Sold Out AJ Bell Great North 10k Saw 6,000 Runners Run Through the Heart of Newcastle City Centre
The AJ Bell Great North 10k took place this morning (Sunday, 7 July) and it was the biggest staging of the North East’s most popular 10k yet. 6,000 runners set off from the Central Motorway start line before running through the legendary sights of the City Centre – crossing the Tyne Bridge, taking in the views around Market Street and Grey’s Monument, Northumbria University, and the Civic Centre before finishing on the Town Moor behind Exhibition Park.
Participants were cheered on by thousands of spectators, and on course entertainment, followed by a finisher village with a festival vibe, making for a great day - and the weather cooperated, too.
Paul Foster, Chief Executive of The Great Run Company, said: “The atmosphere was fantastic and really helps build the excitement in the lead up to the Great North Run, which is now just two months away - taking place on Sunday, 8 September.
“It’s great to see our biggest staging of the Great North 10k yet, with many using today’s run as a training opportunity ahead of the Great North Run, while others who missed out on a Great North Run place got to share the same Central Motorway start line and ran across the Tyne Bridge twice.
“We were joined by thousands or runners taking on a personal challenge, running for fun, and fundraising for important causes, such as Newcastle United Foundation, who we were proud to partner with again this year.”
Steve Beharall, CEO of the Newcastle United Foundation, said “It was fantastic to see the black and white wave full of runners choosing to raise funds for the foundation, as well as runners who wanted to wear their Geordie pride with many NUFC tops on display.
“We were really pleased to have four players from the Newcastle United Women’s Team start the race today, Katie Barker, Kacie Elson, Daisy Burt and Becky Ferguson - the teammates joined us as they continue to celebrate their promotion to the Barclays Women’s Championship.”
Today’s event also featured some of the region’s top club runners, as well as Elite women’s athlete, Gemma Steel, who took the first place spot for the women with a time of 34:23. The top spots in today’s run went to the below runners:
10K Top 3 M
1. 248 - John Bell (Inverclyde Athletic Club) 00:30:52
2. 246 - Kieran Walker (North East Project) 00:31:26
3. 61 - Daniel Alexander (Gateshead Harriers & AC) 00:32:50
10K Top 3 F
1. 74 - Gemma Steel (Charnwood A C) 00:34:23
2. 19 - Kate Maltby (Border Harriers & AC) 00:35:39
3. 72 - Phillipa Williams (Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield) 00:36:02
Entries Now Open for 2025
The AJ Bell Great North 10k is back on Sunday, 6 July 2025. Save with our discounted Super Earlybird offer, for a limited time only: https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-10k/
