Great North Run: Part 2 Athletics

Not only is it more than I ever believed, we did not believe that

the British public would take to distance running like they have done

full when I look to it now, and I see it early beginnings, we

genuinely did not know what we were doing. It is just incredible. I have

said it before, but it is ordinary people doing extraordinary things,

it's the people, it is the numbers, the fact that it is the elite

athletes and the rest who make it what it is. There was a moment in

that event last year, when they were coming past Gateshead Stadium, you

had heavy debris Selassie, the greatest distance runner of all

time, and then there was Mo Farah. Three of them running together past

the Gateshead Stadium and you will not get much better than that. But

the idea to have a million, to beat New York and London and Berlin and

Chicago, it is fantastic. It is kind of the icing on the cake. STUDIO:

Yes quite a day for Brendan, we welcome back on BBC Two. There is

the countdown, is it going to go to six, it is working, between here and

South Shields and the start in Newcastle, the millionth finisher is

on the way. You tried keeping up with that clock as it starts getting

on the way. You tried keeping up vanishing the crossing line. It will

reach its peak. That will be in quite a while yet, plenty of people

to head towards the finish line, lots of people riding for so many

good causes, Brendan and the rest of us a whole team of people coming

here, ?270,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund. So many people out there with

so many stories of their own. Just keep watching that clock. Keep

watching it tick. Towards the magic number. My daughter is out there,

not looking for a personal best, plenty of people trying to break

their best? My sister and is out there, running again, they have

never given her a mention, varies your mention Hannah, good luck

today, James Hunter, Helen Wallace. Others raising money for children,

with illnesses, holiday of a lifetime. Paper and all of the

family running together, my sister is running for cancer care. Just

giving a mention as well to Caroline Ridley who is out there, running for

the motor neurone Association, we saw a little peace with them in the

beginning, sadly Caroline 's dad passed away a couple of years ago,

and it is an emotional day for lots of people, lots of thoughts to those

who have passed on. So many stories, of those we have been bringing to

you. Trying to do that over the next couple of hours or so, it is one of

the features, we love Mo Farah and Mary Khatami but we'll say like to

see pictures like this. -- but we love to see pictures like this. The

technology is so good these days. Is it a little bit by fortune but also

by design, that we have a dual carriageway, that is why we can have

such an enormous field, we can have 40,000 running down it, broad

thoroughfares all of the way. We honestly did not believe that the

dual carriageway would have a lot to do with it. Clearly, we did not

think anything like this would ever happen. It is amazing when you are

further down the field, it is a common all running event, if you

want to run a quick time, then you will get too

-- then you will get close to the front but otherwise you will be

skipping around. I did notice, the time that you need to be an elite

runner. The finish line has got onto the grass now, and it

really is a huge crowd that comes through down the four channels. That

was moved across about one hour and 20 minutes from the elite finish, if

you think that you will be finishing on the road, you have got to get to

one hour and 20 minutes. It is up to you to tell us where you will be

finishing? I will be finishing on the sand, they move it further out

to the North Sea after three hours. Plenty of people out there, a lot of

people running for cocoa, so many people running with inspirational

stories, if it inspires you then make sure you visit the BBC website,

get inspired on twitter. We tried to make sure that we make good links

between the elite part of sport and the participate read part of sport,

that is what these events are about. There are not really too many events

where you can line up with the Olympic champions, if we look back

towards the roundabout, these people are yet to pass the halfway point,

about 40,000 have gone through five kilometres. Down there somewhere,

there is Sam Rawcliffe, running in memory of his doubts, who passed

away a few years ago. All of those people, are they meant to be on the

other side? They are meant to be where they are, seriously, but

cystic fibrosis, Lindsay Porter, she is running for the first time today.

Helen Bull, running for the take heart charity, somebody else for the

Mac Millan charity, one or two Mac others to mention. There so many

national charities, disability North, I know that Sue Paxson and

others are out there, good luck to them raising money for disability

North, and Helen Stafford running her very first great North run in

memory of her dad, she is running for age UK who helped them so much

when they were going through difficult times. All of the way back

over, the landmarks, looking exactly at where they are, and you can see

Gateshead Stadium, it goes from the finish line back to Gateshead

Stadium, which means that is a ten mile queue to get over the finish

line. At South Shields. We have planned to do that helicopter

tracking shot for a couple of years but the weather has never been quite

good enough, and Paula Radcliffe is alongside me, a former record-holder

of the Great North Run, what is it like to run? It is a brilliant race,

the atmosphere is really good, when you get there at the start and you

really feel the energy you get there at the start and you

making their way along the route, to you get there at the start and you

South Shields, all of the way along, that is what people come out of

their houses, sit on their chairs and few drinks and offer you in

courage and, and then when you get onto the front, in South Shields you

can see how big the crowds are, it is also being able to say that you

are taking part in the Great North Run and what it means with the

history. And the history leading up to today, and the millionth finish,

it is really quite something? It is a huge occasion to mark the fact

that 1 million people will have taken part in the Great North Run,

shared that experience and joined that family of runners. On Thursday

evening we were both at the opening ceremony on the banks of the Tyne,

it really was a fitting start to what was a historic weekend? It was

a really good night, they put on a very, very good show, and they

should, because Newcastle and the north-east should be very proud of

what they have achieved. Yes it is all about, the amount of work that

they have been into but it is about the north-east and how much work

they have been in. It was a great shows. The opening ceremony, a bit

later on in the programme, it just shows you how important it is, to

have the elite races to get people involved in sport? It is important

to have the elite races and the mass races, people need to have a target

to work towards, so many people take part in their first five K and ten

K, people want to move on, but pretty soon they want to try a half

marathon. When you grow up watching events like the Great North Run, it

really inspires you, and accomplish your goals. So many people today

will be turning into this finishing straight, we can see the millionth

finish, but they will not be aiming for that, they will be aiming for

their times to check the clock and see what their pace is. It is a good

point, that this millionth counter, you cannot see it from the other

side otherwise you would have a queue, you would have a sprint

finish to see if you could be the millionth finish. We saw two Mac

very good men and women's you must have been very impressed?

Yes, ready to attack that mark. She knows from skip the gap very well.

And I think that she wanted to show that she could get close to that, I

think this is a tough course, probably tougher than the Barcelona

core so she had a very strong run, she attacked hard from the beginning

and was able to maintain that and she ran really well, I think that we

will see fast runs from her. And Mo Farah ran? Yes part of me was

thinking that maybe working together with Mike Keegan to try and crack

that 60 minute mark, he was very tired in the closing stages and was

not able to do that. And then somebody was almost scared to go

past. Maybe, when you get that close, it was 60.01, you just want

to go into that 59 minute territory but it will come. Catching up with

the elite races, but first of all the wheelchair races with Andrew

Cotter. The men's and women's wheelchair racers went off together,

the mens rea was expected to be between Simon Lawson and the two Mac

Spaniards. There was Geordie Madeira, and it developed into a

battle between Simon Lawson, and Geordie Madera, Simon Lawson

finished runner-up, before, and it was Madiera who made his move, and

it was a fine effort. And in the women's race. It was Shelly Woods.

Was a long way to rock the rest, we thought it might be a battle between

Shelly Woods and Jane Jones, but Jane Jones was a long way behind and

Shelly Woods was winner for a sixth time. There is confirmation of the

results. First of all thanks for the entertainment in the men's

wheelchair race, it was really close, Jordi Madeira first of all

tell me how much you enjoyed it? For me, it is more happy, a perfect day

for racing. It is a beautiful day, I am happy. Excellent, well done on

your win, Simon what is it like to be in a duel where you are pushing

for a prestigious title. It was really good, I haven't been

able to live with the top guys until today. We shared the work along the

way, each of us doing a bit at the front. Really pleased with it.

Does that give you believe going forward? Yes, the bridge is where

they normally drop me. It gave me a bit of confidence in the race. Well

done on the victory, Jordi. Congratulations. Shelley,

congratulations, another Great North Run victory, 6 and counting. How was

this one? I really enjoyed it. It was tough out there, I wanted to get

out front, push myself and see what I could do. I was aiming for sub 50,

I think I just missed it. I was looking on the way and I was close,

I dug as deep as I could, but, no, it's great to win this race again. I

love being here, racing in Newcastle, it's great. What is it

like when you have won it so many times, you have all that experience

to call on, and you are trying to push yourself to new heights. Are

you drawing on the memories of the past? Yes, doing this course a few

times helps. It's a course I really enjoy, it's a tough course. If you

are really fit and you go out and give it all you can, you can do well

on this course. I really enjoy it. You draw from past experience. It

took me a while to win You draw from past experience. It

Great North Run, I was always chasing Tanni Grey-Thompson and

Great North Run, I was always Francesco, I was motivated to go

fast. I tried to raise the boys today. Well, catch some of the boys.

Once you have got rid of the girls, go as fast as you can. If I go out

and do my race and go for it, I seem to get the best results. That is

what I wanted to do today. I just want to say thanks to my coach,

Jenny Archer, and David Weir who has been working with me this year. It

has up and down year. This win is for everyone who has believed in me

so far to help me get to where I am today. Wonderful to see you on top

of the podium. Congratulations. Thank you.

. Mary Keitany set herself up very early. Gemma Steel wasn't fazed by

the pace that was being set by Keitany. Indeed she went past the

Olympic champion and had a brilliant second place, but at the front it

was all about Mary Keitany who by one second set a new course record,

breaking Paula Radcliffe's record which has stood since 2003. For

Gemma Steel, a big personal best. The third fastest ever time by a

British woman over the half marathon. Tiki Gelana took third

spot. A new personal best for Mary

Keitany. What a future Gemma Steel might have over this distance, and

perhaps the marathon. The Olympic gold medal marathon runner from 2012

in third, Tiki Gelana. A great run from Charlotte Purdue in eighth.

Susan Partridge, 10th in the Great North Run.

Mary, first of all, congratulations on a new course record, beating

Paula Radcliffe's old record. What is your reaction? I am happy because

of the race today, my first time to come to Great North Run, and I am

happy because at least I have run... Course record of my

colleague, Paula, of which I was not expecting, but at last I break it so

I am happy. Also maybe I tell my colleague, sorry, but at least I am

happy again because I think this is my first half marathon since I come

from a long break. I thank God for that. It was a wonderful

performance. How difficult did you find the course today. In Kenya,

when we are training, we train in a hilly place... Like this one, this

Great North Run. So I think it never stopped me a lot, but I just go on

all the way. So the next thing for you, marathon, record in the

marathon may be as well? For the marathon now, I don't know. Since

then, I was supposed to come for half marathon to test myself but

it's OK, I have seen it's OK, so what is now is to go back to Kenya

for one week and then my manager will tell me if I will have to go

this season for full marathon or maybe next year in spring. Good luck

with all those plans and once again well done on a new record today.

Thank you so much, also I am happy. Gemma, you talked about your

new-found confidence from being in America, taking big chunks off your

personal best. You have done it again today, how was it? I felt

comfortable for the first ten miles and picked it up a bit, I left it

too late to catch Keitany obviously, I didn't want to go off

at that pace, when I found that she broke the course record I was glad

that I didn't. Really pleased, it has been a long time coming. Really

pleased. Well done, you are also in the top three of all time of British

half marathon runners. Yeah, that has equalled my ten K time as well,

third on that, but to do it in the half marathon as well, it cements my

place up there. Road running... I am glad. What about from now on in? You

are doing amazing things on the half marathon, people are trying to push

you to the marathon and you are not so sure. What do you think the

future holds? I felt I was doing the right tactics to run the marathon

today. A tactical race, just stayed in contention for the first ten

miles and didn't do anything silly. The tactics for the marathon are

instinctively in there, I think, with the survival instincts and

everything, not going too fast, pacing myself. I definitely have it

in me to do the marathon, I just have to wait until I'm ready to do

it and the time is right, really. Today has built my confidence a lot.

I just need to build on this and make more steps, a few more half

marathons consistently running this time... Just basically experimenting

with how fast I can go in the half marathon. Like I say, I ran

conservatively for the first ten K also today. Just need to have more

confidence on that. I can't complain today. You have done wonderfully

well, enjoy the experience of being in the top three in Britain all

time, and good luck going forward. Thank you, cheers.

A great performance from Gemma Steel. That paved the way for Mo

Farah to follow suit and give us a great British day to celebrate at

the Great North Run. Mo looked serene early on, nice and relaxed.

The leading group soon whittled down after a fairly pacey start. Ten

kilometres, pretty quick pace, 28 minutes 19. It was just the two of

them, Kigen and Farah, who would pull clear. It looked at one point

as As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the contrary, "no".

Might break Mo Farah, but he raised a bit of a sprint. -- it looked at

one point as though Kigen would break Mo Farah, but he raised a bit

of a sprint. They crossed the line in exactly one hour, a new British

best, personal best for Mo Farah. He gets the win that eluded him last

year. Both of them given the same time, although there was a yard

between them. Stephen Kiprotich, the Olympic marathon champion and world

champion, in third place. Another good run for Andy Vernon to round

off a great summer. Jonny Hay in ninth place for Great Britain.

Well done to Mo Farah, Great North Run champion. Paula, also a great

race from Gemma Steel. A very good run. 68 minutes 13, and the way she

ran, she wasn't afraid to go with the very fast early pace of America

Tani, and was then able to pace the effort right. -- Mary Keitany. She

kept the pace going through the finish. She came into today saying

she was still scared of the marathon, she needed some

confidence, she needs to raise well over the half marathon and that will

have done her a lot of good today. -- to race well. You can't move to

the marathon until you are ready to attack it, and you want to have that

challenge. I think she is moving closer to that point. We are going

to continue our build-up to the 1 millionth finisher. The scene was

set perfectly with the opening ceremony on Thursday, which included

all sorts of north-east royalty, Sting, Jimmy nail, we grab them for

a few of their thoughts. I was in Northumberland County Championship

100 yards in 1966. I haven't run since. I have run the Great North

Run quite a few times, quite a while ago, ten years ago. I have a couple

of medals in my drawer. You have got the legs for it. Thank you. I have

painful memories, I shook hands with thousands of people, I ended up with

a blister and I couldn't play the guitar for a month! But it was

great. Pain. You see the sea and you think, thank God, it's over, and

then you get to the seaside and there is a dogleg to the left and

there is about another mile. That last mile, a lot of swearing

involved in the last mile. It's such a famous race worldwide. The 1

millionth this weekend, it's a huge achievement. We are happy to be a

part of it, support it, we love Tyneside, proud to be of the

community and do anything when we are asked. I just saw a salmon

rising in the middle of the time. As I child -- a child it used to be

called the Black River, to see a salmon in the River Tyne is really

inspiring. There could be a song in it.

I feel you need a bit of support. I can't figure of anyone I would

rather have support me! You look wonderful in your getup, Minnie

mouse, looking beautiful. Tell us why you are dressed like that. I am

running for Saint Oswald 's Hospital in Gosforth, I have run -- I have

won this for 22 years. Some people know me as Minnie and I have stopped

and said people to say hello along the route. I don't know them but

they are always there. You have done 22. I have done 22 in this, 34

altogether. So you have done them all, while! You might be the 1

millionth runner. That would be fab. Lovely to meet you.

Hats off to that lady, or should I say loan s off? Taking on the half

marathon is no easy challenge. -- ears off?

I have got a coma, it's -- I have got to our coma, and eye condition.

My dad has also got glaucoma, he is totally blind, so have my brother

and sister. We have been unlucky, really. I thought it was just me, it

would have been harder to cope growing up, but knowing other people

are going through it with me makes it easy. They learn a lot from us,

we teach them a lot. They get a lot of support. There's always somebody

worse off than us. That is true. People can talk to you differently

at first because people don't understand that physical disability

is different from mental disability. They assume you can't do anything

when that's not true. I am studying IT at Newcastle College, I got a

distinction on my year one, I year two in December. So I know a or two.

I couldn't be any prouder. -- I know a thing or two. They are doing

really well. Just having a cup of tea, we heard the Great North Run on

the radio, we thought, oh, wouldn't it be good to do it? We talked

ourselves into it. Me, my dad, my sister, we had a conversation,

thinking, we could do that. And then, we could, became, why not? It

has snowballed. Being totally blind, I won't be running on my own, that's

for sure. Without they support of a guide... It is a matter of me and

the guide working together. It is just a matter of working together

and getting your pace right. It is great. I think running with a

guide really helps, not only because of the site aspect but also running

support, because if you have got somebody saying come on. It is a

simple thing but it is ready nice having someone encouraging you. It

is a really good charity, the support that useful vision provide

is definitely a lot more essential when you are growing up, because you

are needing all of that, all of the

stories, about other families. You are sopping stories. We need more

fun than what you are getting, -- swapping stories. Because the work

does deserve it. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it, I'm not nervous

but I'm excited. I'm feeling really nervous about actually doing it, I

am a little bit excited about finishing it, but it is mainly just

nervous at this point. But even if I had to walk or crawl, I will finish

it. Thinking about the people who will benefit it. At the end I think

I will just feel really pleased, that I have managed to do something

for someone else. It is a lovely day out here and I have got two Mac

people who are so enthusiastic and enjoying the atmosphere, Darren and

Angela, how is it going? It is going not too bad, I think that we are

trying to keep a steady pace, but we are not doing too bad. We are doing

really well, we are on target for under four hours and we were looking

for five hours initially. The public has been amazing, people have been

cheering us on, people who don't know me also cheering. But, everyone

is so supportive and it has been amazing. He has been loving it, we

are going to do it next year? Yes we are definitely going to try I think,

more training definitely for next year. Yes. Brilliant job that you

are doing, it will be fantastic, I don't know where you are amongst the

group but you are doing OK. You are doing all right.

We saw Colin speaking queue at the start, a special day, the millionth

finish, how was the atmosphere? It was amazing, it was very special I

think all so for Mo Farah at the front and some people at the back,

cheering everyone on. I got called Steve and Matthew if you times but

apart from that it was OK. How did you do personally, I know that you

are trying to better your personal best? I guess I had an acceptability

of 125, I knew I could do that and then I went for 120, I think I was

between 120 and 121, it is the sharp end of what I wanted and if you are

that close to breaking your barrier then it is a bit annoying. I saw Mo

Farah doing his interview, he that at I said I lost you at about

five miles, where did you come? And he said I won! You have done more

than OK for the charity, it is something dear to your heart, it

keeps you moving on? Absolutely, I passed a party last night, I gave

them some tips so you may see them blowing up halfway across the

course. It is an unseen injury, blowing up halfway across the

takes a lot of support, for the family and the victim of a trauma

injury or an illness. Great to see you always, thank you. No, thank

you. Marines have been carrying the flag all of the way from the start.

We are standing by to get them and they cross the line. The Royal

Marines to give them their full title, proudly carrying this flag,

it is a big year for the Royal Marine celebrating 350 years, as

ever they are looking like they have just been out for a bit of a canter

on the moors, in terms of exercises, this must rank as one of

the easiest things they do but what an honour for them and what a great

job they do. Some of them running in standard issue boots as well, hard

on the feet. But they are used to it. The hardest of men. A great

honour, they have been pointed in the right direction, the band are

standing by. Some of them look a bit fresher than the others, some are

wearing trainers, some are in full military garb. It has been a

tremendous procession from them. We talk about military position, I have

a horrible feeling that the marines who carry the flag, they are on the

wrong side. We just hopefully, it is all coordinated. There they are, I

think that they are in the right place as you would expect. And the

salute for them will be I am sure roundly cheered by the huge crowds

here. In South Shields. There is the flag. That will be presented, in

maybe one hour or so, when the 1,000,000th finish crosses the line,

they will have the honour of receiving this flag. Well it was a

short but sweet fanfare. Well done to them, they do not look as though

they had even broken sweat, as you would expect, fine physical

specimens. Well done to the Royal Marines. Let us just have a look at

what else they have been doing to celebrate their 350th year. 2014 is

that 350th anniversary of the robbery in so I decided to create a

challenge that would be fitting to celebrate that, in true commando

style, that is by physical and mental exertion. Each element of the

challenge, I tried to devise it to equal 1664, tours or miles, that was

when the call was formed. The motto means by sea and by land. The 6064

challenge tries to encapsulate that, it was to ski the length of

Norway, from southern Norway we sailed to the south of Spain, 1666

miles, we then cycles the length of France and Spain to the channel,

1666, and then we did Normandie to Portsmouth. We then ran over the

course of two Mac months, 1664: Matters. The challenge was tough, it

was meant to be tough, being in the robbery and was all about being

tough and the will to succeed -- being in the Royal Marines. They

were skilled and determined to do it and they cracked on, that is what

raw marines do, they cracked on, they did it with courage and

determination, with cheerfulness in some pretty difficult situations.

The Royal Marines trust fund is why we did this, they support breathed

families, service personnel, especially following Iraqi and

Afghanistan. Also the fulcrum is an dating back to World War II, there

are veterans around, you cannot just forget them. That is what the Rome

arena -- warm greens trust fund is about.

Over 4200 Royal Marines, took part in the challenge in one week. Six

guys did the whole challenge. That is absolutely remarkable and

extraordinary, I am very proud of all six of them. I was chosen for

endurance, my own attitude, I enjoy getting up every day and carrying on

with the task. I think it was mental, I

suppose the most physically demanding aspect was the jury

should, it is like running a marathon every day for six months.

Knowing that we were helping breed families and veterans, that was a

strong motivation for each of us and when we did not feel like getting up

and skiing 25 miles, it was on those days that the charity kicked in and

drove us and motivated a. I have been in the ROM greens 35 years, --

Royal Marines, throughout my career I have been immensely proud to be

part of it and it has been very honouring for me to organise the

1664 challenge which has been the pinnacle of my career. It is a huge

privilege for us to lead of the great North run, and complete this

amazing event together. Congratulations on a tremendous

performance, from your perspective, what was it like on the course? It

was brilliant, 13 miles, it was brewing to hear the rules every

time. The flag, it has been one of the biggest occasions, it was a big

occasion for the Royal Marines, also raising a lot of money for a great

cause? That is right, we are raising attention for the fact that the

Royal Marines had a huge number of wounded in Afghanistan and we need

to look after them for life, we need about ?1.5 million to support an

amputee through life, and these guys have supported the core and the

charity, and we are confident that we can raise the money. I just

wonder in this special anniversary, is there a greater warmth than ever

in the crowd for you? Yes, we ran 1664 kilometres all around the UK

and we got a great reception, there was a lot of awareness of what the

Royal Marines do. Thank you very much, for carrying the flag, thank

you. Thanks a lot, Cheers. Ladies it is great that you have stopped, it

must be easy for you? We are missing mile five, have we passed it? . It

is that way. Tell us about George charity? We are running for the

Nolan trust, for people who suffer from leukaemia, and we are in

courage in people to be on the bone marrow transplant

courage in people to be on the bone memory of my dad, who we lost to

leukaemia. I have never seen people so happy at halfway? Well we have

seen actual Colin. We are really enjoying it. And a big shout out to

Tom and to everybody at home. That way, way that way. And I am near the

finish line, you can see that the runners are coming through thick and

fast, the atmosphere is simply incredible, it has been a record

number of people taking part in the North run this year, and if you just

look up there, you can see the counter is ticking over, as we

prepare, for the millionth finish. It is very exciting, but who will it

be? We will have two wait and see. That was the actual Denise Lewis,

I'm giving her a wave, about one hour to go out we think until the

millionth finish, and now hospital stories always feature large in the

great North run, so many people running because they are indebted to

that, somebody wants to say thank you to the Freeman Hospital in

Newcastle, and for what they did to her son. My name is Abigail Haynes

and I'm running for the children's heart unit fund for the freedom

Hospital in Newcastle. I am running because they saved my son Charlie's

like, he has had two Mac open-heart surgeries and he's only two and he's

only two and a half years old. MUSIC we had no idea what was wrong with

him, but when he would eat, his lips were turning blue. And within the

month, he was having open-heart surgery. They really encourage the

kids to recover, they were encouraging him to go up to the

playroom and play. Paddy Walshe from the Freeman Hospital, she is the

liaison and she can't do enough to help. She is an incredible woman. We

pride ourselves in the Children's Heart Unit Fund that we have a team

that worked extremely well together and make it as easy as possible for

the child. It is very tight-knit, the nurses remember you, they have

these awesome activities and it gets kids happy and a bit of normality

back into their life. A lot of people think that if your child is

coming back in for repeated ad missions, maybe it gets easier

because you get used to it, but as any parent will tell you, the older

the child gets, the more stressful it gets in hospital. Charlie isn't

out of the woods yet, but it's really comfortable to know that the

Freeman Hospital is going to be there and Charlie is going to get

the best care and they will give him the best treatment. A huge personal

change that I made in my life after Charlie being ill, I was determined

to lose some weight. It made us realise, who am I to abuse this body

that is healthy? Charlie has done nothing wrong and he has got this

broken body that needs fixing. I lost nearly eight stone. I promised

myself I would run the Great North Run. Every year, we have parents who

put themselves through the trauma of the Great North Run to raise money

for the Children's Heart Unit Fund. We are just so grateful. I certainly

wouldn't have been as determined if I didn't have such an awesome cause

to run for. Seeing Charlie getting healthier and healthier everyday

because of them, it has been what's pushed us.

Abigail, an inspiration to all of us, and best of luck to her little

one. The Great North Run has turned into a great North weekend. We will

look back to yesterday, and this great -- and the great North city

games. A great sense of fun in the 150 metres. Asha Phillip took the

race ahead of Allyson Felix and Jodie Williams. A great run from a

woman who was part of the record-breaking relay team.

Christine Ohuruogu ran the rarely run 500 metres, beating Eilidh Child

and Lynsey Sharp. Another Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford. He said

he had a bit of man flu, but he ended up taking the long jump on the

Newcastle side of the quayside. That was the great North city games.

There was also the mile races, the junior run as well. Tina was there,

she has the story. The Great North Run weekend is a festival of sport

for the whole family. There is something for everyone and this is

also where you might find the Mo Farahs of the future. Thousands of

children aged between three and 16 taking part in the junior races.

What is the best thing about being here today? I like running! Running.

Getting medals and running. How do you think you're going to get on

today? Good, yeah, because we are best friends. After the

3-8-year-olds go in the mini race, the juniors go and there is a

special group in the 9-16 -year-olds.

Oliver is an amazing young man. Nine years old. When he was ball he was

diagnosed with a brain tumour. He had radiotherapy and chemotherapy

and thought that one. In January this year, his Juma came back. --

his tumour came back. When he had his operation in

February, the children wanted to do something that would show Oliver how

much they loved and supported him. A few of the children came up with

different ideas and suggestions, none of them could really agree on

one thing until one of the children said, why don't we run the Great

North Run? That's how the story started.

It grew from just a few of his friends in his class to his whole

class to other classes and it really evolved into this huge army of 135

children. We started a 12 week programme and it's been an

incredible emotional journey, as well as physical. And now we are

accomplishing the four K and we are going to run that on Sunday.

Oliver is an inspiration to all of the children who come along and

support him. He is a complete fighter. No matter how we feel, we

take our inspiration from Oliver. He is a great character, he's so

funny. He makes us laugh at times when maybe we shouldn't laugh. He is

just the best character, a real fun loving young man.

It's been inspirational, emotional, very rewarding. Something that we

will continue to do. Oliver 's Army will run in the Great North Run next

year, and the year after, and the year after. We have started, and

this is just really the beginning. Some of the children are going to

shave their hair for the race, that includes boys and girls, and they

are just a great inspirational bunch of selfless children who just wanted

to show Oliver as much support and as much love as they could.

What do you think the best thing is about the Great North Run? The

runners, all my friends. Having fun? Yes. Getting fit? Mm-hm. What else?

Raising lots of money for charity? Mm-hm. Oliver and myself have been

overwhelmed by all of the support. The support all parents have given,

both to Oliver and ourselves, but the charity as well. We wanted to

really just say a huge thank you to everybody who has donated money, and

especially thanks to the children and the adults who are actually

going to run. I think we are looking forward to a nice big party on

Sunday night as well, aren't we? Had you got any dance moves? Yeah!

Oliver, how does it feel to have so much support here today? Very good.

Some of your friends have shaved their hair, how much does that mean

to you? It means a lot, that they care about us. They don't want me to

be the only one without hair. You are an inspiration to us, all of

you. I think you should give yourselves a big cheer. Olly, Olly,

Olly! He is a popular chap. We can look at pictures of him yesterday,

competing in the mini run. Very, very brave indeed. As Tina was

saying, an inspiration to us all and he deserves a huge round of

applause, running for Click Sergeant. We were just hearing a

wonderful story about Abigail and the Freeman Hospital running for her

son Charlie, and she has made it to halfway, with Colin. You feel nice

and strong, you must be having a good run. I am enjoying it, feeling

better than I thought I would. I thought I was a couple of miles

back, so I am happy. Yellow people people are saying the support has

been fantastic, have you felt it? It has been amazing. How much money do

you think you have raised? A lot, a few hundred pounds, which to me is a

lot. Well done indeed. I have some bad news, though. The finish is a

couple of miles that way. I will see you there. Chow! She was there or

thereabouts, halfway. We have had 12,233 kilometres at the

finish line... They carry on streaming down the seafront at South

Shields. Craig Pugh, John Adams, well done, guys, running for the

British Heart Foundation. Laura McEwan, running for Mind. Others

running for leukaemia and lymphoma research. Derek Jackson dressed as a

gorilla. David Blair, running for Mind. Alexander Scott, running for

that great charity the teenage Cancer trust. Katie, running for

eating disorders. Jeff Harwood, for Gemma's Hospice in Leeds. People

coming to the assistance of runners who have found it tough going, but

everyone getting to the finishing line. Some of the celebrities... Oh

dear, there is a man running in front of me with nothing but a pair

of speedos, which I will raise from my memory with heavy drinking! Black

and white stripes. You really hated them! James Cracknell, as we saw, 1

hour 20 minutes 55. He has gone sub three hours in marathons before.

Kevin Kilbane, a favourite player of Steve's, a former Sunderland player

I'm on many other clubs, one hour 32 minutes 50. -- among many others.

Ewan Thomas has gone backwards this year, one hour 46, it catches up

with us all! Greg James, the DJ, lots of help from the sponsors, he

was looking to go below two hours. One hour 54 minutes 29, well done,

Greg. I am sure you and Thomas will have a word with you afterwards. Ian

Gordon is running for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He has done ten

space-bar ten Ks. -- he has done ten ten Ks, dressed as a Mexican

wrestler. I have no idea what that looks like. I do. Ashley, running

for Kid Scan. Emma and Michael, running for Parkinson 's. Mark for

the bedroom or Cancer fund. Mark Wells, running for cardiac risk in

the young. He won a bronze in the double sculls in Beijing. George,

running for Sue Ryder. Kelly, leukaemia research. So they flood

through, and they will do for a good couple of hours yet. We will be here

for the 1 millionth finisher, we are trying to work out when that will

be. I have to stress, there is no ticker on the side as the runners

come down, so they can't lurk there. They are going up in fives and

sixes, so it would be very difficult to make saw you were exactly the 1

millionth finisher. You would have to come out within view of someone

who could relate it to you to have any chance of trying to judge it.

But most people will be going for their own personal bests to get

under the two hours mark, to get under two hours ten, so to be honest

I don't think they will be overly concerned about whether they are the

1 millionth finisher, it's just taking part in the race that sees

the 1 millionth finisher cross the line. It's great to see you again.

Fourth year you have been running this event. I know it means so much

to you. Absolutely, fourth year running, blue skies, absolutely

wonderful to be running not just by myself but a super team behind me,

who are all here to raise money for our charity, the John Eggen trust.

Fantastic to be here. How has the atmosphere been on this historic

day? It is my first Great North Run, the atmosphere has been great.

It was tough conditions today in the sun. It was a bit warm, yes all of

the way around, it was great support and it got you through it, it was

brilliant. Great to see you looking fresh top who I date the lit but

thank you very much. Remarkable scenes, people streaming behind me

as they make their way towards the parity village, it is a sea of

humanity, tens and tens of thousands. 978,000, that thing will

overheat I think soon. Hopefully not before it gets to 1 million. It all

began before the opening ceremony. Is

the world 's greatest half marathon. I enjoy it, I want to come back each

year. I remember doing it when I was 19 years old and it completely blew

me away. You know the Great North Run, is more than a run. When you

come here and compete, it is something lovely. This Sunday, the

1,000,000th runner will pass the finishing line. We never believed

that we would reach this number, we never aimed that we would reach this

number. It is quite an achievement. We won. We have beaten New York, and

Boston marathons, within next hour we will see the millionth finish, we

will probably also really the opening ceremony from Thursday

night, things do not happen by accident, let us meet the creative

geniuses behind it. MUSIC I was first approached by Brendan Foster,

who asked me to go and meet Bradley Hemmings who was correcting the

whole thing, I went to meet him on the banks of the

Tying. And I sat up and I wondered what this thing was, somebody was

jumping into the river and I thought the river is sending a message you

have got to do this thing. I'm very excited to be working in what is

this extraordinary and incomparable arena, it contains the most

beautiful bridges in the world and unlike a traditional opening

ceremony which takes place in a stadium that could be almost

anywhere, this one is an absolute icon, it is a stadium that is bigger

than an Olympic stadium which includes these iconic buildings and

objects, bridges that we can play with, fantastic. When I was crossing

the river as a kid, of course I never thought of it as an arena but

then when I thought there is going to be this event, you realised, this

must be one of the world 's great arenas between the wonderful Tyne

Bridge and the millennium Bridge, it has got the boats and the wonderful

quayside, and you have got the water itself, what better setting could

you have for a place like this, it is an extraordinary setting. The

1,000,000th finish is an extraordinary global first for the

north-east, so going from the dawn of time, right through to the

1,000,000th, we look at the unique happenings in the north-east, we

talk about Armstrong and the extraordinary traditions of

engineering, shipbuilding, and we also tell the story of Joseph Swan

and the worlds first light bulb which was created in Gateshead. Of

course it is not finished, just like a run, you keep on running, thereof

1 million runners who keep on running, and it is energy

that takes us into the future. It is a fairly big brief to create and

capture the magic of the Great North Run. We have heard something of the

concept, but what about the execution? We will bring you the

ceremony in four parts, told the beginning and the history of the

north-east from the beginning of time, narrated by a couple of

north-east luminaries. Five, four, three, two, one X Commissioner

listen to this Northern light, listen to this voice, I am the voice

upon the air, between the water and the stars, I am the voice between

salmon and the lark, I cross the bridges, pound the streets, link

this gleaming modern city to the ancient shining sea, I sing the

music of the ever turning Earth, and the common tongue. And the lads and

lasses, and the voice of others, I am me and I am you, I am every

single one of us, I am the millionth runner, I am all of the runners gone

before and all of the runners still to come, run with me now,

leap like a salmon, dance like water and shine like stars, open your

heart and sing with me now and run with Michu when the running started.

-- run with me to the run has begun, it is the

birthing place of all that is, darkness is the source of all that

is light, and just watch them come, creations fragments, scattering,

blazing, boiling, running, they dance the dance of space and time,

they sing the song of everything, nebulae, galaxies and solar

systems, and the planets and their moons, and now, gorgeous spinning

Earth, this land, water, air and light, and then this north. This

lovely North. ATMOSPHERIC Speak in it with me, now before the

city with the lads and the lasses, great big forests, swampy things of

wondrous trees. Their roots in clouds. The sun blazes down, with

fire and leaves and stems and trunks. Nothing can last forever,

all must move and change, forests fall and turn to pulp. Pulp crushes

pulp, and turns to stone, to Perth itself, and deeper down it goes. --

to Earth. Down into the dark. It has gone. It is lost. Is this what is

called destruction? Leave the black and light down there for now. Run

quickly on with me, see time with ships, sea beasts

that crawl and walk and climb. Sing songs, sing stories of the bards, B

fired, into this present world. Speak the script of Jarrow Steed,

seeing with Edith on Lindisfarne, the patient civilise who makes Marx,

forms words, casts glorious light upon his pages. Eliminating the

whole world from his cell on a tiny island, by a northern shore.

DRAMATIC MUSIC I hear them come, Barbarians, see them pour across the

sea into the Tyne, see them with blazing swords, setting blazing,

turning dark. At! You think you have got us but you are wrong, you don't

destroy us, trudging through the ages, telling us that we are

finished, that we are done, hear this, where we are is only to

prepare for where we go, to prepare us for what we will do. Step aside,

let us through. That is the song to sing in chorus, as a million of us

run through time, creation is quicker than destruction's dread,

it's Clint is brighter than that blew. We will not be caught and

overcome, we will not be destroyed. Dance on, run, on.

That was just part one, three more to come. Brendan, the good thing

about watching it back, everything you missed when you were there, you

think, did that happen? It looks like Disneyland. A beautiful

evening, stunning. What a great job but Bradley Hemmings did. He is a

renowned production guy. He did the opening of the Paralympics and we

were very fortunate he responded to the idea of coming here and doing

that. And the beautiful words by David Armen, the award-winning

writer from the North of England. The video was stunning. And Tim

Healy... And the lesser names like Sting, Mark Knopfler, pretty

inspiring really! You look at the counter and you were worried there

were not enough digits, but I think we are OK! Over half the field have

finished, and the 1 millionth finisher is somewhere between 15 K

and 20 K. They can't see the counter, which is quite good, but it

is looking good. Pretty exciting. Your emotions, I guess, as that

counts up towards 1 million. When you are an athlete, you aim for

things and you try to do things, you get emotionally tied up in being the

best you can be. But this was not a race we entered until a year or so

ago. We didn't know there was a target for 1 million. We pretty much

embraced it in the last few months, the last year. It's pretty exciting,

but what is great is athletics, our sport, combining elite athletes like

Mo Farah, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Bringing those

two worlds together, our sport is pretty unique in doing that. If this

gives some status to the mass participation world, then to be

honest that's for good. If you watch people in the Olympics, you know you

can't do that, but if you watch somebody in the London Marathon, the

Great North Run, you think, maybe I could do that. If sport could be

more inclusive and open its arms to more people, it is good for the

nation. It is. A couple of BBC Breakfast presenters have finished,

Bill Turnbull and Steph McGovern have been speaking separately to

Phil and Denise. If it wasn't bad enough to get up at the crack of

dawn to do Breakfast, Bill does this time and again, the Manchester run,

here, marathons. It is one today, does it take its toll? I was worried

early, but it clouded up halfway around and it was OK. It was all

right in the end. The north-east is known for its warm welcome and it

seems better than ever, this 1 millionth finisher weekend. No gaps

today, people are always great. Very emotional experience. Considering

who we are running for today. They really kept us going, terrific,

really enjoyed it. Tell us the story if you can gather yourself for a

second, I know it is an emotional time. Allison was our editor last

year, she died of cancer and we miss her very much. 20 of us have run

today to raise money in her honour, really. Running, you always get a

bit emotional... Sorry. I was thinking about her on the way round

and I never got to tell her how much I loved her and admired her. So

today has been about her. I am sure she is looking down, hearing that,

and she will have known that in her heart. She was a great woman, we all

loved her. Well done to you today and sorry to put you on the spot,

but you did a great job. I am just a baby really, thanks so much. Look

who I have found, Steph McGovern from BBC right first. How are you

feeling? I feel all right, feel tired. I enjoyed it, it was fun and

the crowd is amazing. It was boiling hot, I thought I was in the

Caribbean! Is this Newcastle? It doesn't feel like it! Brilliant. How

was your preparation going into this? It was going well, I was

training but last weekend I got an injury on my calf in Middlesbrough.

You know if your head just thinks, oh, I don't know if I can do it, I

had to stop a couple of times, but here I am at the end. Raising money

for a great charity. Breakthrough breast Cancer in memory of our boss

for a great charity. Breakthrough Ford. Well done to everyone who is

running, it's so hard. Everyone is running, it's so hard. Everyone is

get a bit weepy when you see the different people who have died and

things, it's quite sad but great that everyone is doing this. You

have earned a recovery and a rest. Get a massage. I will get a glass of

wine. Get one for me! Emotional stuff there. We will look

back now again at Thursday's opening ceremony. In this part, Tim Healy

evokes an age of coal as a joint pithead floats down the River Tyne.

Lost sons, blackened brightness, cleansed from darkness deep below.

Down go our time travellers, Pitt men, each six feet of earth, 1

million years, deeper and deeper, down they go. To resurrect the

timber turned to carbon. Shaft by shaft, seam by seam, picked by pic,

blast by blast, trolley by trolley. We bring the past into the present.

We haul it out into the light. And send it across the seas on our

ships. This is the stuff from the North's dark heart. The stuff that

fires a revolution. The blazing stuff that transfigured the world.

Why the Great North Run, you might well ask. Tap your feet and hear

this. It's because we are human beings, man. Because we were born to

run. A little lad called Jackie White was the ten mile world record

holder in 1863. Jimmy Rowe, a foundry lad, was champion of the ten

mile, six mile and 100 yards. Alf Tupper of the North won Olympic gold

in 1966. Athletes here such as Tanni Grey-Thompson. And Steve Cram. The

River Tyne, the champion rara. We are in the land of Milburn, Gazza,

Robson, Shearer. Believing in angels, heart and sport. And then

there's a lad, Mr Brendan Foster, Olympic medallist, world record

holder, wor love letterren. -- wor Bren. Canny bairns, running like

Grete Waitz. Hundreds in their wheelchairs, Superman, gorillas and

Darth Vader. Brendan's dream has come to pass, first of 1 million

bodies to cross the famous finish line. Every year we hit the drum.

The cables shake. We run, we run... And yes, we bloody run!

Nobody says Steve Cram white like Tim Healy! Two parts down, two more

to go. -- quite like Tim Healy! Four finals, not all of them used at the

same time, but when it comes to the 1 millionth finisher, it will just

be the one with the counter, it. At 1 million. It's not going to be that

easy to know who the 1 millionth finisher will be. They will have to

look at the photo finish. Steve Cram, you have called some races in

your time, how about this one? I am glad it is not my job to decide

exactly who the individual is. As Jonathan says, there will be a bit

of a hiatus while the checks are made and everyone has a chip on

their shoe... The first thing we have to do, make sure everyone has

completed the distance. There are mats at five K, ten K, 15 K, that is

how I can tell you that 41,552 people are already through ten K. We

have 38,000 through 15 K. They are progressing well towards the finish

line. It is a countdown... Or is it a count up towards the millionth

finisher? Not many more than 10,000 to go. It's a great site. Hall and

Andrew, sitting and watching with me, -- Paula and Andrew. It's a

great site. You appreciate it so much more now. You can look at the

Sea of runners stretching back down the seafront. It's an impressive

sight. The of support there on the banks, friends and family who have

made their way down to support the runners. -- the amount of support.

And to take part in the celebration. Looking at the various

outfits, there was a guy carrying a fridge, a guy carrying an ironing

board and an iron, stopping every few places to do a bit of ironing,

but he has finished now. He looked a bit flat when he

but he has finished now. He looked a Anyway, let's find out who Colin has

with him at the halfway point. Mr karaoke... I will use your mic! Who

are you running for? I like running and I like singing, so I thought I

would combine it for the breast Cancer campaign, a fantastic charity

funding research into breast cancer. Still 12,000 people per year die of

breast cancer in Britain so it's got to get better. That is why I am

doing this! Give us a blast as you disappear.

Here is one for Mo. # I can't sing!

# I can't dance! Use but who cares? # I will run like Farah! It's for

breast cancer! Good effort though. Let us move on

to part three of the ceremony, this is where we see Sting and Jimmy

nail, we have got some really great electricity staff and fireworks.

Roar of fire, belch of steam, iron, steel, stone, boom, crash, proper

pay, proper rights, we will not be destroyed. We forged metal links

across the earth, and we forged a better world with it, and we lived

that world to the moon, and one day, we will lift it to the stars. 10,000

workers pouring through the gates, the sparkle of welders like stars on

the earth. Hibernia, Northumbria, bringing each closer to each other.

Our ships bring cargoes in their holes, and with skill and fire in

life, what we have done makes way for what we do. MUSIC

MUSIC the River tells that nothing is finished, nothing is done, the

salmon leaps again beneath our bridges, strong like hearts against

the sky. The great port of Tyne links us as it always have, with all

other sees and all other nations, the engine speed to gain in Neptune

yard. Our cables reach across the oceans, offshore engineers,

explorers of the subsea, where engineers of wire, steel, genetic

codes, the imagination, the endless human

net of thought and dream and labour, rises like exhorting larks, like a

flame, like electricity. Image, glass, electron, filament and

switch. Great Manhattan and Shanghai, burn bright with light

that has come out from Gateshead, to proclaim our presence with the

stars. Look around you now, and see Swan's lights, the beams of heaven,

brought to Earth. MUSIC look at them just running through now in their

thousands, and the counter is moving towards 1 million very, very quickly

indeed. Quite some site, I have been joined by Steve, who has made his

way, before we talk about that ceremony. Brendan mentioned at the

top of the show, you run at Great North

Run? Yes, it was not that bad, everybody just cared away including

him and it took me nine miles to catch him, and he was down the road,

and when I caught him, I was shattered and he was knackered, but

it was great. We finished further down, it was longer than a half

marathon actually, it is incredible what we have arrived today, less

than 7000 people away from the millionth finished.

Rhino, Brendan was a great run it has become -- he has become quite

cultural? Yes it is a surprise to many of us, we are going to see a

bit of film a minute, you many of us, we are going to see a

working there, it was fabulous to see that show. It was a very

ambitious thing to do, it was carried off brilliantly, but

actually Brendan has been trying in recent years, it is like the Olympic

Games, the opening ceremonies, sport is about people, and people enjoy

dancing and music, it is part of culture. And trying to marry the two

together is a good idea because not everybody wants necessarily to run,

they want to write about it and sing about it. You mentioned being out

and about, there was the great North exhibition. It is a celebration of

all things great for the north-east, we are looking at the industrial and

sporting heritage, against contemporary heroes, the main focus

are five sporting and industrial greats. How do you think this links

into this year, the 1,000,000th finisher? We are the first event of

our kind to reach 1 million in the world so we thought it was a great

opportunity to celebrate what else the north-east is great for, what it

is known. The theme is what the opening

ceremony was all about, it is about our heritage, what has made us so

proud and great and it is about looking forward to the future, who

are the next million people? Big themes, innovating, keep on

inspiring and innovating. The nice thing about this is this link

between the great characters of the north-east, some people don't

understand, Joseph Swan and the role that he played, in electricity. In

the light bulb. Sunderland shipyard is close to my heart. There are more

people there, than watch the football these days. People are

choosing their own Great North Road its comic says Brendan Foster but I

think it is his handwriting! -- it says. There are lots of famous

people like Bobby Robson and Jimmy nail, but a lot of people say my

mother and my father. This is the image that most people, I guess.

Interestingly, they take that same photograph every year. They just

superimpose it on. Sporting events by the very fact that they are

turning a spotlight on an area already city, if you are hosting

given pixel the Games, it does give an opportunity to widen the event?

Exactly right, bigger and better, people who might not normally think

about art and sport, it get them together, the Great North Run

effectively opens avenues. What the culture can do, is keep on telling

the stories and all of the amazing things. Fascinating exhibition and I

guess what is great, for the north-east is what they and their

ancestors contributed? Yes, so many people came away from the ceremony,

people forget how many great people have come from this area. Some of

the great things they have done, particularly in the world of

industry, not just industry. That exhibition is a great widening out

of what we are about, what we have contributed, to the country and to

the world. It is not something, that we are very good at doing. I think

the Great North Run itself, is a great platform and showcase for

telling everybody that we are a good place. You need to run the gauntlet

back, thank you very much. We have seen five Scooby Doos, two

of Spiderman, one Batman. Two of wonder woman. A man with an ironing

board. Fred Flintstone. Three bumblebees. You could have been the

one from Despicable Me! If people are thinking of getting into

running, how would you get started in preparing for something like

this? The easiest way is to get together with a group, whether it is

a group of friends, or join your local running club and make it fun,

make it a social get-together to get out and do the training, work

towards the half marathon distance, building in short events, starting

out with five K, ten K, ten miles and up to the half marathon distance

gradually. Is weekly training very different for this from five K, ten

K? You need to do a bit more to enjoy it, you need to have run the

distance in training, but not a lot of times, probably four or five

times beforehand similar distances, 12 or 13 miles, and then taper down

before the event and picked a good one that is going to inspire you,

keep you motivated and interested as you are running along. Of course the

perfect preparation is to get married the day before the Great

North Run and then take part, as a bizarre but very happy couple have

done, talking to Phil. I have been invited to a wedding

party. And here is a wedding party! Starting with the groom, the bride,

the best man at the end, the vicar, the priest, the bridesmaid. You have

lost somebody. the priest, the bridesmaid. You have

bride is back there somewhere. And one of the bridesmaids. Hopefully he

will get round in the expired or ten minutes! Well done, it is great that

you have entered into the spirit, why did you put all of this

together? We try to get married in September, we have this five years

on the trot. -- we decided to get married. We thought we would put

them together. It has just been incredible. All the way round,

people congratulating us, waving, giving us oranges, it has been

absolutely incredible. So when is the actual wedding day? Yesterday,

the town hall just behind us. A very reserved reception! Only a few

drinks! So tonight you can make up for it? Definitely! Well done, enjoy

the celebrations and congratulations from all of us at the BBC.

Happy honeymoon! This way, isn't it! About 400 to go, now it is time

for part four of the opening ceremony. 4000! Just as well I have

nothing to do with that counter. An amazing fiery runner symbolising the

1 millionth finisher, Chase and status who I had never heard of but

I like them now, and more fireworks. We are a realm of art and science,

industry and philosophy. Poetry, theatre, music, sport. A realm of

light and space and beauty that. The breath -- that will stop the breath.

The firmament, a fingertip away. Like salmon, we will always leap.

Like the lark, we will always rise. Our skip is quicker than

destruction's dread. Our light shines brighter. We won't be done

until the darkness takes us back into itself. We are the ever moving

Great North Run! So now let's gather in a single

flow, like particles of light, like human cells, like genes in code.

Like common words flung out on some -- and sunk, between the salmon and

the Larks, between the water and the bridge, between the soil and the

sky, between this earth and all of that immensity. Blazing fragments of

the big bang's Summit, each single one of us, each lad and lass, 1

million runners joined as one. We run from the nilness to the start. I

am me and I am you. Each of us is each of us. Run now and keep running

this lovely northern road between the sparkling city and the shining

sea. # The rain is pouring down on me

# And the sky is the only thing I see

# It's just me and the ground beneath my feet

# I feel so alone # I feel so alive!

# Oh! My my! # Yes, the rain is pouring down on

me # I know it's the only thing I see

# It's just me and the ground beneath my feet

# Oh, I feel so alive! # Oh! My my!

# Oh, I feel so alive! Is walk the world

# There is nowhere to run, buy # Chance to chance

# We've come too far and we're not going to lose it

# Feel so alive # I feel so alive

# I feel so alive! # Oh! My my!

# I feel so alive! # Feel so alive

# Feel so alive # Walk the world

# There is nowhere to run # Chance to chance

# You can run if you want # We've come so far and we're not

going to lose That was the opening ceremony on

Thursday. The counter, just under 2000 to go.

How are you feeling? There are enough digits on there! It's taking

up gently and slowly. A few anonymous people coming up the road

and one of them is going to be the 1 millionth finisher, it's nice that

it is an ordinary person. We have had Mo Farah with a British record,

a female record-breaking run, a beautiful day, but the ordinarily

guy is going to be in for... We are going to make them famous for ten

minutes! A bit longer than that. I guess 1 million is a great symbol of

participation. I don't want this to turn into the Brendan Foster

Fanclub, but it's a turn into the Brendan Foster

man. 34 years ago, somebody has to sit down and have the idea. I know

he would be the first to say that this has been a magnificent team

effort, every year it's got bigger and bigger, but it starts off with

something. That catalyst has been the 1 millionth person today and

that is sensational. If they all remain in our sport, that's even

better. Where did the information come from? Like Sebastien Makro

said, all great ideas start with a bowl of salad! -- like Sebastien

said. I saw a raise in New Zealand with Dave Moorcroft when we were

training for the 1980 Olympics. -- a race. A lot of pressure on Britain

in 1984 as not to go to the Olympics, we have been training our

whole lives so we went to train in New Zealand. Dave and I ran in a

race in Auckland, run along the coast and finished at the seaside. I

said to David, that was great. We had never seen an event of that

size, 10,000 runners they had. I said, when I retire after the

Olympics, I am going to see if we can do something like that at home

in the north-east. We started with the city, Newcastle, across the Tyne

Bridge, coming to the seaside. This is where I used to come as a kid,

South Shields. Steve Cram was the same, this is our seaside, and it

seems to work quite well. Steve was having a go at you earlier, saying

that he didn't catch you up until nine miles in the first race. That

is true, he called me at nine miles and started running alongside me,

talking. He was on his way to becoming an Olympic runner and I was

an old has-been. After a minute listening to him talking, I said,

Steve... We have all done that! It is the oldest one in the book. The

counter has gone red. I thought it was going to be black and white, not

red and white! What was your first memories, you must have been aware

it was happening? I think it was only six weeks after the London one,

it was earlier in the year. Chris Brasher was planning the London

Marathon in April. It was at a time when a lot of cities were beginning

to do it. You talked about the race in New Zealand, I can remember some

of the runs developing in the 70s in the states. Portland, Falmouth, New

York. It was the world starting to run. Off the back of a successful

British athletics team at the time, we came out of the Moscow games, a

good 1981 season, people were just caught up... In a way, just joined

the imagination of how far this could go. Every year, it's got

bigger and better and the sponsors realised this was something that was

worth supporting. Looking back, they were fairly modest affairs. The

London Marathon, you know, it was a few thousand. The first year, the

London Marathon was 6000 and we were 10,000. But I tell you what, the

London Marathon is the finest marathon in the world, the jewel in

the crown, the one we aspire to. But here we are in the north-east of

England, on the coast, the number is ticking up, Jonathan... Somebody is

going to tell me to go to Steve Cram very soon. What do you think the

hook is? It is not easy, a great sense of achievement, but they are

knackered. I think it's more accessible, if I am being honest,

than the marathon. It is more within most people's range of comfort. I

shouldn't say this, but you don't have to train for quite so long.

It's something within the framework of reference. I think there is a

unique community spirit here, and I can say it as an outsider, you two

know the area far better than I do, even from the 70s when I was coming

up here, this is an area that just gets sport, it understands it, it's

passionate about it and is more to it than just simply a competitive

outing. The time has come, Steve, it's all yours.

As you say, the moment has come, somebody in that group of people

heading towards the finish line will be the 1,000,000th finisher in the

Great North Run. 34 years we have come and

Watched. We have marvelled at the great and the glorious and the

ordinary, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, many people

never thought this was something that they could achieve, they have

joined a long, long list of so many people, enough of them have run

enough miles to go halfway from planet Earth to Venus, 13 million

miles and more. We have seen one of the oldest today of course, from all

ages, and all over the north-east, there must be hardly a family from

the north-east who has not taken part in the great North West run.

And counting up to 1 million, someone is soon going to be the

lucky person, only one can be the millionth across the line. Here it

is. Tend to go. 1 million! 1 million runners! 1 million stories. And a

million smiles as well, whoever you are, we salute you and you represent

all of those that have gone before you. It is a fantastic moment for a

fantastic race. The Great North Run, truly is great, and 1 million people

can now say that they have done it. And still they come. Well it was 33

years ago, this is the 34th running of it, we gathered here when we all

finished, none of us could have thought of what was to come over the

ensuing years. It seems such a long time ago, 1981. I think this is one

of the best organised races I have ever seen. It could be a blueprint

for other races like this. I am glad that I was in the first Great North

Run. It is the beginning of something very, very bit here. --

very big. The greatest, the friendliest, a colourful and joyous

celebration of regional identity and spirit. People are asking us if we

will do it again next year, but we don't have the choice, we have got

to do it because that is what people do mundane. -- are demanding. 1

million finishes, in fact that is not true any more, because it is

probably about one million and a thousand and it will keep on ticking

for years to come. I suppose we will have two do it again next year,

where does this all finished? Well we have got the second million

already, Sebastien has suggested a really neat idea. I was saying,

wouldn't it be nice to send back the millionth who was across, to send it

back to New Zealand, where they got the idea from. I'm glad that I'm not

in charge of the budgets. I think that is a good idea, we will

definitely do that. They need to hold boys to go with them. So

Michael cloud was the first winner in 1981, I have asked this a few

times, the emotions when you saw that ticking over, the little group

ushered away, now being vetted, to see who is at the photo finish. It

is lovely, it is really good, but we organise these things, but this is

absolutely true, it is the people who have turned up who have made the

million. We could have organised and worked as hard as we had done and it

might be 750,000, people have embraced it. And I think the look,

they look quite shocked. To say that they have run for 3.5 hours already.

We have seen the counter, they cannot see it. They look very

excited, and slightly shocked. It has been an amazing journey for

you, here are a few thoughts that you have had. When I first started

this event, the biggest event in Britain had 1300 runners in it. In

our first year we had 11,000 runners, that made it immediately

opens biggest ever mass participation event. And when I have

seen it grow, watched it grow, and become the most popular and you get

50,000 runners and a million finishes. Not only is it more than I

could believe, it is more than they could believe. We did not believe

that the British public would take to distance running like they have

done. When I look at it now, and I see, it starts from those early

beginnings. We did not know what we were doing. It is just incredible. I

have said it before, it is ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

It is the people, it is the numbers, it is the elite athletes and the

rest. That make it what it is. There was a moment in that event last

year, coming across Gateshead Stadium, which was my stamping

ground, we have the greatest distance runner of all time, and we

had the Challenger and we had Mo Farah. Three of them running

together, and I thought it will not get any better than that. But the

idea of getting 1 million, it is a race that we only entered a couple

of years ago and we realised it was getting close to a million, to beat

London, New York, Tokyo, and for people to recognise it is the icing

on the cake. Here it is the millionth finisher, can you believe

it? I am gobsmacked, totally shocked. What happened? I kept on

going and I was trying to find my parents, my dad is somewhere in the

crowd, and I assumed that it was a girl behind me and then I was mobbed

with the rest of them. I know how the VIPs feel now. Tell us about

yourself, where are you from? I started running in 2013 after my mum

passed away, and I thought that I would raise funds for children's

charities because children meant so much to her, for the last two years

I ran the Great North Run, last year I ran for great warm and, -- great

warm in, and this year for the hospice, good going the north-east

and I'm really proud. If you look at the screen, we can see the moment

when you were told that you were the millionth finisher of the great

North run. LAUGHTER There you are, being ushered up, to

meet me and Sebastian and Brendan, you are going

to go down in history. That is amazing, I never get anything right.

He wants to say something to you, Brendan. Fantastic, well done, it

looks as though you enjoyed that moment, we will make you famous for

ten minutes. Thank you. My moment of fame. I made it! Over there, there

is a special ceremony area, there is a special flag that is going to be

commissioned and a whole bunch of marines, that sounds good. This is

amazing, I am in awe of all of this. My moment of fame. How was the run

for you? I think it was incredibly hot, a lot of runners have struggled

terribly with a heat, cramping, not taking on enough fluid, I did

struggle today too. Mostly, I think that I lost my body weight in

perspiration to be honest. And in terms of the crowd out there, the

atmosphere? This year worth a nominal, last year the weather was

cold and a bit wet, we did not have quite enough support but this year

they did us proud. Amazing, you get to the point when you are feeling

low and all of a sudden, there is a spurt of enthusiasm from the

sidelines, it is amazing, thank you. Many congratulations, you will

go away with these two big gentlemen, Lord Coe and soon to be

so Brendan Foster I would hope. Very well done. -- Sir Brendan Foster.

Well congratulations Tracy, when you crossed the line we did not know who

it was, but it is fair to say that she represents everybody in

celebrating this special day for the Great North Run, she is the

1,000,000th finisher, and as Brendan rightly pointed out, we are already

moving well into the second million. A lot of people probably don't even

know or maybe don't even care, they are still on a personal journey.

They will be having that ceremony very quickly. But, you see the

review all of the way up the seafront, Paul and Andrew are still

with me. Paul and Tracy is very typical of the person, who comes in

the Great North Run and makes it such a great occasion? Absolutely so

many people out here today, that represents the event, and represent

the family of runners so well. They have all set out with their own

personal targets, they have helped each other along, going through

difficult points at difficult stages in the race and people around you

keep you going and help you keep moving through that difficult patch

and into the smoother waters ahead. Because of the coverage as well,

people watching this and think that is fantastic and I will target that

for next year. I'm going to go and dress up as Sylvester and run 13

miles or so in the heat. It is the mass participation, it is a very

comical event, especially if you are finishing down at this point, you

are running with people around you all of the time, you are chatting

away, you get to the finish and you shake hands, and that is the feeling

that you take away. It is an elite event, it is not really a race,

looking at the timing, it is not about that, it is about getting out

there with thousands of other people and enjoying the experience? It is a

festival, it is about completing the Great North Run, taking part in a

festival of celebration of running, and making that journey from

Newcastle out here to South Shields. You see some wonderful finishes, in

the last wild meters or so. Everybody, some people have

something left in the tank and other people not so. Finishing and doing

it in their rain pace, a wonderful sight to see. -- their own pace.

Della mac what a moment it was, the sight to see. -- their own pace.

millionth finisher. Tracey Cramond, as is Amanda, she is running the

Great North Run and not so long ago it would have felt like an

impossible dream. It was 2002 when I took ill, before that things were so

good, we had celebrated the 10th wedding anniversary, I had had my

30th birthday, then it all fell apart. I was literally becoming more

disabled by the day, it got to the point where I was so weak I could

not even lift a fork to my mouth, I was feeling very unwell. And then

finally, it actually took 18 months before I was diagnosed, it was

actually a relief to be finally told, that's the name of the illness

was ME. Nine years bedbound, in a darkened room because I had such

severe light sensitivity, and I developed a very severe food

allergies and it made my face well up and break out in boil like saws

and bring me to the point where I could not even look into the mirror

without crying because I could not recognise my face any more.

Everything of who I was, had been stripped away, it was so difficult,

I think that I felt guilt, I felt so bad that somehow, our marriage had

become this because of me. My worst fear was that I would get beyond the

point where Steve could care for me and I would have to be careful by

strangers. -- cared for. That was very strong in my mind.

Suddenly in July 2011, I decided this was going to be the moment, we

were going to try and leave the house for the first time in nine

years. Steve had to carry me down the stairs. The first place we went

was the church, where everybody had stood by us for nine years. When I

got into church, I had to be lay across three chairs but I didn't

care because I had made it, I was out of the house for the first time

in nine years. Just as I began to sing, I felt a strength come into my

body and I managed to sit upright for an entire hour and a half, and I

suddenly realised I was holding my arms up in the air and these were

arms that normally couldn't lift a forked my mouth, so I knew something

very special was happening. When I got out of church, all of the energy

drained away and I was bedbound all week, so it was massive perseverance

to go back to church, but I was so glad I did persevere, because after

eight months, I got up out of my wheelchair. With my husband on one

arm and a friend on the other, I walked a distance of almost 100

metres. What was so amazing about that, all of my muscles had wasted

away while I was bedbound and my legs were skin and bone, and yet

here I was walking for the first time in all those years. After

that, I was able to use a walking frame. Every I would practice

walking lengths of the bedroom to strengthen my muscles. I wasn't

fully healed, but I had moved forward a long way. In June of last

year, I set off on the walking frame in the Dublin ten K half marathon,

half way round I handed the walking frame to Steve, ran over the finish

line into Steve's arms, I felt absolutely wonderful and I have

never had to use a walking frame since that day. From that moment on,

I have never had another ME symptom and it's now more than a year since

then. The charity I am running for is Action for ME. They were like a

lifeline for me and Steve when I was bedbound. Because of the ME, I have

not been able to go back to Newcastle for almost 13 years. For

me and Steve, both from up there, that has been like a hole in our

hearts. Amanda is still out on the course,

but this is the moment when she came back to Newcastle with her husband.

She talked about the fact it was 13 years she hadn't been back because

of her illness, her ME. Quite a remarkable recovery. I do hope she

is doing well out on the course, because it certainly is a big

challenge after all she has been through. Paula, the Great North Run

continues, Amanda is still out there, she is going to be the 1

millionth and whatever finisher, and the magic goes on. It is not about

which number, it is the fact they have made this journey, they have

completed the preparation and they have finally done the Great North

Run journey from Newcastle out here to South Shields and completed a

half marathon. That is an achievement. The 1 millionth runner

has been through, it was an amazing moment actually. You wondered what

it was fantastic. I asked Brendan and Seb, I will ask you, what do you

think it is about running that has captured the imagination that we are

here to celebrate such a milestone? It is hard to put into words.

Obviously those of us who are runners, we enjoy doing it and we

enjoy the buzz in a race or training. How many sports are there

where you can say you have taken part in the same event as 1 million

other people? People can say they have completed the same race on the

same day as 40,000 people. Not many sports where you can do that. So it

really is that big family atmosphere of belonging, helping each other

through it on the cause and in preparation and in training, in the

running club is all across the country. -- on the course. The

ceremony is coming up shortly. Do you know what? The thing that has

made it possible is running. Running isn't a sport for pretty

boys, it's about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet.

It's the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It's

about cramps at midnight strong enough to wake the dead. It's about

getting out the door and running when the rest of the world is only

dreaming about having the passion you need to run each and every day.

It's about being on a lonely road and running like a champion, even

when there's not a single soul in sight to cheer you on. Running is

all about having a desire to train and persevere, until every fibre in

your legs, mind and heart has turned to steal. And when you have finally

forced hard enough, you will become the best runner you can be. And

that's all that you can ask for. So, the lovely Tracy has crossed the

line, she is the 1 millionth finisher. It's time for the

ceremony. Your master of ceremonies is Brian burn-out. Three minutes

ago, we celebrated their historic moment when Tyneside officially

became a host to the first ever event of its kind to achieve a 1

millionth finish. Two flags, 1 representing the International

Association of the and is, and one representing Tyneside, ceremonially

united by four flag-bearers from the Marine Corps. Earlier today, the

unified flag was run along the Great North Run coast by those Marines.

It's here with us now at the finishing line in South Shields to

welcome our 1 millionth finisher. A few minutes ago, we discovered the

identity of that 1 millionth finisher. So it gives me great

pleasure to welcome the Great North Run's 1 millionth finisher, Tracey

Crawford! To make the presentation, the inspiration behind this

fantastic race, Brendan Foster and the vice president of the

International Association of the, Seb Coe.

APPLAUSE Tracey from Darlington, our 1

millionth finisher. I would like to invite Lord Coe to present Tracey

with a unique finisher's medal. Brendan Foster, presenting a limited

addition print of the Great North Run finish by Jim Edwards.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we will raise the Great North Run 1

million flag, accompanied by the Royal Marines buglers, playing a

piece specially composed for the occasion by the Royal Marines band,

called the Great North Road Millionth Runner.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tracey, our 1 millionth finisher.

A great moment for Tracey. She looks a little bit bemused, doesn't she?

She said she crossed the line and was suddenly mobbed by a load of

people. She would have had no idea when she was coming down, 100 metres

to go. We could predict the 1 millionth finisher would be in that

zone, but she didn't know until she crossed the line. A quick recap on

the elite races. Your course record went to Mary Pattani. Records are

made to be beaten and she ran really well. -- Mary Keitany. Gemma Steel

in second, a huge personal best and showing potential for the future.

And breaking the streak, getting a British winner in this event for the

first time since 1985. An important win for Mo, his training partner was

pushing him all the way. To have lost that race after the year he has

had would have been tough. Watching the race, it was hard to work out if

they were working together. A couple of points where I think Kigen could

have attacked. He had a bit of a gap, but when Mo gets into the last

mile, he knows he is not going to be out kicked. He was close to dipping

under into the 59s, which is very fast running. 60 flat is fast, but

he would like to go under that barrier next time. We are nearly

done on BBC Two, but there is more sport in half an hour. It is going

to be the burly horse trials and the World Equestrian Games on BBC Two

from 3pm. -- the Burleigh horse trials.

Starting next Wednesday, Prince Harry's big idea, the Invictus

Games. VOICEOVER: The Invicta 's warriors

are coming, more than 400 international competitors, no

strangers to battle, or have served their country. Prince Harry has

challenged them, now they will challenge each other. Pushing their

bodies to the limit in the quest for glory. The stage is set. The

Invictus warriors are ready, let the games commence. Starting with the

countdown, tonight at 9:15pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.

A final thought on the millionth finish and what the Great North Run

has become. It is special that the sun has shone so much today on this

race and the man of people who have prepared and run this race over the

years since it started in 1981. -- the amount of people. It is about

everybody who has joined the family of Great North Run is. The Great

North Run is always an incredible day. The elite running incredibly

fast, the gritty determination of the masses. The 1 millionth

finisher. It started on Thursday with the amazing opening ceremony

which brought the play is alive and it was Tracey who crossed the line,

the 1 millionth finisher. An amazing journey, hats off to Brendan

Foster, thanks for your company and see you next year.

It's a 1 in a million day for the Great North Run.

# Baby, looks as though we run, we run...

1 million runners, 1 million stories!