Race Date: 10th September 2017

Why wouldn’t you want to try the largest Half Marathon in the world? Only you v 58000 runners (including a certain Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama “Mo” Farah, CBE) in a run from Newcastle to the South Shields Sea Front. In the 37th running of the event, it was started by race creator Brendan Foster for the first time, after a minutes applause for local News Presenter Mike Neville, who had died that week and was the starter (and huge supporter) of the first ever Great North Run (where 12,000 people took part in a ‘fun run’ that Brendan Foster admitted he’d never actually got formal permission for).

Thankfully the rain held off and presented fantastic conditions for a good fast race, televised again on BBC1, where there was almost a surprise when the aforementioned Mo only took the lead with just over 200 metres to go.

The race was won for the 4th year running by Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles AC) in 1.00.06, closely followed by New Zealand’s Jake Robertson in 1.00.12 and Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lelisa 3rd in 1.01.32.

The ladies race was won by Mary Keitany of Kenya for the 3rd time in 4 years in a time of 1.05.59, 2nd place went to 2016 winner Vivian Cheruiyot also of Kenya in 1.07.44 and 3rd was Caroline Chepoech Kipkuri (Kenya) in 1.09.52.

Robertson soon got over his disappointment of his narrow defeat by successfully proposing on the finish line to Magdalyne Masai after she finished 4th in the ladies race.

14 Striders got up really early to run in the race with some excellent performances (especially Jason’s top 500 finish!)