Great North Run 2027: History, Stats and How to Enter the World's Biggest Half Marathon
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Published 20 September 2026
The Great North Run has always been on my radar. I used to work in Newcastle, so I've got a real connection to the North East, and I also have a business relationship with AJ Bell, the event's primary sponsor. It's grown into the largest half marathon in the world, holding the Guinness World Record for size, with only London coming close in the marathon world.
I think it's brilliant that the two biggest running events in the country, one a half marathon, one a marathon, are both on UK soil. That says a lot about the strength of running culture we have here. Community at its best.
As I'm running London next year, I thought it was worth turning my casual interest in the Great North Run 2027 into a proper article. Some interesting stats, the history behind it, and the all-important how to enter and how to train sections, which complements my How to Train for Your First Half Marathon article nicely.
In This Article
What Is the Great North Run?
The Great North Run is a 13.1 mile half marathon run from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields, along the coast of Tyne and Wear. It's officially the largest half marathon in the world, holding the Guinness World Record, and it's comfortably the biggest mass-participation running event in the UK. Only the London Marathon comes close on size.
But the numbers only tell half the story. The GNR is as much a community event as it is a race. Crossing the Tyne Bridge with tens of thousands of runners, cheered on by hundreds of thousands of spectators, live bands along the route, and a genuine carnival atmosphere from start to finish, it's one of the great days out in UK running, whether you're chasing a time or walking it in a costume for charity.
When Is the Great North Run 2027?
The Great North Run takes place annually in September. The 2026 race, its 45th edition, was run on Sunday 13 September 2026 and was the biggest in the event's history, with a record 63,000 runners taking part.
The 2027 Great North Run is confirmed for Sunday 12 September 2027.
The race hasn't run every single year since 1981. The 2020 edition was cancelled entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with everyone who'd entered given the choice to roll their place into 2021 or take a refund.
A Brief History of the Great North Run
The Great North Run was founded by Brendan Foster, an Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator, who wanted to bring a mass-participation running event to his home patch in the North East. Inspired by New Zealand's Round the Bays Race, which he'd run himself in 1979, Foster organised the first Great North Run on 28 June 1981. Over 12,000 runners turned up, and it was won by fellow former Olympian Mike McLeod.
For its first nine years the race was run in June before moving to early autumn from 1990, giving runners cooler, kinder conditions for a half marathon.
A few history highlights worth knowing:
1992: the Great North Run hosted the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.
2014: the race celebrated its millionth finisher, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest half marathon with 41,615 finishers, and saw Mo Farah become the first Briton to win the men's race since 1985.
2016: the race attracted entrants from 178 different countries, the most nations ever represented in a single running event.
2023: AJ Bell became the event's title sponsor in a five-year partnership.
Since that first race in 1981, more than 1.4 million people have crossed the Great North Run finish line, with organisers expecting the total to pass 1.5 million during the 2027 race.
Notable Great North Run Moments and Records
A few things that make the GNR's history stand out:
Mo Farah's six-in-a-row. Mo Farah holds the record for the most wins, taking the men's title six years running, from 2014 to 2020. The 2023 Great North Run was his last ever professional race before retiring.
The 2013 classic. Farah, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie were still together with a mile to go in one of the greatest half marathon races ever run, with Bekele just holding off Farah for the win.
Course records. The current course records are held by Kenyan runners Martin Mathathi (58:56) for the men and Mary Keitany (1:05:39) for the women.
A World Athletics Heritage Plaque. The race has attracted many of the finest distance runners in history, including Liz McColgan, Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe, Carlos Lopes, Haile Gebrselassie and Mo Farah, and was recognised for its contribution to mass-participation road running.
2026, the 45th edition. This year's race, the one I'm writing this off the back of, made headlines for reasons beyond the running. Prime Minister Andy Burnham became the first serving PM to compete in the race while in office, finishing in 1:57:35 for the homelessness charity Changing Lives, his fourth GNR. A record 63,000 runners took part, over 200,000 spectators lined the route, and organisers estimate more than £450 million has now been raised for charity since 1981, expected to pass half a billion within two years.
How to Enter the Great North Run 2027
There are a few routes onto the start line:
The general ballot. This is how most people get in. The ballot for the 2027 race opened on 7 September 2026 and closes at 23:59 on Sunday 20 September 2026, with the draw on Monday 21 September. You submit your payment details when you apply, but nothing is taken unless you're successful, so make sure there's money in the account for draw day. The 2027 entry fee is £70. There's traditionally a second ballot round in January for any remaining places, so if you miss the September window, keep an eye out for that.
Charity places. You can secure a guaranteed spot by running for a registered charity in exchange for hitting a fundraising target. Contact your chosen charity directly to find out what they need.
Elite or championship start. For genuinely quick runners who meet qualifying times, roughly sub-69 minutes for men and sub-82 minutes for women in a prior half marathon.
Club and affiliated entries. Some running clubs and organisations get allocated a batch of guaranteed places each year, worth asking about if you're part of a club.
Enter here: greatrun.org/events/great-north-run
Your Great North Run Training Plan
Whether the Great North Run is your first ever half marathon or you're a seasoned runner chasing a PB on that famous course, the same principle applies: you need a plan that actually fits where you are right now, not a generic one pulled off the internet.
This is where I lean on Runna. What I love about it, and what I say every time I talk about it, is how it meets you where you are and builds you up. Whether you've never run 13.1 miles before or you're stepping down from marathon distance and want to sharpen your half marathon speed, Runna's training plans build a personalised programme around your current fitness, your goal race, and your life, then adjust as they watch how your training actually goes.
If you're new to the half marathon distance, my How to Train for Your First Half Marathon article is a good place to start alongside this one. Runna's beginner half marathon programme takes that same approach: gradual, structured, sustainable, with a cheery coach in your ear reminding you to slow down when you need to (trust me, mine does it to me constantly).
If you've done a half before and fancy going quicker on the Great North Run's fast, point-to-point course, Runna's intermediate and advanced half marathon plans build in the speed work, tempo sessions and long runs that get you there without wrecking you along the way.
Start your free Runna trial here and get your Great North Run training plan built around you.
Runna Exclusive, double length free trial. Use code ANDY2 or the link above.
Great North Run 2027 FAQ
When is the Great North Run 2027?
The Great North Run 2027 takes place on Sunday 12 September 2027, running the traditional 13.1 mile route from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields.
How do I enter the Great North Run?
The main route in is the general ballot, which for 2027 opened on 7 September 2026 and closes at 23:59 on Sunday 20 September 2026, with the draw the following day. You can also enter through a charity place, an elite qualifying time, or a club allocation. Enter at greatrun.org/events/great-north-run.
How much does it cost to enter the Great North Run?
The 2027 entry fee is £70. You submit payment details when you enter the ballot, but you're only charged if you're successful in the draw.
Is the Great North Run the biggest half marathon in the world?
Yes. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest half marathon, and 2026's 45th edition set a new record with 63,000 runners, the biggest field in the event's history.
Who has won the Great North Run the most times?
Mo Farah, with six consecutive wins from 2014 to 2020. The 2023 race was his final professional race before retirement.
How long is the Great North Run?
It's a standard half marathon distance of 13.1 miles (21.1km), run point to point from Newcastle to South Shields.
What happens if I don't get a place in the ballot?
You can look at charity places, which guarantee entry in exchange for a fundraising commitment, or keep an eye out for the second ballot round, which usually opens in January for any remaining places.
About the Author
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner, testicular cancer survivor and proud Runna ambassador. After cancer knocked him off his feet in 2021, Andy laced his shoes back up and rebuilt his running with Runna's structured, personalised training plans, going on to complete multiple ultra marathons. He now designs bold running challenges to raise awareness of testicular cancer and has raised over £28,000 for cancer and mental health charities. He is the founder of Check Ya Balls gear, menswear that saves lives.
As a Runna ambassador, Andy can offer new users an exclusive two-week free trial. Claim your free trial here or download the app and use promo code ANDY2.
Jump in the comments, let me know: have you run the GNR? Are you planning on running it, or will I see you at London in April?
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