Run’s impact just as Great 39 years on from its debut
TODAY should have been a special day – a record 60,000 competitors taking part in what would have been the 40th Great North Run.
But, like so much else that we’ve all taken for granted, the event has been cancelled due to Covid-19.
In place of the real thing, there will be a Virtual Great North Run.
Athletics Weekly reports how “more than 16,000 runners from 57 countries and every UK postcode area will take part, running 13.1 miles to mark the occasion”.
The Great Northnorth Run’srun’s founder,founder, Brendan Foster,er, intendsintends toto runrun the 13.1 miless fromfrom Bam-bamburgh Castle too Dunstan-dunstanburgh Castle inn North-northumberland. ““II willwill stop for lunch onon thethe way,” he says, ““butbut nobody will bebe watching so I’ll bebe allall right!”
It was four decadescades ago that Hebburn-bburnborn Foster, a formerformer schoolteacher andnd Olym-olympic 10,000m bronzeonze medal-medallist, was inspiredd toto putput togethertogether Tyneside’s very ownown half-half-marathonmarathon after competing inn thethe Roundround thethe Baysbays race in New Zealand in 1979.
The first Great North Run took place on Sunday, June 28, 1981.
It was an instant hit.
Our sister paper, The Chronicle, reported: “Crowds estimated at between 250,000 and 500,000 turned out to watch the 12,264 runners on the race route from Newcastle to South Shields seafront, making it Britain’s biggest road run.
“It is also expected to set a series of other records, including the most money raised for charity by sponsorship.
“Up to £1m could be going to charities with the Charlie Bear Scanner Fund – backed by The Chronicle – one of the biggest beneficiaries.
“An amazing 10,665 runners crossed the finishing line to collect their race medals.
“The winner was Elswick Mike Mcleod in 63 minutes.”
The Chronicle’s editorial comment in the following day’s paper, praising
Harrier the positive impact of the Great North Run, also reminds us how the early 1980s were a difficult time for our region as economic recession and unemployment took its toll.
“Millions of people all over Britain, whose only knowledge of the North East may be that it is a depressed area, saw on television how rich it can be in the spirit of get up and go.
“In terms of jobs and prospects the North is down, but in terms of guts and generosity, the Great North Run is the living proof that we are not down, let alone out.”
One of the runners that day would soon forge a very special bond with folk on Tyneside. yneside.
Southamptonsouthampton andand Enengland football superstarsuperstar Kevinkevin Keegankeegan was running toto raiseraise fundsfunds forfo the Charlie Bearbear appealappeal.
Hehe saidsaid: “The people upup here have been wonderful wonde to me, butbut th the person I really did it for was Charlie Charli Bear.
““I’mi’m just glad to bebe ableab to help suchsuch aa good cause. Running Runnin in this race means II am helping peoplepeople withwith cancer and thatthat cancan onlyonly bbe good.” Keegankeegan finished finish 490th, meaningmeaning thethe runrun costcost himhim about £250. Thethe plplayer hhadd promised to pay 50p towards the body scanner for every man, and £1 for every woman who beat him.
The star competed in a speciallymade half-and-half Sunderland and Newcastle United running shirt.
Just over a year later, in August 1982, Keegan would pull on a proper black and white shirt when he sensationally signed for the Magpies.
In 1981 the first Great North Run was advertised as a local fun run and was envisaged as a probable one-off, but 33-year-old Foster said afterwards: “It’s been a great day for the region, and a privilege to be there. We have got no choice. We’ll have to have another one next year.”
Since then, the event has become an annual North East institution and one of the major dates on the region’s sporting and social calendar, with a national and international audience looking on admiringly in the process.
We look forward to the prompt return of the Great North Run.
■ Great North Run founder and Olympic bronze medallist Brendan Foster fires the starting pistol in 20