There are several different ways of entering the Great North Run, including entering the general ballot, running on behalf of a charity or participating as an elite athlete.
Great North Run 2024 took place on the 8th September 2024 and took runners along the traditional point-to-point route from Newcastle to South Shields.
Places for the Great North Run are allocated each year via a ballot system. The general ballot for the Great North Run usually opens every year in early January, with the deadline closing a few weeks later in February.
You must register, fill out an application online and submit before the allocated deadline in February to participate. You will then be notified whether your application was successful in mid-February. We recommend you follow social media channels including X, Facebook and Instagram for up to date information so you do not miss out!
The Junior and Mini Great North Run events are increasingly popular each year - stay ahead of the pack and sign up to receive alerts so that your mini athletes are part of this brilliant sporting event.
For many participants, raising money for a chosen charity is often one of the most important and most rewarding reasons for taking part in the Great North Run. There are many charities involved in the event so it is really easy to find a cause to support which is close to your heart.
Unlike entering the general ballot which is randomised, opting to run on behalf of a charity will guarantee a place in the event. A wide range of charities of all sizes have a number of places available and can allocate them to aspiring participants in return for a commitment to raise an agreed sponsorship amount.
As well as guaranteeing a place in the Great North Run, running on behalf of a charity offers an additional motivation to the race dynamic and has spurred on thousands of people from all around the world to reach some phenomenal achievements. Last year, it was announced that Great North Run participants raised over £25,000,000 for hundreds of good causes.
There are still places available to support many great charities – don’t waste any more time; sign up now and make a difference!
It is always best to contact your chosen charity directly for more information on supporting them in the Great North Run.
There is a statutory entry fee of approximately £59 per entry which must be paid by both affiliated and unaffiliated participants.
If you opt to enter via the general ballot, your entry fee will be charged once you have been notified that your application has been successful.
If your chosen method of entry is via a charity place, then your entry fee will be paid to your supporting charity. During the process of gaining a charity place for the Great North Run, you and the charity will agree a minimum pledge which you will aim to meet in return for your slot in the race.
For those who are running the Great North Run competitively, there are elite start placements available for people who meet a certain race criteria, however, the elite fields are restricted so it is advised to apply early to increase your chances of gaining one.
If you would like to apply for an elite start, the Great Run website informs aspiring runners to get in touch with Andy Nixon with personal details and information on qualifying performances.
Any athlete wanting to apply for an elite placement in the Great North Run will have to meet the race criteria below:-
Distance | Men (minutes) | Women (minutes) | Wheelchair (minutes) |
10km | 31.00 | 37.00 | 45.00 |
10 mile | 51.00 | 62.00 | n/a |
Half Marathon | 69.00 | 82.00 | 1.25.00 |
Marathon | 2.24.00 | 2.47.00 | 3.00.00 |
There are other standards which are considered for elite entry including the below:
The Elite Management Team at Great Run specify that the above is only a guide and meeting the provided criteria does not guarantee an elite placement. They also reserve the right to refuse placement, regardless of whether the criteria has been met or not.
Elite placements for the Great North Run are available up until 2 weeks before the event date (August 25) and no entries will be accepted after this date.
All entrants to the 2025 Great North Run ballot will receive an email in February 2025 to let you know if you had been successful or not.
If you have applied for the Great North Run and have not yet had a confirmation email to state whether or not your entry has been successful, the Great Run website have provided a form to allow you to check the status of your application.
Please email info@greatrun.org to request to be withdrawn from the ballot. Please include your name, date of birth and post code so the customer services team can locate your entry.
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