Great North Run Athletics

When I first started this event, it had 1300 runners, in our first year

it had 1100. It's not more than I just believed but what anybody ever

believed. It's incredible. I've said it before but it is ordinary people

doing extraordinary things. They come now from all over the UK, all

over Europe and all over the world to take part.

The great wastes denigrates roomful -- a great race and a great win for

the champion. 1 million runners 1 million stories and a million smiles

as well. People are asking if I will do it again next year and to be

perfectly honest we have no choice. The greatest, the friendlies but

above all a regional celebration of identity and spirits.

I've got a spare kidney if you would like one. It's the world's favourite

run. I put my name on the ballot. Life is full of ups and downs. The

best thing I've ever said yes to. I always run.

Welcome to a glorious morning here in Newcastle for the 36th Great

North Run. What today we have in store, you will be incredible

stories of bravery and courage and you'll see some amazing distance

runners. The men's elite header by Mo Farrah and there are multiple

champions out there. Behind them tens of thousands of stories, maybe

none more so that the amazing Claire Lomax. Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser

Chiefs is here and you'll see people represented from all over the world.

It's not just the Great North Run but the world's favourite run. 178

countries are represented at there and you'll get plenty of voices. Mo

Farrah has arrived and this is the first race ends his epic

achievements in Rio. He is so relaxed and we spoke to him

yesterday, he is looking forward to getting out there on the streets of

Newcastle and run to South Shields to lap up the adoration of the crowd

that this multiple gold medal winner is one of the greatest long-distance

runners world has ever seen. It's amazing to think it's just three

weeks since his triumph in Rio. Mo Farrah attempting to retain his

tenth thousand Olympic title. -- 10,000. Mo has fallen and it is the

one thing they feared. Has he got the power and the strength and the

speed. We have been here before and we have seen this before. They

succumbed to the inevitable. Bow to his superiority. Mo Farrah wins the

gold. Three medals in the bag, is it going to be an historic fourth. He

is sprinting, he is in the driving seat now. Mo Farrah has gone, he is

away. The double-double. Arise Sir mode. -- Mo. We all love him but no

one else appreciated him more than Mrs Mo Farrah. You're not just here

as Mrs Mo Farrah but here as an athlete? I don't know if you can

call it an athlete but I'm here getting involved and I'm going to

run the full half marathon so this is the first time for me. You like

so many people out there, you when he started training nine months ago?

More like eight. It's weird to think this is my second half marathon ever

within a month and just starting running so I try to not put too much

pressure on myself and just enjoy today but can't believe I'm here.

Have you had plenty of tips from Mo he said get easy and get settled

into a rhythm and push myself hard. I'm just going to let people get

past me and then start working past that. I was teasing him last night

saying if he was a good husband he would run with you. I tried

convincing him to do it but unfortunately he has a job to do

today. He has come to win and I'm sure he'll try to cheer me on the

rest of the way. How excited is he because all along the way the crowds

will come out? This is definitely his favourite half marathon

especially after Rio. It is like a homecoming for him. The crowd here

and the people have been phenomenal. It has been such a homecoming so it

is like a victory lap for him providing he wins of course. He just

wants to come out and give the people a good time. Have you got

time you you're aiming for? Under two hours is what I'm aiming for.

I'll see you at the finish then best of luck you will be brilliant I'm

sure. The race will be started today by two men who can give plenty of

inspiration to those out there. Lord Sebastian Coe and David Rhodesia,

their preferred distance is a bit shorter. There will be joined by Amy

Tinkler as well. You see more and hear from them later. I mentioned

the 178 countries who are represented out there today, it's

quite phenomenal, it really is the world's favourite race. You will

hear plenty of voices throughout the morning so here's a little taste of

what is to come. Netherlands. Germany. USA. Dortmund in Germany.

County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. Beautiful Stockholm Sweden.

Malaysia. Surprisingly sunny island. Switzerland. Toronto. Pennsylvania.

Representing the United States of America. Spain. Connect the USA. As

we say in Spain has still away go see you in the great move run. I've

seen people from all over. If you're from outside the UK then tell us

where you're from. Denise Lewis will be catching up with plenty of people

today. I'm not sure what her linguistic skills are like the let's

see who is weird. I'm with tea great -- I'm with two great bonus of a

Connor Hayley representing? Granado. Tell us why you wanted to be here

and so important to represent your country? I live in the north-east

and I've always wanted to do the Great North Run and here I am today

given the opportunity. I'm excited. Just to let everyone know where

Granada is, it's a beautiful island in the Caribbean and everyone should

go enjoy grenade. Michal you have travelled from Itchen Steyn, tell us

about your country. The aged and Steyn is a tiny country between

Switzerland and Austria. -- Lynch and Steyn. I'm sure not a lot of

people know about it and that's why I want to represent the country so

more people know the country. We speak German dialect like this which

people but the official language is German. How excited I need to be

part of this great event? There are more people here than we have

inhabitants, we have 37,000 inhabitants and here I think there

are 57,000 people taking part -- Liechtenstein. You have done your

homework great for you to represent your country and have a great

afternoon. That's incredible. We could have the whole of

Liechtenstein running and no one else could take part. We will hear

from so many other countries and it truly is a magnificent morning here.

Temperatures higher than it has been for many years so it may affect some

runners but for the elite runners, that'll be very favourable indeed.

Here is a little flavour of what is coming up. The as we have already

seen Mo Farrah is here in Newcastle and we will hear from him ahead of

the race. The big head-to-head in the women's race, Vivian Cheruiyot

taking on Tirunesh Dibaba per. We have the story of Claire Lomas who

is trying to complete the course using robotic legs. Terry Geary

takes us on a history onto the 13 mile course. More women are running

than ever before, we will show how campaigns like this would have made

an impact. Whilst author Hannah Phillips discusses all the excuses

we make not to run and how to overcome. And the amazing story of

how one man saved a little boy 's life after seeing his story at last

year 's Great North Run. I implore you to watch that because it is an

incredible story and there are people running for all kinds of

different reasons the basic unit anybody running hashtag get

inspired. You can text us and of course BBC sport is on Instagram and

Facebook, plenty of ways to get involved throughout the morning. I

mentioned the causes people running for cover many charities will

benefit from the 57,000 people running. Along the way they will

wish they were at the finish and that is exactly where Colin Jackson

is now in the charity tense. Good morning everybody. It is a bit

chilly here but I can ensure you it's all very soon. People are

organising to welcomed the runners back. When they arrived here they

get hugs and kisses and a cup of tea and a bit of our Massad Buttle for a

good cause. I will catch up from somebody from candlelight is here.

Can you tell us about this and who is running today? We are running for

my son die he was here, my husband James is doing the run with two of

his friends and then he is biking about 90 miles back home for

Liechtenstein. Hopefully it is going to bring in lots of money for

Candlelighters. After the death of guy at last year who contracted

leukaemia, from the offset of diagnosis, Candlelighters were there

for us. Today is a vital day for fundraising and exposure for the

charity to get people to donate as much as they can? Without a shadow

of a doubt and good luck and thank you for everybody for donating. Have

a good year. Thank you you too. Many runners would have had to overcome

many kinds of difficulties, fears and phobias even get on the start

line, one lady today has had to challenge herself in the most

remarkable way. She started the Great North Run Wednesday and has

walked three miles a day and in the next hour or so, Clare Lomas will

cross the finish line. Back in May 2000 and seven. I was at an event I

competed at loads of time on a horse I had written loads of times. It is

a risky sports but you thrive in the excitement. The track split into

two, he got his eye on one way, it was a misunderstanding and he

clipped a shoulder on the tree and flung me into the tree but the

consequences were severe. As I hit the ground I knew I was paralysed.

What I did was dislocate my spine at T4 level and that is where the

spinal damage was, I also fractured my neck, punctured a lung and caught

pneumonia so I was in intensive care for days. It was a tough time.

Movement and sensation I have nothing from the chest down, I did

feel angry, Cross, upset. Everything really. I didn't know what the

future would have in store, I didn't know you could be happy and be

paralysed. It's a very scary time. I thought when I had my accident I

probably wouldn't be able to meet anyone, I felt really low. But then

I met Dan, life started to pick up and then a few days later Maisie

arrived. I thought this is a miracle my body does still work a little

bit. It meant the world. I could do one of the spirit it wouldn't be the

same if I didn't have the people around me. The reason I'm doing the

Great North Run is to raise money. It was tough after my accident but

when I looked around and saw people with neck injuries, that made me

want to start fundraising because nothing compared to a neck injury, I

have the use of my arms. I have been walking about three

miles a day. The toughest thing I have done. It is just really hard,

on your shoulders. Your arms are so tired. And already there have been

quite a few tears, sometimes because it is really hard and sometimes

because of people's reactions, children turning up from schools

with little banners saying, "You can do it", when I have got to the point

of thinking I can't. It also makes you feel quite emotional. Well, she

has had a tough few days and hopefully you will see her finish

within the next hour or so, the amazing Claire Lomas. I am joined by

the amazing Paula Radcliffe and Brendan Foster on this amazing

Sunday morning. Do you book the weather for this? Every year, you

know, I set on the Saturday after the Games, and I watched the VTs of

all the people around the world, and also so many local people inspired

for so many different reasons, Paula, and I know you as a running

not love to get out there and see people pounding the streets. That is

the thing with mass races, the build-up, seeing people out there.

Watching it for the first time, she was stood there watching some of

those videos, crying and it hadn't even started yet. There's so much

history of people getting to the start line, that journey through the

race, all the support along the route, that other people there, and

there is not another sport where you will get that. I am almost addicted.

I was with a guy who had done this 20 times, and London 15 times

comedies from down South, and this is his favourite one. There must be

so many people who want to shake your hand and just say, thanks for

doing this. -- and he is from down South. We never had any idea. It

started as an event 30 odd years ago and we never knew it would reach

this level. The atmosphere is good, people excited and nervous, and that

mixture makes it great. We know David Rudisha, Lord Sebastian Coe,

Amy, they starting today, but with this being the world's favourite

run, 178 countries, I understand you had the temerity to ask Ban Ki-moon

if he might come along to start the race? Yes, I thought we should aim

big, shoot high. We had a wonderful response from him. He is doing other

things who couldn't make it but he would have loved to have been here,

and it would have been nice to have the Secretary-General of the UN...

Yes, if you don't ask, you don't get! Did he say he would come

another year? Yes, but they all say that. You never know. You might be

on the starting line. We are dipping into those nationalities throughout

the morning. I don't know who Denise has with her now... I feel a little

out of place here amongst you. Firefighters... Local? And I believe

you have actually done this marathon before? We have run the half

marathon 2013, which was in conjunction with our charity in

memory of one of our colleagues who sadly died of leukaemia that year.

This year we are doing it as part of... It being the 1515th

anniversary of 911, and also to raise some money for firefighters'

charity which is very close to our own hearts -- 15 th anniversary of

9/11. And you did the nature and came out this morning? Yes, that was

the only opportunity I had to be your -- you did the night shift and

intimate this morning. How much does this way? About 30 kilograms. It is

supposed to keep that heap insult obviously on the day, and it is

quite warm, it will be very hot -- keep the heat in Seoul obviously on

the day with it being quite warm it will be very hot. I am sure the team

will keep us right. Will you stick together? Yes, we start as a team,

and we finish as a team. Good luck to all of you and raise lots of

money. GABBY LOGAN: It is all getting a bit

rock 'n' roll. Ricky Wilson is here! Hello! I feel like I am in One

Direction! I like it. Yes, and the sun here is incredible. You did not

expect this? Beautiful and sunny, perfect running conditions. But

you're not running? Of course not, I forgot my kit and I didn't want to

do it in my pants! Peanut is running, and we are doing a gig

tonight, the official after party for the Great North Run, playing at

the arena. We have just released more tickets so some are available,

so come on down. Hopefully people's legs will not be too tired to jump

up and down and enjoy the night but I give everybody permission to take

tomorrow off work. The charities? Yes, one that got together to build

the centre here in the north-east. The benefit the north-east? Yes, I

think when you keep money in the area where it is raised it gets

people that incentive to try a little harder and we are keeping the

money in the area and are very proud to be part of it. You came on a tour

bus overnight from Berlin? Peanut hasn't slept and I haven't slept. We

played in Berlin last night, got a Ryanair flight, have been on a tour

bus... I am really proud of him. He is eating a banana now, getting

ready. His first marathon. Give us wave, Peanut. There he is. He looks

like he will actually smash this. He is hoping to do it in under 1.40 but

it depends how many autographs he has to say another way. I am

actually a bit jealous... I thought you would be. I am sure we can get

your kit for you, get something for you. But we have a gig at the Arena

later, and he is just the keyboard player. I have to preserve my

energy. And you will help us throughout the day as well. Yes,

preserve your energy. Yes, my TV career is really taking off! Well,

when you're working at BBC Sport you know you have made it! Let's get out

there, because Louise is very adept at this, you can take some tips from

her. I know you are pretty famous in these parts, but forgive me because

I do not know your band. But you're tuned in and ready to go? I am

robbed. Gem. Ricky. Mat. Who are you? Little comets. We are going to

do at half marathon while playing against, that is the plan. Guitar

playing and singing all the way from Newcastle to sunny South Shields.

Why did you choose your particular charity? Jim was a good friend of

ours. And he couldn't make it gig one time because he had cardiac

arrest so Rob became really good friends with Jim and Jim wanted us

to do a gig at his university, but instead we thought to raise more

money for organ donation we would do a half marathon and play guitar and

sing... That is crazy! You will join them in the latter stages of the

race? Yes, I am doing the last few yards. I have a bionic heart so it

will be quite a task for me but hopefully the percussion will be

good enough for these lives to finish in style! Yes, a fantastic

reason to take part today. Are you tuned in and ready to give me a bit

of a musical interlude? 2, numerically, 4...

# Language is dead, or so she believes

# I'm looking up, I'm socially bereaved

#... She lies on the border # One night in October... #.

They are not bad at all! Well done, guys. A round of applause!

GABBY LOGAN: I told you this year's Great North Run was very rock 'n'

roll. With me now... If you have a child or were born after the early

90s you will know this man's work. Terry Deary, the founder of the of

Horrible Histories and also our local man. Can I thank you as a

parent, and also as a consumer of what you do, because it is just

incredible, Horrible Histories? You buy the books so I should thank you.

Yes, but other people as well, bringing history alive for so many

young people. You are here today as a veteran of the Great North Run? A

veteran, sounds better than an old git... This is my 20th at the age of

70. It is just a wonderful experience. Something for club

runners like myself to aim for. And you're running for a special cause?

Campaign Canute, the Viking Centre, who were flooded out. Normally it is

for children with disabilities but this year it is a history one,

because they need to rebuild the centre, the Viking Centre, which

inspired me... I have been there many times and it is an amazing

place. It would be even better if people go. We are making you kind of

thing for your supper, because you have produced five excellent films

for us which have documented some Horrible Histories along the 13 mile

course, so we will look at the first which is just somewhere over there,

isn't it? Yes, on the other side of those trees. The Town Moor. The

Great North Run starts just over there alongside Newcastle's Town

Moor, and this was once the most horrible place in the city, because

this is the place where criminals were executed. In public. The

innocent as well as the guilty. The worst per version of Justice was in

1650 -- per version. A witch Hunter arrived from Scotland and offered to

point out any witches. The Putin said it corporation were not

thrilled. They sent out a man with a bell and invited anyone to name the

person they suspected. Verratti accused were tested by the witch

finder. -- Verratti accused. He stripped them to look for blemishes

on the skin and then put those to the test. If they bled they were

innocent but if they did not believe they were guilty and sentenced to

hang -- 30 accused. Of course it was fake test. The witch finder was

being paid 20 shillings for every which he found. 13 women and one man

were hanged here on the Town Moor Gallows, and thousands turned out to

watch. You will be pleased to hear the witch finder was suspected of

fraud and arrested in Scotland. He confessed to sending 220 people to

their deaths. And he was hanged. It is a sort of justice but no

consolation for his innocent victims, or their families. Until

the middle of the 1800, this patch of land continued to be used for

public executions -- 1800s. It was known as the Gallows gate in the

east of the city, and to this day Newcastle United football club still

has a Gallowgate end. So you are in Newcastle United supporter? No, I am

from Sunderland! I am a Black Cat! Black Cat... Witch! Plenty Of

Newcastle United Fans Will Be Thinking They Have Seen The Grim

Reaper Of Relegation At The Gallowgate End One Too Many Times.

Yes, I Am Absolutely Gutted for them! You will see he is a Black Cat

a little later on because there are four brilliant films of places

around the course and you will see them throughout the morning. Thank

you so much, Terry, and hope you smash record today. I wonder Peanut

will be posting a new personal best out on the course. He is discussing

race tactics with Ricky Wilson, no doubt. Peanut, this is weird. I am

interviewing year. Very strange. You're running the Great North Run

today. Three great charities have joined forces to benefit the

north-east. Tell me about it? I am running for a foundation have been

-- who have been building a music therapy centre and also Teenage

Cancer Trust. We are also doing it for the run, rock and raise, for the

Arena this evening. Tonight we are playing in the arena and it is the

slightly official aftershow so there are more tickets released so come on

down. I am proud of you because last night we were playing in Berlin and

by hook or by crook we have got you and your running on very little

sleep? Yes, but it is the occasion. The atmosphere... I have never done

anything like this before. You can get a feel for what the course is

right with all these people. I cannot wait to get going. I am a bit

jealous because now I am here I am feeling the atmosphere, I want to

run. I am covered in Vassell in and ready to go but you will run it for

me. I am very proud of you to stop cheers -- covered in vaseline.

GABBY LOGAN: The women's elite is also full of talent...

I think most of us think it could be a real head-to-head between Vivian

Cheruiyot and Tirunesh Dibaba. The crowd rise and so they should. A

majestic performance from the Queen of distance running. Cheruiyot smelt

blood and then she pounced. There is no way the Ethiopian to come back.

The rest of the field will not be able to believe what they have just

taken part in. These women are the very best in their field. A

mouthwatering contest in store there. In both elite races though

the fields are loaded with talent so let's find out the thoughts and

insights from our commentators who are at the finish already. Welcome

to a gloriously sunny South Shields where thousands upon thousands of

runners will cross, before that we have the elite races and to look at

them we have steamed crab and Steve the women's race is more competitive

than the men's? We have two of the all-time greats and we have one

all-time great in the men's. One who has done this before, Tirunesh

Dibaba, she has won the marathon and the half marathon and has had a

glorious track career. And Vivien Cherry at who we saw win the gold in

the 5000 after silver on the 10,000 -- Cheruiyot. The first opportunity

to see if this is a future for her. An awful lot of people in the

running world are curious to see how Vivian copes with the distance.

Winning her Olympic title on 5000 was a great reward for what has been

a great career. This is really a different test for her and one

against Tirunesh Dibaba who showed us in Rio she is on her way back to

be as good as she has ever been. As for the men's, we know one man is

set to take all of the attention. An amazing performance by an amazing

man. The greatest we have ever seen. When does it sink in what you have

managed to achieve? It takes a little while and you go back home

and you look back, I watched the race and thing really I did that.

Incredible from Mo Farrah. From the kid who started at age 12 and having

ambition watching the Olympics in Sydney and then thinking and telling

yourself I want to become an Olympic champion and doing it in your

hometown and then four years later, it's incredible, there are no words

to explain. You must have that feeling of satisfaction knowing all

the hard work has paid off? I know I gave it all I could in training and

there was not a day I missed. I worked as hard as I could and waited

six months away from the family. When you line up I tell myself, if a

better man beats today, let it be because there is not much more you

can do. What are the kids like when you show them the medals? Be

interested for a few seconds? A few seconds and that's it. London 2017,

going back to the place we had magical moments, it could happen

again? Just thinking about 2017I get nervous and excited and I would like

to end my career on track on a high. It's like the story is written for

you, it'd be a perfect ending. It's never goes to plan. Months leading

up to it, you get ill, you get little niggles and you fall. Mo has

fallen. I was panicking, people didn't see that but I thought my

race has done and it took me three or four laps to get back into it but

the trainers are talking to me saying it's OK you can get through

it. And I just gave a thumbs up. Mo Farrah wins the Great North Run

defends his title and their bitters. What's it like to be back in a place

where you have great success? I love it here. After my major races in

terms of the world and the Olympics, I like to finish up on the quayside

and get great support from the public. One more race I tell myself.

You have one at the last two years, no one has ever won three in a row

so how about that, another piece of history? It is possible. It is going

to be hard. But hopefully I can enjoy it and use the crowd as much

as I can. Great to see you here and enjoy Sunday. Double Olympic

champion. I can't believe it. He says it is going to be hard, in no

sporting event is it a foregone conclusion. I think this is his to

win. He has the opportunity as was said there is the chance to win

three times in a row and he has had an incredible summer but assuming

everything would go well in Rio, he was or was wanting to come here and

capped it off. I think the field is against him, there are a few runners

who are experienced, he could trip up and fall down in this one, it is

a question of how fast he wants to go and how much of a show he wants

to put on. Great weather today with a breeze behind them so it's pretty

much up to him how fast he goes. Here is the thing, 33 now, what is

his best distance, we have seen him from 1500 all the way up to

marathon. Where is his best? What he's doing on the track. He is

winning at 5000 and 10000 and there nobody yet has shown they are

capable of beating him so we will see him do that in London next time

at the World Championships next year but he is after a fresh challenge.

He rightfully is probably thinking I don't want to be caught out down the

line so it is a big opportunity for him. A half marathon is OK but we

even saw the world half marathon where he was beaten, I think he has

a big future whether or not the marathon in Tokyo is the right

thing, that remains to be seen. We will see and will it be a hatchery

of victories for him today. You wouldn't bet against him today. I am

looking forward to seeing the crowds coming out and giving their

appreciation. What a wonderful opportunity to show just how

appreciative we all are. The crowds are making their way down now to the

start line. Shaking their limbs, eating cereal bars and drinking

protein drinks. It is a fantastic festival of running. In the midst of

a tool, we may forgot to mention as well as the mass runners as an elite

runners, there are plenty of famous faces. George W Bush, Steven

Gerrard, Tony Blair, they are not running by Jon Culshaw is and he can

be all things to all men and Ricky Wilson caught up with them. Now how

are you doing? Not too bad. I've been involved with various marathon

sessions with you, usually in a pub, this is a half marathon for charity,

are you excited? I am, I am nervous but in a good way. The spirit here

is amazing. I'm going to be relying on that I think. When you run around

and people cheer you on it gives you a buzz that you are doing it for a

very good cause, can you tell us about it? The John egging trust. He

was the red Arrow pilot who lost his life at the show a few years down

the trust was set up by his wife Emma and it is there to help and

mental young people to reach the best potential they can -- Jon

Egging. And running at an amazing event. How are you going to get

through this, will you be channelling any runners? Brendan

Foster making his commentary over there and not Sebastian Coates. --

Sebastian Coates. I have been running on and off since the school

cross-country team, I have done the blackboard ten K a few times so I

will keep that in mind and hopefully have some good experience.

John everybody. Cheer remand Jon Egging, a very important trust. I'm

sure Michael Johnson would think of that, we would have to give him the

clip. It is great to see so many famous faces lending their support

to charity, raising profile as well as fans amongst the 57,000 today and

what glorious conditions they have. Temperatures are really getting on

to the likes of 18, it'll be fantastic for the elite runners,

some slower paced runners might find it a bit tougher as they head down

to the seaside at South Shields. At the moment they are all excited and

there will be people who have never done it before there. There are

plenty of veterans and of course there is a real -- wheelchair race.

Great Britain do very good at the Paralympics over the field in the

wheelchair race not as strong as some years because our best athletes

are competing for gold and glory but it is about to get and perhaps these

the stars of the future he will make this journey now from Newcastle to

South Shields. That is the Lord Mayor of Newcastle who has them on

their way. They are leading the way and of course it is the elite women

who will go off next in a few minutes time before we see them, I'm

delighted to say I've been joined in the studio here with Lord Sebastian

Coe David Rhodesia who will get everybody on their way along with

Amy Tinkler. The local Olympian who won a bronze in Rio. Would you make

of today David? It's great to be here and to be part of this

wonderful big half marathon. It's amazing. I was teasing him yesterday

saying in a few years' time when he has lost a bit of speed, he might

fancy coming here, you were supposed to be running it? I was I'm a bit

frustrated today. I'm delighted to be here as a spectator but I started

training quite hard fritz which probably tells you I shouldn't of

been doing it. What happened? About a week ago it all started to not

work suddenly and I ended up with a low back and decided it was probably

better to be a spectator. I ignored the advice I gave everybody for

years. And I didn't follow it. There is a huge appreciation here, what

did you make of David's gold in Rio? They were different races. His

performance in London for me was the performance of the games at any

event and I was just delighted to see him successfully double up and

win again in Rio because he is the best 800-metre runner of all time.

David we are getting off in a few seconds time, final words of advice

for anybody out there? Actually unite in sports, all you have to do

is your best. For the athlete I know they have prepared. Smiling like you

as well. Thank you David and said they will be joined by a meeting so

let's hand you over to the commentary team now.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you Gabby. Good morning everybody on a beautiful day

as everybody has been saying. We are looking forward to welcoming

everybody to South Shields for the finish including our elite athletes

already on the line. The women not too far away from their start and we

were in the preview talking about the quality of the field here. We

spoke about the two big names but also Joyce Chepkirui, second in the

New York half marathon earlier this year and a swift 67.41, Colin was

champion at 10,000 metres. Former winner she won here a few years ago,

Priscah Jeptoo. Eight in the London Marathon earlier this year. She was

not selected for the Kenyan team. Pretty disappointed. Gemma Steel.

Gemma has flirted with the marathon, the half marathon is certainly an

event she has done well at. Third best ever.

Gemma will be hoping to lead the British contingent today. And then

as we saw, one of the all-time great if not the best, certainly on track,

Tirunesh Dibaba, one in 2012 and has got real potential still on the

roads despite everything she has done on the track. Joining her

finally with an Olympic title, Cheruiyot, one of the greatest ever

athletes in Kenya, she took the 5,000-metre title after being second

in the 10,000. The elite women have the roads all to themselves to begin

with. Big smiles from Seb. Come on, Seb.

The elite women finally get under way and a lot of support from them.

They will be making up 50% of the main field for the Great North Run.

A few others out there to look for, Alyson Dixon, who of course

represented Great Britain in the marathon, and in the blue with the

sunglasses right behind Gemma Steel, Charlotte Purdue. Charlotte again,

one of our bright young talents over recent years, trying to move up and

tried to make a team in Rio in the marathon, as indeed did Lily

Partridge as well. But on a day like today when the weather is so good,

perfect conditions for running fast if they chose to do it. Slight

breeze as well. It could be an intriguing race for Cheruiyot and

Tirunesh Dibaba. The names, scrolling through, Lily Partridge,

she could well go pretty well today, Freya Ross... And if we are thinking

about times on a day like this, I am not sure whether Dibaba and

Cheruiyot are thinking about times, but the course record, who won the

last two years, 65.39, from Mary. I am not sure if we will get that but

let's hope for a pretty quick race. I will try to guide you through

this... Overall, and you can see the elevation there, they do drop in

distance. Nice downhill section over the Tyne Bridge, then past Gateshead

International Stadium. On the dual carriage, passing the crowds there,

then in about six miles they take the time passed my old track at

Jarrow, at the seven, eight mile point, then this is where it gets a

little bit of a drag up, then South Shields and they will be able to

smell the sea and drop steeply down along the Leas and find us here at

the finish. I am delighted to see... And these cameras are coming from

our helicopter, of course, and the other helicopter which can carry

more people and more weight brought Brendan and Paula, who have made it

into the commentary box. Safe journey, guys. Well done. Yes, great

view of the course and of sunny South Shields, waiting here... Lets

get Paula and throat lozenge! Brendan, I know you have had the odd

bit of bad weather over the years, but what a day-to-day? Yes, a lovely

day, Steve. Vivian Cheruiyot in the blue dress, just behind Gemma Steel.

What a glorious performance it was of horrors and the Olympic Games. A

personal best in the 10,000 metres. I spoke to the other day and she

said, I thought after that I would never win an Olympic gold medal but

then in the 5000 metres things turned around and she was able to

win that elusive gold medal so no Vivian Cheruiyot, Olympic career

almost behind her, embarks on this road and it will be interesting to

see what she does. As we look down on the elite women, with all the

great achievements you will hear about today, one stands clear of the

rest, Claire Lomas, who suffered serious injury following from a

horse in 2007, which left her paralysed from the chest down. On

Wednesday she started the Great North Run course wearing these

supporting legs to help her stand. Every step a deliberate and

difficult effort but she has completed the Great North Run today,

after five days. She did the London Marathon. Channelled round England

on hand operated bicycle and she has raised ?500,000 for spinal research.

She is also currently expecting her second child. He was Colin Jackson

to give her her medal and never has one be more deserved. I think of all

the medals we saw in Olympics, but this is how special it is... I am

worn out! How fantastic does it feel at the end, Claire? Amazing. I am

worn out! I will just be pleased to sit down. It has been hard, really

hard, but the support has been incredible. The Great North Run

team. The donations, my support team, Dan, in particular, holding me

up. It is hilly out there, and everyone helped me get through, my

little girl, and everyone, really, my mum and dad. I met many of them

yesterday and of course we bumped into each other in the list and you

were getting the final preparations in your mind. Was it really as tough

as you thought? Cover, and more! It has been extra tough because I did

not train as much as I wanted to. I'm actually 16 weeks pregnant as

well -- tougher, and more. It made it even tougher. I was not very well

this summer. Have been sick all the time and could not get into it as

much as I wanted. There were times, where I just don't know... It rubbed

me in a few places, the straps, and I questioned a few times whether I

would actually be here today so I am absolutely over the moon. This will

be a really hard question. Anything else planned? At this level? I will

pop the baby out first! And I tell you what, that is a challenge!

Having two! One drives me mad, but two! That will be a challenge. It be

four years to get over the London Marathon, five

years to get over having a baby and they seem to have forgotten both are

now doing them both again, so you never know! You know what, I have a

special medal for a certain person who is behind you and has been

working so hard. Do you think he deserves it? Yes, but he has to run

it next year! Yes, I will give him his medal. Congratulations, well

done, and, really, get the support from the crowd. You thoroughly

deserve it. Kagiso much. Well done to Claire. I was listening to her

this morning being interviewed on five live by colleagues -- thank you

so much. She explained to Colin how hard she was finding it but

congratulations to her, a great reception for her down at the finish

with thousands of people are already gathered, and they have plenty of

sun cream, which is good. They do not have some cream shops normally

in South Shields, but the ones who do have been doing a roaring trade!

-- they do not normally have sun cream. It is lowest year but we are

expecting to pick up a little bit. Paula, probably not unusual

considering Tirunesh and Vivian fresh from Rio, feeling through

these early miles. Yes, just taking some time to settle into the race.

The first mile is slightly downhill so is usually a bit quicker than

that but I think perhaps signs that Charlotte Purdue and those up at the

front, Alyson Dixon, they would have been expecting to hold up at the

back of the front group early on and are pushing on the pace a little bit

there to try to get the race moving. I think it will come down to the

likes of Priscah Jeptoo to get it moving in the early stages.

Cheruiyot and Dibaba did run hard in Rio and although they have the

potential to run 65 minutes, on this course, whether they wanted today,

and Vivian particularly on her debut, we will see, but certainly

not setting out with the pace to challenge that. They have come up

with a fairly steep rise onto the Tyne Bridge. The crowds are

gathering there of course with a great vantage point. A lot of them

will attempt, once they have seen their friends and the elite runners

go by, they will then try to get themselves down to the finish as

well. But a great vantage point, so the Tyne Bridge, Brendan, you can

fill us in on this. There is an emoji here, so firstly can you

explain to everyone what an emoji is? Yes, they are on your phone. It

is an emoji and a lot of the young audience will know exactly what

you're talking about and left saw what I am speaking about, but there

they format, crossing the Tyne Bridge, the famous site. -- via the

go. Runners of repute and of talent and eventually you will see the

masses coming across there but for the moment, looking at the field,

the only thing you would look at as an athlete would be the competition.

The times for a half marathon, some wonderful ones we have seen, but

when you look at Vivian Cheruiyot and Tirunesh Dibaba, two of the

world's greatest female distance runners we have ever seen, you would

think the battle between those two and the finishing order between

those two, finishing second and third in the Olympic Games in the

10,000 metres, you would imagine who comes first, it will be and even

more interesting question. As you can see Cheruiyot dart through to

move a bit closer to the leader. As you can see Cheruiyot

darts leader. Paula, I am just trying to work out

Alyson 's vest. Can you fill us in? Yes, I got a text last night from

her asking for a spear vest because she had forgotten her is, so that is

why it looks a bit like a dress on her!

LAUGHTER Goodness me. I suppose she had other

things to think about. Anyway, it is all happening at the front of the

women's race but also let's find out about what is happening back at the

start. Right, I am joined here by Kevin and Michael, footballers. You

want to do this in about 90 minutes, 90 minutes of running around, you're

used to it? Not for me! I used to get substituted before 90 minutes

but I... Yes, if I get round about that time, I will be happy! But it

is just running in a straight line, not all over the place, and you

don't even have a ball! As you know, it hurts, it hurts like heck! Every

part of your body, but it is for a great cause and I think there are

57,000 people out today, which is great. Which great cars are you

doing it for today? Cardiac risk in the young, so to raise a bit of

money on the way will be good. And yourself? Yes, a great man in

football and a great cause, to raise ?2 million in the last eight years,

raise new equipment and raise awareness to beat cancer. When I

have run a marathon before, you know, the atmosphere, you're kind of

use to that, so how would you get through today? The last two or three

miles, they will have to put me through it, because I am not used to

this and I will struggle. I will probably get booed for the first

five miles in Newcastle but once I get through and into Sunderland they

should cheer for me. It is incredible, 57,000 people doing it,

but there must be 200,000 people watching right round the course

which is incredible really. I will wait at the end and have a couple of

bits for you and then we will have a party tonight. Good luck, gents.

Great causes. See you later. Mickey great, great to see he runs every

year. Not a bad run, does very well every single year -- Grey. He's a

good footballer as well, isn't he? Played for a good team. Who was

that? Sunderland! You're outnumbered today. Me and Terry Deary are

gearing up on you. At least you guys are winning. Are you on Match Of The

Day? No, you're not any more. At the front we have the sprint, and the

Gateshead Stadium, it is coming in, at three males, but not particularly

quick for the second mile. Paula, the very fact that everybody is

still there are... I can understand Cheruiyot, as you said, first half

marathon, feeling her way through little bit, but Joyce Chepkirui ran

pretty well in New York earlier in the year, in pretty good shape, or

Priscah Jeptoo, one of those, we thought could maybe break and a

little earlier and get things moving a bit? I would have thought so.

Priscah Jeptoo probably did not run as well as she would have expected

to, as well as we expected her to, in the London Marathon earlier this

year, so perhaps she is not the ship she was the year before, a couple of

years ago here, she also knows she's capable of a very fast bit in the

middle of the race. Two years ago I think it was, we saw her run that

split in the middle portion of this race, so she can do that to break

the race up, but I would certainly expect the likes of heart or Joyce

Chepkirui to push the pace on early and kind of take the race a little

bit to the leaders because once we get into that last five kilometres

if those two are anywhere near the front it is not really going to go

any other way you today, so they should challenge them to take the

race to them, and I think that is why we can see Eloise Wellings there

at the front, pushing on the pace, and Gemma Steel alongside her, just

trying to keep the race moving at a decent

Louise Welling is one of those who followed her home -- Eloise

Wellings. Eloise running very well, getting a top ten in the Olympics is

a great performance. There is Gateshead Stadium. They're just

coming alongside the scene of so many international athletics

meetings over the year. The English schools was held there this year. It

was a great event. 40 years ago this year, he made his first appearance

and his first international race, he ran the mile race against John Moore

who was coming back as Olympic champion and Dave Moorcroft and he

led until the last laugh and it wasn't until he got to the bell went

Dave Moorcroft said you have to get after him and it was only a young

lad at university then. He was only 19 but he started his career there

and was talking affectionately about last night. Sap has a significant

birthday coming up let's just say it begins with a six. -- Seb. Back at

the start everybody lining up no need for the extra clothing on a day

like this. All getting nicely warmed up by the sunshine and a great

atmosphere here and I think the news has someone with her now. I'm here

with Ryan McLeod who has a pretty impressive cast today. The

pacemaker? Yes I am working for Duracell today. I will be running

with the masses and setting the pace around seven minute mile and

hopefully get everybody to finish on time. That's a huge honour? Because

I'm really looking forward to it. It's nice to be in the Masters,

normally I'm in the elite field so I will have to slow myself down and

take it easy. A stroll in the park. What is the time you are setting?

One hour 35. And your best is? One hour four. Sold rural stroll in the

park. Yes. I imagine you don't want to overcook it today? Yes I will use

a GPS watch to keep me on track to make sure I'm not going to quit

because I don't want to make it too fast and too hard but everybody

knows I will be at a seven minute mile there or thereabouts. You have

a very special connection to the run? A family connection. My dad was

the winner of the first and second great Northern run so that bit of a

tradition to the Great North Run. Have you got your pinkies with the?

I have right here. -- pink ears. I will get a lot of abuse for this.

Great to talk to. Ryan's dad Mickey winning in 1981,

some of us were in that race. A long time ago, it was a great day and I

don't think anybody knew what it would grow into. It certainly lived

up to the name since. And you beat me, I'm happy to say that. I was

queueing you up there. In the women's now breaking up a little

bit, Gemma Steel with the long ponytail, they have run the third

mile so it is picked up a bit, still not really fast running both. A 5.10

pace would be quick. It's about that. A little bit quicker 5.09 is

67 and a half pace. So when I say 510 is 68. Can I talk to you because

I'm going a hard time with my maths are. We have seen how sharp shears

with this. But she used to it out herself when she was running because

she had no pacemakers and when you get beyond five miles, the maths

becomes quite difficult. They are running a bit quicker now, a little

quicker so Joyce Chepkirui, Cheruiyot, I'm just looking at

Dibaba, her performance in Rio got overlooked a little bit, the world

record ahead of an Cheruiyot running so well but it was a real sign that

she has become a mum last year and that it is still in there?

Definitely we watch Terry Manchester on the ten K on the road and you

could see the runner issue was that she was not back to that level but

what she did in Rio was run a personal best, run very close to the

old world record and get herself a medal and be extremely competitive

in one of the best 10,000 races we have ever seen is that was a big

step for her confidence wise and getting back to this level so to be

able to come into the race on the back of that and know that she has

the half marathon experience that Vivien Cheruiyot doesn't have, that

is why we are seeing now maybe if it's more confidence of the leading

group of five, just biding her time and not using any extra energy and

Cheruiyot on the yellow that hard to miss on the inside but looks very

economical and efficient. When she was talking about the real Olympics

-- Rio Olympics, she said we were running together and it was only

when we had the stadium announcer telling us the lap times of the

leader, she started running more and I thought my goodness, she is

slowing down. But she said when I crossed the line I couldn't remember

whether I had passed her and was in first place or whether she had

already finished. She said she was so committed in the race but she

said time thinking during the race when she became Olympic champion

that she has to look forward to taking his eye could be the last

chance to win an Olympic gold medal. Ayala remembers her going past, it

was a decisive move which really took the last wind in her lungs away

from her. That group starting to split a little bit, some pressure

applied by Cheruiyot in her first half marathon and Joyce Chepkirui at

the back of the group may be struggling a little bit. Very early

stages as they go towards the roundabout but already some

significant moves being made in the women's race. Meanwhile they are

four miles down the road back on the Central motorway next to tell more.

Mo Farrah of course will be introduced to the crowd along with a

few others on the official start line with the elite start line. I

was saying earlier in the preview when Andrew and I were having a

chat, this is really Mo 's race today. David McNeill Australia. It'd

be interesting to see how he goes in his first half marathon. The Aussies

having a resurgent at that distance running. A man who knows Mo Farrah

so well, Chris Thomson, a long-time friend and training partner. Chris

chased motorhome in the European Championships in 2010 and watched

him go on since then. Emmanuel Bett, 33 years of age and he is always a

solid performer the Kenyan. Had some good years around 2012 and again

didn't make the team. So hard to make the Kenyan team and the same

can be said for days and written home the Olympic team didn't work

out for him in the American trials which were held in January or early

February -- Dathan Ritzenhein. He fell in the 10,000 metres and the

kind words he got. Everyone is ready, they all shop a lot closer to

the starting line. We have two special starter set, David Rhodesia

and Amy Tinkler, the local girl is with David. He fires the gun and the

2016 Great North Run is underway. Mo Farrah the red-hot favourite and I'm

sure all of these people will go home tonight and say I raced Mo

Farrah today and I let him win. It is a wonderful aspect of these big

races that you get to line up with the best in the world. We might not

see much of them but at least you can say you started the race. Away

they go down and we will watch these great scenes every single year as

they streamed through this start. The well oiled machine that make

sure everybody starts off safely and gets away in a manner which

hopefully allows them to have a great day out there, whether they

are running from a personal best or whether they are running as so many

of them are to raise money for various causes, some of them very

close to their own lives, some of them have been asked to help out.

Offers some for whom this is the first time they have done anything

like this. Rusher or four song. This year, there is Amy, a bronze medal.

I remember doing a piece of her earlier in the year when she was

talking about Rio and she did not believe winning a medal was up for

her but well done. It is being pointed out she is wearing a wrist

supports because she's worried about all the high-fiving and clapping.

And she needs those wrist to work. I was talking to her this morning and

she is from her way to the gym from here. I said you can have a few

weeks off? She said no if you are a gymnast you have to carry on

Marussia loser skills. Out there today thousands of people -- or you

lose your skills. All of the amazing charities. David Rhodesia was giving

advice, don't clap everyone David you will be hurting. My daughter

Catherine is out there running and my sister Anna who used to run with

you guys is out running so good luck to Katherine and Anna. We'll be

tracking them en route. I want to say good luck as well. We were

talking about our earlier running days and one of my neighbours Kevin

Allen is out there with his wife Catherine. His 12 Great North Run

and raising money for pancreatic Cancer UK. Catherine running in

memory of her first husband Phil who died back in 2003. There is the

queue at the back. Those runners and athletes lining up, they'll almost a

mile away from the start line you can see both sides of the

carriageway, the race is underway. There are a hell of a lot more there

waiting to get going as we panned down, we see the crowds they're

getting ready to move and the good news is they have their chips on

their ankles and they'll be timed as they go through but here we are,

this will take 45 minutes for them to get to the starting line. There

are a lot of people lined up, a lot of the walking gently towards the

start and there you can see just beginning to move as they get

through the starting line and there they are, on their journey, 13.1

miles to go. It seems a bit warm, it is bright today. There is the centre

of Newcastle emptying as they head to the seaside.

The central motorway widening through the centre of Newcastle city

centre. And then down to the Tyne Bridge. A very quick start for them

where the women by contrast are making their way towards White

Manipal where they take a sharp left, they went through five miles

and they have gone a little quicker but still not too quick. Tirunesh

Dibaba is still there, we wondered whether she was struggling a little

bit but I think she is staying quiet as we might say during this part of

the race letting Joyce Chepkirui and Cheruiyot, they are not forging the

pace but they are keeping the upfront. Just charity work out

whether there is a breeze out there and she is trying to get what

shelter she could. This certainly for a moment she was not happy and

she was looking to check he was right behind her and now she is a

little bit happier that Tirunesh Dibaba is beside her. She looks

comfortable and looks to be letting the others just get the race moving

and not really getting anything special for using up too much energy

early on in the race. They will kind of beer left a little

then start to turn towards the seafront as they approached six

miles of the women's race -- veer left. The women have started much

quicker and everything we have been saying about the men, Mo Farah the

big favourite to win this, and as I said at the beginning it is really

interesting how fast Mo was to start today, but at least they have

started pretty quickly on the job around -- group around him have made

sure it will not be an easy job in the first couple of miles -- the men

have started faster. What he said to me, must be tired by now, surely. He

has been running quite well so says he will run for his money but at the

end of the day we will find out as the miles on fold how tired Mo is as

they leave the city centre, towards the Tyne Bridge, heading towards

South Shields here at the finish line with thousands and thousands of

people -- as the miles on fault. It will be a long time before the race

ends, but there is a thin Ritzenhein heading towards the Tyne Bridge. You

can see the figure of the USA athlete getting ready to run the New

York Marathon in a few weeks' time -- Dathan Ritzenheim. Mo Farah's

years will be so if he stays on that side of the track because of the

crowd roaring. Chris Thompson in the red vest is just behind Ritzenheim,

making a race of this. A pretty good pace being set in the early stages

of the men's race, as they come across the Tyne Bridge on a

beautiful day such as this. So they will not have time for the views but

it is a great view looking up and down the river. Yesterday we were

there of course for the city games and the junior runs and it was

absolutely rammed. We have been blessed with the weather this

weekend which is absolutely wonderful. When they come back the

Tyne Bridge of course Darren to the south side of the River Tyne towards

Gateshead, towards Jarrell and then to South Shields, as we said, but

the crowd is really building on the Tyne Bridge and of course it will

take quite a long time for the whole failed to come across the bridge and

soon you will not be able to see the road surface at all -- down to the

south side of the River Tyne towards Gateshead, towards Jarrell. We will

be hearing more around all the different countries being

represented this year, a wonderful race which has grown from being a

local event to regional, national, and now hugely international event,

not just in the elite races, of course but right down throughout the

field. The various little groups starting to form. Good club athletes

as well, and a pretty good pace being set. That is why I think the

early group will break it. If they keep running at this pace there will

not be too many in that league group early on. It equals the pace set by

the course record run are in 2011 of 58.50 six. If we keep at that pace

they are definitely on for a personal best for pretty much

everybody in this group including Mo Farah -- 58.56. Dathan Ritzenheim

has been quite a lot of time at the top of this sport, winning as a

junior, they're developing into an outstanding track runner, ran

American records, over 5000 metres. He knows Mo Farah very well, trained

together with him in Oregon for a long time. He will want to take the

race to Mo and he knows Mo will come to this race extremely ready and in

extremely good shape, but he also wants to be able to go away knowing

he gave it his best shot and took the race to Mo little bit. You

cannot blame him running like this because the question is, has Mo

recovered sufficiently from Rio? He has had a bit of rest since Rio, but

now the women's race is getting competitive, Tirunesh Dibaba sitting

at the back of that group quite nicely, Vivian Cheruiyot looks to be

full of the running to me. She was really anticipating this race and

looking forward to a longer career at long-distance, too. And you can

see the ten kilometre has just been completed and you can see the time

there, but the previous mile was 4.57, and I would say it as

quickest, you drop down and then take a left as they come now towards

Jarrow, but that just shows the race really have started to get moving

and Dibaba is still there which is good, still working a little bit.

Eloise Wellings is a good 80, 90 metres behind at this point, and

that has really just happened in one mile. So through 10K this race is

really starting to hot up. But that is a fast mile and you know when you

have been running 5.30s and 5.20s, then the one that, and you could say

I suppose she's in a 65 second lap in the middle of the final, but it

can upset it and you have to settle down after that. Because you cannot

keep it up all the way to the finish. No, but if it is a slightly

downhill stretch you can take advantage of the momentum you can

build up to increase the stride length a little bit, it is a

turnover of the turnover was a bit, quicker mile. Where that evens out

is if you do try to maintain that then on the flag into the slight

incline that will follow because that will start to do damage, and

you can see Eloise Wellings there is just not able to go with that

increased turnover and pace because she was already operating fairly

close to her maximum level, whereas these girls were within their

maximum and were just able to adapt to that, and then you can see Jeptoo

checking her watch there, are we running a little bit quicker? Or

perhaps she is trying to gauge how much longer she has to run in the

race, because that is the other difference. The Kenyan athletes, a

lot of the time, instead of looking for mile markers along the course,

they just think I will roughly four around about 66, 67 minutes, and run

as hard as I can for time. Whilst the approach seven males, back at

the start -- while the approach. And David Rudisha is still doing a grand

job... He is getting me nervous... Well, he has no more races and even

if he does he doesn't need to use his arms! It is great to see him

here. I thought he ran very well yesterday, by the way, that 500

metres, 7.7, very fast, so he is a big hero. I am not sure he gets as

much of the international recognition that he probably

deserves, the respect he has within the sport however is immense. It is

great to see him here, and Amy Tinkler as well, great memories from

Rio for both of them. So many people that are out there running for great

causes. I mentioned Alex Murray who is running and approaching ?3000,

well done to her, and Susan Bell running for the Teenage Cancer

Trust, good luck to her as well. There we are, three mile point,

Gateshead Stadium, you can see the athletes in the background running

past the stadium. Good luck to Simon June, who is running for Cancer

Care, and his wife Jo died recently. We know she will be with you every

step of the week, Simon. Setting out pretty quickly here. They did slow

the second mile to 4.40, but Mo Farah happily just tucked into the

grid there which is where he will stay for an awful long time, I am

pretty sure. And that group is not too big. Chris Thompson, good to

see, he has really been coming back into some good form, Chris. So he

has thrown himself into this. 14.16, 5K, and Abdi, the training partner

of Mo Farah who follows him around and does all of his work-outs with

him, was there with them in fontanelle preparing for Rio, he is

still there, and Scott Overall is leading the next great -- Fonteneau.

Early stages in the name's race. And Ritzenheim, as Brendan was

mentioning earlier, thinking, let's just have a little pest and see

whether or not Mo is up for this. I think the big question is whether

Ritzenheim can keep running at a strong enough pace for long enough

to start having a real impact, if you like. It is really easy to run

the first four, five miles hard, but it is what happens after that. If

you look at them, Ritzenheim, Chris Thompson, this is exactly what they

should be doing, making it fast. They know Mo has come through the

mental and physical trials of the Olympic Games and they are both in

awe of him and respect him hugely as the world's greatest distance runner

of the moment but they also know he is human, that he sometimes can't

hire, and really this is exactly what you want to do. Dathan

Ritzenheim, Chris Thompson, Emmanuel Bett, and Mo Farah, although with a

lot more support than the others. They are all being cheered on but

that extra special cheer for Mo who is a national hero. A total distance

running legend. I think for Chris Thompson out here as well today

there is a little bit of frustration being taken out of this race. The

last time we saw him on British TV he was very disappointed with his

finish in the London Marathon, but at the same time proud of himself

for what he was able to achieve that day after the very limited and very

difficult build-up he had through injury, so he has got himself

healthy, has worked hard over the summer, and I think he wants to come

out here and have a good run today and kind of underlying the progress

he has made over the summer, so it will be nice to see him run quick

today. Kieran Kennedy well in his last race, the seven miles, and that

probably give a good indication... Unita kind of have the confidence

that your last couple of races have gone OK to either go with this --

you kind of need to have. He must be feeling good and confident. I am not

sure he would have liked Dathan to go quite as hard as this, perhaps 15

seconds slower through the first five kilometres would have suited

him better and the fact he has gone to the back of this group as they

take the rise up this kind of undulating section towards the

roundabout... Ritzenheim just keeping the pace on the front. -- at

the front. As I said earlier, a few minutes ago, it would not take long

before you could not see the road surface of the Tyne Bridge, and that

was really the picture that went around the UK then eventually round

the world in those early years that made people want to come back and

take part in this. The Tyne Bridge, even though it is in the very early

stages of the race, it has become the picture that everybody

associates with the Great North Run. And many are still waiting. About

three, four minutes, ago, I had a note saying about 16,000 across the

starting line and it is probably about 20 now, David Rashid are

there, so plenty left to go. -- David Rudy show there. Plenty of

people come to the finish, park their car, then get themselves to

the start line. Do they go on the metro in that fancy dress? No, they

were beamed up, or something! Star Trek! Or is it Star Wars? She is

correcting you again, it is like being at home on a Sunday morning!

Yes, I will have to do my homework more! She is going on a quiz show

tomorrow so I will not mention that... If she doesn't do well I

will give her a hard time. Ant and Dec, great to see them out there.

News from the women's race is I said you would not keep running 4.57s,

but they did, they went 4.54, through the seventh mile, then threw

mile eight, really quick running, picking up to such an extent that

Dibaba is definitely struggling now and Cheruiyot may be sensing that,

giving this place going. Yes, Cheruiyot looks really good and

easy. On her debut I think she either comes in thinking, I will sit

back and let the more experienced half marathon girls take it out

early on, or I will go out with the attitude that I have nothing to

lose, really. If I get the pace, judgment a little wrong on my first

time, well, it is my debut, but I know I'm in good shape, the best

shape I have ever been in, and she is just enjoying the run out here.

Her first real experience. She has run a ten mile, but her first real

experience of a mass road race, the support you get on the bus that can

give you along the route. This section here, the pace has picked up

and running fast. Dibaba has obviously realise that and Vivian

realising this... This is a tough mile, slightly uphill. She is

probably thinking, I am feeling good, pace is good, I am running at

the front, then all of a sudden you come into a mile that is a bit

tougher than the ones you have just been running so I just wonder

whether or not Tirunesh Dibaba is There are very close race indeed.

Mark Telford to get ahead of Brett Crossley. Mark Telford went out

early and took the lead and built it up and then Crossley was closing in

but Telford takes it, the man from Perth in Scotland ahead of Brett

Crossley believes athletes, the future Paralympic on. Maybe came a

bit too early in his development for the Olympics that Mark Telford the

winner of the wheelchair race in the Great North Run. Great race from

them, just to continue that point about Dibaba, Cheruiyot has that

offer bit. The gaps have opened slightly but if you look at the

front, you are seeing Tirunesh Dibaba, the greatest female athlete

of all time, three Olympic gold medals, three Olympic bronze medals,

no female has individually won more medals than that in the Olympic

Games. Next to her the Olympic 5,000-metre champion, Tirunesh

Dibaba was the previous champion that then Vivian went ahead to win

the Olympic 5000. We are looking at two legends of female long-distance

running and these athletes are now getting ready after wonderful track

is to move onto the road. Today the half marathon is a first step and

suddenly after 45 minutes of running, Tirunesh Dibaba suddenly

comes to life and this is the closest and most competitive we have

seen her so far. The now have another little downhill bit and then

goes up again to the roundabout. Tirunesh is just looking who is

behind her, there is only Joyce Chepkirui and Vivian Cheruiyot so

just back onto the incline. Dibaba maybe sensing Vivian went a bit too

early. I think it was a little bit of subtle mind games, coming up the

incline, Tirunesh Dibaba sensed Vivian Cheruiyot had made a move and

was then just backing off a tiny bit so she easily glides alongside her

as if to say I'm still here, that hasn't done a lot of damage to me,

but now I've let you know I'm here, I'm just going to drop to the back

again. Vivian Cheruiyot pushes on again and tries again just to turn

the screw a little more and get daylight opening up between herself

and Dibaba. It is real cut and man. -- Mall. All of a sudden as they

crested that thrives Dibaba on the downhill section. This will be

because there is a fair bit of up and down, if you feel good on the

uphill bits and you want to push on and you think your opponent is

struggling on the puppets and tend to take the downhill better, there

is eventual drop when they come onto the seafront. The men's race down to

three already, Chris Thomson has dropped off, this is a good pace by

Dathan Ritzenhein. He is doing a very worst thing on his behalf. Now

he's doing what he said he would do and he's going to make more run for

his money. Emmanuel Bett in second place and Mo Farrah inverts the

men's down to three. It is getting competitive now and I am impressed

with data and written home, he is running strongly and well -- Dathan

Ritzenhein. He's preparing for the New York Marathon and I think you

came here wanting to run hard and make it a hard tempo, he struggled a

little bit to run to his potential in the marathon and he struggled a

bit to get the fuel and right and drinking right so he definitely is

using this as a test and as a build and he wants to go into New York

City in eight weeks and run well. Meanwhile at the Tyne Bridge,

friends of the Great North Run, great friends of the Great North

Run, the red arrows flying overhead. Honouring this event is with their

flight path as they have done for so many years now, all the way back to

2002, they have come every single year and a very welcome indeed. A

resplendent day such as today, we get a spectacular view of their

skill and expertise and we will be seeing more of them a little bit

later on. Interestingly Dibaba struggling as

they go through 15 K. That is a roundabout 15.30 which is very quick

for a five K section and that is why Dibaba is struggling. She made the

little move in a gesture to try and get the pace to back off a little

bit and intimidate the other two to do that because before I thought it

was Priscah Jeptoo struggling to stay with the increasing pace but

now it is Dibaba who lack the gap to open up and that is hard because

she's running on her own and she can see the two ahead of and is working

hard to close the gap and get back to them but is not making any

inroads. In fact it is growing slightly. Around about 15 metres

between Tirunesh Dibaba and the leading pair here of Vivian

Cheruiyot and Priscah Jeptoo. Priscah Jeptoo a former winner back

in 2013. Vivian Cheruiyot a first-time writer of this distance

but looking very good, carrying her brilliant Olympic form into the

race. But they still have about 3.5 Mars, maybe a bit less to go.

Approaching the ten mile point -- miles. One of two hilly sections,

not big hills but when you're at ten miles which certainly can have an

effect. They drag. They drag for a long time, for almost a mile and

that can be very tiring when you run as hard as you can over a 30 mile

distance and you are already 11 miles in. The red arrows will head

down to South Shields eventually and the guys have made their turn now,

they are approaching the ten kilometre point and we will be able

to get an indication that it is Emmanuel Bett now who is taken up

the challenge. He saying just slipping behind me, just a little

word, just coming up to the ten kilometres split and they know

exactly what they are doing here, Mo Farrah trying to dictate things as

he does on the track, he does it on the track by his presence and he

says there you go to the front and get behind me and do as you told, Mo

, conduct the orchestra. I think Dathan Ritzenhein Willett is getting

behind it because you cannot go faster any more. He was probably

saying you're doing well but he set the pace and inevitably if they're

going to keep running at this pace, I think you were saying he was in

61, 62 minutes shape but when they start running 60 minutes pace he

will struggle. Approaching ten kilometres, you can see the orange

sign on the left. We get the split in the second. The previous miles

have been around 4.40, the slow smile has been that, a good pace,

not record pace that a good pace being set so Bett and Mo Farrah,

Dathan Ritzenhein will have to hold on. 28.32 through ten kilometres.

Not bad on the track even if you are running that. Funnily enough, I told

Emmanuel Bett this morning and he said if you felt strong in the race

he would try to run away from Mo Farrah because he knows he had a

magnificent performance in the Olympic Games but he feels strong

enough. He's at the front, Kenny run away from Mo Farrah? -- can he run.

So those three have a 32nd lead on the chasing group. Ritzenhein as I

said, we will have to keep an eye on him. Thomson is ready a minute, if

you consider he was with the group to Mars ago and has lost 52 seconds

and two miles, -- two miles ago. That gap is not getting any bigger

and the longest Tirunesh Dibaba that can hold onto the gap, the more her

confidence can grow, this is the roundabout when they head into the

new area. They have about a mile and a half to go before they reach the

seafront and that hasn't really gotten any bigger and Jewish chariot

may be aware that he wonder if these make more of an effort to push on,

kind of picking the paces up here? -- Vivian Cheruiyot. He saw her take

a look over her shoulder they're just gauging how big the gap was

back to Tirunesh Dibaba. She increased the pace, puts her head

down and kept working hard and Tirunesh Dibaba has not slowed down,

the last mile was 4.58 so a sub five-minute mile which increases the

pressure on Tirunesh Dibaba van from the overhead shot, she is managing

to maintain the gap and it is hard when you feel like you should be

able to close it and you actually see it start, it can be

demoralising. It is tantalising. Not definitely all over for Tirunesh

Dibaba but, she is definitely working to close the gap. Lets face

it, we have seen her over the years, we have seen how great of an athlete

she is that we rarely think about her as a competitor because when she

wins she has been winning easily over the years and here she is in

the race, she has won it before and is comeback from the Olympic Games,

a personal best in the 10000 and she has a few more road races in the

autumn and then she's getting ready for a marathon next year. Tirunesh

Dibaba, the greatest female distance runner of all time now and that

limbo between can I just hang on, can I close the back, you are

looking at a formidable athlete with Vivian Cheruiyot and I know it is

her debut but she's a great runner. Exceptional run up at the other

thing about Tirunesh Dibaba is the difference in she came back from the

break to having her son Nathan and to come back racing. She is mentally

tougher and stronger. Before that because we maybe never saw her

tested, could she keep the concentration and fight going when

she was seeing the wind drift away a little bit but she certainly showed

in Rio that she can maintain that and keep working away and one

weakness shown by the two in France and she will house and close the gap

down. Cheruiyot. Still at the start of the athletes are streaming over.

Thousands and thousands of athletes on their way, a mile to the bridge,

we saw the red arrows over the Tyne Bridge. Waving to the crowds. Almost

seeing in the back of the field there. I'm glad he's changed hands,

both will be sore. He will have good memories though. So many still

waiting to get going. Probably run about 28 and 29,000 over the start

line. Caroline Sighthill is running for a basketball club today, her

sons, and Josh will be cheering Caroline on. Many of you would have

been watching the Paralympic games, so many people getting inspired by

things they have watched over the years, whether it is the Great North

Run on TV, whether it is Mo Farrah or Paralympic games winning, it is

great to see so many events ran the country. It is or has been a good

thing to do as we know to get out and run, you don't have to run as

hard as these guys but the enjoyment is therefore everybody to get

involved in. Dathan has managed to pull itself together and I was then

say is that because it's low but it isn't there. They are fast Mars at

six and seven, always quicker here. 44 to 43, -- four .24 24.2 three. He

thinks he has a position, he looked over his shoulder and he checked the

distance behind and now he wants the time and the performance to be proud

of. He is working hard and running well, those times were impressive

and there is Ritzenhein leading the men's and in the women's, Priscah

Jeptoo just edging ahead and the gap certainly now is not closing but I'd

Tirunesh Dibaba burst so Priscah Jeptoo, remember when she won this

race a few years ago, her last couple of miles were phenomenal. We

are looking at the chasing Tirunesh Dibaba but, she is still keeping her

eyes firmly fixed ahead and that gap has not grown much that she is one

outstanding athlete and normally in this position you would say she has

no chance that would hurt you could never say that. Interestingly fears

is not a brilliantly fast-paced, a slow start and they did pick up in

the middle but they are now running 5.13 in the previous mile and this

is a bit more of a difficult section. They are going to run

inside 68 minutes. But superfast so Dibaba struggling to stay. This is

where the track athletes you know this, you start hurting. Especially

someone is forcing the pace, I'm interested see how she copes with

this downhill section. Maybe then she will rally a little bit.

Yeah, maybe somebody has told her about that steep drop and then that

will definitely be a deciding factor, whether she knows about it

or not. We have discussed it before, haven't we? If you really hammer

down the hill then you are tired after 12 miles of running on the

road and find that very difficult to absorb and it is a struggle to keep

moving along the last mile, along the seafront. Better to relax and

almost let the momentum carry you down the hill and not worry about

trying to break too much. Having said that she is an extremely tiny

light runner so she will not have a huge amount of shock to absorb and

should be able to just float down that hill and pick it up. The bigger

factor will be any kind of breeze on the seafront moving those flags out

in front of us, but looking at those it does not look significant today.

My shock absorbing is not as good as it used to be. And mine is worse

than that, Stephen, I tell you. There is based on Ritzenhein, no

working it, -- Dathan Ritzenhein. This middle place is pretty strong

and Dathan Ritzenhein, he clearly wants to run a good time, and that

is obvious. Eight miles behind them and 52 go. The women I know

approaching the seafront, down the hill, -- five to go. Dibaba has been

here before, Priscah Jeptoo has been here before, but Cheruiyot in the

pole position, the athlete getting ready to move up to a career at the

marathon. Priscah Jeptoo reading as they come under the seafront. The

great Vivian Cheruiyot, Olympic champion, world champion, and now

onto the seafront in her first half marathon, and 12 miles behind her,

1.1 miles to go. Will it be a glorious debut for Vivian Cheruiyot?

Or will Priscah Jeptoo, the previous winner of this event, run away from

her? Tirunesh Dibaba is still not that far away and there is still 1.1

miles to go, so she is five or six seconds? Is that right? Via she is,

not that far, and this race may not be over yet even for Tirunesh

Dibaba. Once they crest this rise, and it is about judging your effort

here. Jeptoo has obviously decided she is off here. I think she is

under pressure, about a mile to go, if I can run five minutes, one last

mile, but Cheruiyot hanging on to her, but for me Dibaba is moving

well again and she just might be thinking she has a chance. Yes, I

think the deciding factor here will be that pretty much the writing is

on the wall for Priscah Jeptoo. She has a mile and if she runs that as

hard as she can she has a chance to win this race, but unless she breaks

Vivian Cheruiyot, she is not going to be that, in end there is the

subplot of Tirunesh Dibaba trying to catch them. She will lose out to the

fact that Jeptoo is pushing the pace because she has to. If this was two

fast finishers, and Jeptoo closing, there may be a chance of a bit of

cat wood cat and mouse, but Jeptoo only has one chance to win this race

and that is to run it as hard as you can -- a bit of cat and mouse. She

is four second behind this lead and that is not a lot. It is funny. Four

second is on the track and three laps to cut it up, you would think

you had a chance. You go on the roads and your 50 metres behind and

only have three quarters of a mile, you don't know if you can, but I

think Dibaba is making a real effort here, a real effort. There is

clearly one thing in her mind. She could have settled for third and she

has not. She is chasing the great Vivian Cheruiyot, Priscah Jeptoo,

previous winner of the Great North Run, the Olympic 5,000-metre

champion on the near side in the blue vest getting ready to make a

move, and here comes Tirunesh Dibaba, the great distance runner

she has been on the track. They are through 20 kilometres, just over

1000 metres to go, and Priscah Jeptoo looks like she is working

very hard. Tirunesh is working hard as well but that gap is a little bit

to power -- too powerful, too much, too far. You just said that the

effort to close that gap was becoming a bit too much and it has

now gone to four, perhaps five seconds again now, so bigger for

Dibaba. Does not look like it will be enough to get her to these front

two -- big effort for Dibaba. Jeptoo doing what all good kickers do,

letting you know I am here, letting you know it is not good enough, you

have not broken media. 800 metres to go. If it was on the track, last two

larks, it is a foregone conclusion, because Jeptoo would never out kept

Cheruiyot, the Olympic champion, but it is not on the track, it is on the

roads. She has to wait no, because you to make one move, Vivian

Cheruiyot, the Olympic champion on the track, can she become in her

debut in the half marathon the champion on the road, and Priscah

Jeptoo is not giving up this one easily. You know what it is like.

Trying to run the finish it. What are her chances? Surely she must be

thinking the inevitable is going to happen? Yes, at this point, now. One

second ago I was looking at the Gap and thought she has a tiny bit, and

she knows that, but I think that was all she had to create that and now

it is a foregone conclusion. Vivian Cheruiyot has moved in front

and there are, what, 600 metres left to run in this race and I do not

think Priscah Jeptoo will come back on her shoulder and be able to take

this victory. A little three-metre gap appears. Cheruiyot has not

really started kicking yet. Jeptoo gives it another go. They come down

there and are approaching the last few hundred metres, Jeptoo

desperately trying to hold on, and Cheruiyot, well, she was run away

from in the final, but when it comes to winning races on the track

Cheruiyot is definitely one of the best. Over the years she has been

outkicked by Dibaba, she has won world titles then finally in Rio

came away to win the 5,000-metre gold medal, but now with just 200

metres to go in her first ever have to marathon she has enough other gap

there that would suggest she can continue to build on that, and she

does. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, moving away from her team-mate

Priscah Jeptoo, the winner in 2013. Two former winners behind Cheruiyot,

and if she does have a career on the road ahead of her, perhaps the half

marathon, she has gotten off to a brilliant start by coming to take

the title in her first ever visit to the Great North Run. Vivian

Cheruiyot wins, Jeptoo takes second, and Tirunesh Dibaba crosses the line

a few seconds behind in third. Great race from three very good athletes,

the two big names, Cheruiyot and Dibaba of course, the ones everyone

was speaking about beforehand. Jeptoo got in amongst them. It was

not a particularly fast time, on a day when the early miles dictated

the finishing time, but it did hot up in the middle of the race and

that is a fantastic debut for Vivian Cheruiyot, and who knows, it might

just lead to a little think about where she goes next in her career.

So we are just waiting as these three finish a long way ahead of the

rest, to see who is heading down the road behind them. We think Gemma

Steel is not too far away. That is Eloise Wellings, I think. 800 metres

to go for her, so the top three across the line in the women's race,

a great win for Cheruiyot. We can go back and no developments in the

men's... Emmanuel Bett, Dathan Ritzenhein, perhaps after a patch

for he was not feeling too good or whatever, he has really picked up

the pace and thrown in some hard miles in the middle of that race,

but Mo Farah is sticking to him like blue. I wonder if he is whispering

behind me... Dathan, doing a great job, you have to hand it to him. You

can see the speeds they are and that is pretty good running from the

American. I say, Paula, he was one who American fans really wanted to

see do well, wanted to see him make the team for Rio, and he was not

able to do that, so it would have been tough for him to watch Galen

Rupp when his medal but good for him today. Yes, really tough for them

and I think he had cramping issues and I am not sure he was even able

to finish the trial but he was not able to do himself justice certainly

and you said he wasn't very good shape for the trial but just got

something wrong, something started cramping up within his body and he

was not able to run well and make that team. I think that was very

hard for him because he knew it was his real shot of making the US

Olympic team, so he has bounced back from there, gone away and train hard

over the summer. He will have been pleased to see Galen Rupp, former

training partner of his, run so well in the marathon in Rio, but he

wanted to be in that race, and I think this is now making up for

that. You can see a little on his face there, he is very focused on

this, putting a lot of effort into this early on and making it a hard

run, really taking it to Mo Farah today saying, "You might come in

today and beat me on your home turf", but I will make you work hard

for it and also get some good temple running training in the bank to make

sure I can come back in the marathon in New York and run well as well.

The PC is running at, Paula and Brendan, it... Is exactly one hour,

perhaps frustrating for him, but he is running a good race here. Now it

is not so much about how he gets the ten miles, but... OK, we will come

back to that in a minute, as we see Eloise Wellings coming in to finish

in fourth place. A clock of 71.20 two. Excuse me, sorry, fifth place.

I will make apologies to our winner Vivien Cherry at, because I

completely forgot it is her birthday today. I should have said happy

birthday as she crossed the line -- Vivian Cheruiyot. One thing athlete

speak about when they finish the season, finish their big races,

particularly some of the women I chatted to yesterday after the

event, I cannot wait for a bit of cake, so a bit of birthday cake

coming up for Vivian Cheruiyot. Charlotte Purdue. She will be the

first of the British athletes to finish. It is good to see Charlotte

Purdue coming in. Charlotte Purdue... Oh! Well done, guys. A

pretty good run from Charlotte Purdue. 72.20, there are

thereabouts. Not too far off a personal best. I think that is

Eloise 's. . Anyway, to this pace being set by Ritzenheim, and I was

trying to make the point that he is operating in an area he has not been

in too many times, but I was also making the point guys that you can

get to ten living miles and then not be able to finish it off well but

the question for him is can he finished well? -- Eloise's daughter.

He is testing Mo Farah but also testing himself as well. An

important test for him because he knows when it comes down to the

finishing area, and the last couple of hundred metres, you would never

bet against Mo Farah, on the roads, on the track. But he has run a fine

race today. He came here and the view was, let's find out how tired

Mo Farah is, let me run as fast as I can. He had a good ten mile

build-up, that race in America, and now getting good support because he

is really taking this to Mo Farah, and at the end of the day I think

Dathan Ritzenhein will get the reward. He has run 60 minutes flat,

as you said, Steve, so could he go under that here? I think he has

given it a good go and given it his best shot. I think hats off to

Dathan Ritzenhein out here today because how often have we said that

those guys, racing Mo Farah in a championship, they have just let him

dictate the race and run the race that sits him? But obviously Dathan

nos Mo well, has trained with him, knows him as a character, but he has

not done that. He has said he would run his own race, I will hit you

where I know you're only possible weakness might like, making it hard

in the middle of the race and really making you work for it and we will

just see how tired you are. We do know Mo Farah is in great shape, he

has been away and put his head down over the last couple of weeks since

Rio and has got ready again for this race, because it is important to

him, to come here and win this again, but this is not a race handed

to Mo on a plate with a little bit of a pacemaker to keep it at a

decent pace, this is Dathan Ritzenhein giving it a really good