shields, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Mel Turnbull, 82, who competed in the first event in 1981.

    The 25-year-old said: "It was my turn, my grandad and my dad have run it before, I surf and I did run in school but not distance, I started to train and I really didn't want to like running but I love it."

    Dan Turnbull is standing on South Shields beach. He has ginger hair which has been tied up, he is wearing spectacles with a black rim, with several ear ring. He is also wearing a navy and orange vest in support of the MS Society

    His participation has also started a friendly, family rivalry and said if he beat his grandad's best time of 90 minutes he would be "over the moon".

    Mel said: "It's a great event, I'm proud I did 27 in a row, I've kept all my medals even the first one and I did it up till 2014 and that was my last one then - I was pushing 70.

    "I hope Dan can beat my time, he's got longer legs than me but if he does, I'll get my trainers on and see if I can beat him next year."

    Mel Turnbull dressed in a blue checked shirt and navy blue gilet, holds up the medal he won during the first Great North Run in 1981. He is standing in front of a roundabout and there are black railings behind him

  17. 'You're running better than my car'

    Eve Connor
    North East & Cumbria

    At the Tyne Bridge, Devon Woodward, 20, from Billingham, is eagerly waiting for her boyfriend to race past.

    Glenn, also 20, is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and over the past few months he has raised £500 for the charity.

    Devon said: “The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing. It’s so nice to see the community come together as one for so many good causes.”

    Devon Woodward holding a sign with red letters which sat You're running better than my car! with a picture of a blue car

  18. Zouhair Talbi wins men's Great North Run
    Breaking

    United States runner Zouhair Talbi wins the men's race.

    Men's winner Zouhair Talbi crosses the finish lineSam Thomson/BBC

  19. Best friend of PC killed in A66 crash takes his running place

    Pamela Tickell
    BBC News, North East and Cumbria

    Some people have been training for this moment all year, but Daragh Burke only decided to take on the challenge two weeks ago.

    His best friend PC Matthew Blades was one of two Cleveland Police officers who died when their patrol vehicle was hit by a car going the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough last month.

    Daragh is donning his racing number and will carry on Matthew's attempt to raise funds for Parkinson's UK on his behalf.

    The 37-year-old said his friend would be "laughing his head off that I'm doing it" as his starting place was just behind the elite runners.

    "I just wanted to make sure that his vest makes it over the finish line," Daragh said.

    Great North Run said his running number had been officially reallocated and reminded other runners not to place swap as each run number was linked to "important personal information that race organisers may need to access quickly".

    Daragh Burke and Matthew Blades are wearing black bowties and white shirts and are smiling brightly at the camera. Burke, on the left, has short dark hair and a beard. Blades has short brown hair and arm tattoos.Supplied

    Daragh Burke and Matthew Blades were best friends of 30 years

    A young Matthew Blades and Daragh Burke are standing in a youth orchestra while holding string instruments. Blades, on the left, is looking over his shoulder with a baffled expression on his face.Supplied

    PC Blades was "always up for a laugh", his friend said

  20. Brigid Kosgei wins women's race
    Breaking

    Kenya's Brigid Kosgei wins the Great North Run women's race in a time of just over 66 minutes.

    Brigid Kosgei wins women's Great North Run