The Great North Run from Gosforth

The Great North Run starts on the edge of the Town Moor, essentially Gosforth's back garden. Whether you're running, spectating, or just trying to get to Sainsbury's on race day, here's what you need to know.

The Basics

The Great North Run is a half marathon (13.1 miles) from Newcastle to South Shields, held annually in September (usually the second or third Sunday). It's the world's largest half marathon, with around 60,000 runners. Founded by Brendan Foster in 1981, the first race had 12,000 entrants.

It is held annually on a Sunday in September, usually the second Sunday, with the Junior and Mini Great North Runs on the Saturday of race weekend.

The Start

Runners assemble on the Central Motorway near the Town Moor, with the start line on the A167(M) flyover. The assembly area extends north toward the Town Moor and Claremont Road, directly adjacent to Gosforth. If you live in South Gosforth or near the Town Moor, you can literally walk to the start.

The race heads south through Newcastle city centre, across the Tyne Bridge, and down to the coast at South Shields.

Spectating from Gosforth

The best spectating spots near Gosforth are:

The start area, the atmosphere as 60,000 runners set off is extraordinary. Head to the Central Motorway/Claremont Road area early (runners start in waves from around 10:30am).

Jesmond Road / Osborne Road, the route passes through Jesmond, a short walk from South Gosforth. This is one of the noisiest, most energetic sections.

The Tyne Bridge, the iconic moment of the race. Get there early for a good vantage point.

Road Closures

Race day brings significant road closures affecting Gosforth:

• The Central Motorway and surrounding roads close from early morning.
• The Great North Road near the Town Moor is affected.
• Blue House roundabout area may have restrictions.

Plan ahead: check the Great North Run road closure map published in the week before the race. The Metro runs but is extremely busy, allow extra time.

Training from Gosforth

Gosforth is an excellent base for half-marathon training:

Town Moor, flat, traffic-free, and you can run for miles. The weekly parkrun (5K every Saturday at 9am) is perfect for building a base.

Jesmond Dene, hills, trails, and shade. Good for building strength and variety.

Great North Road, a direct, measured route south into the city for longer training runs along the actual race corridor.

Local Running Clubs

Gosforth Harriers (founded 1927) at Broadway West, approximately 140 members, ages 8 upward. Structured training sessions.

Gosforth Road Club, primarily cycling but has running members and a triathlon affiliation.

Town Moor parkrun, not a club, but the Saturday 9am run is the perfect community training ground. Volunteers always needed too.

How to Enter

Entry is by ballot, applications typically open in January/February for the September race. The ballot is heavily oversubscribed. Alternatives:

Charity places, many charities offer guaranteed entries in return for a fundraising commitment (typically £300-500 minimum).

Club places, affiliated running clubs receive a small allocation.

Entry fee is approximately £50-60 (varies by year).

The Junior and Mini Runs

The Junior Great North Run (for under-16s) and Mini Great North Run (for younger children) take place on the Saturday before the main event, on the Newcastle Quayside. A great way for Gosforth families to get involved without the full half marathon commitment.

Race day

This section is updated each year; everything above stays the same.

The race is always a Sunday in September, usually the second. For this year's exact date, start times and the road closures around Gosforth and the Town Moor, check the official Great North Run website in the weeks before the race. The closure map is normally published then.

Gosforth is the start; South Shields is the finish. For the other end of the course, the seafront finishing straight, the Red Arrows and race-day travel. See our sister site's guide to the Great North Run finish in South Shields. And for more on running locally, see Running in Gosforth.