Great North Run Highlights The Great North Run

The Great North Run is really special. A lot of people are taking

part and and running for charities and loved ones.

The Great North Run is special to us because it helps us remember our

friend Emma Newton. It inspired me to run across the

United States of America. I love the Great North Run because

it is a great atmosphere and a chance to run around the streets of

Newcastle with 50,000 other runners The Great North Run is special for

the crowd. The Great North Run is special

because you get to run over the fabulous Tyne Bridge.

The Great North Run is a special event because it is historic and in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 59 seconds

Welcome to the highlights of the 2011 BUPA Great North Run. I could

bore you with facts and figures, but I don't think it is necessary

because when it comes to half marathons, this is as good as it

marathons, this is as good as it Well the Great North Run has seen

some brilliant athletic performance, you about the event is measured in

the reasons behind why the people choose to run the 13 miles. There

is one story which is set to cap turet hearts of the nation. It is

the widow of the Red Arrows pilot is going to start the race and then

is going to start the race and then run in her husband's memory.

I know you set up a trust for John? John was really passionate about

using his skills as a qualified flying instructor to inspire young

people to be the best they can be and to develop their natural

talents so I'm going to be taking that forward in John's name.

Tell us about John. I know you were so proud of him and he was so proud

to be a member of the Red Arrows, wasn't? Yeah, John was an amazing

person. He loved his job. He loved flying and he loved being there for

everyone and whilst the day is really difficult, I'm honoured to

be at Great North Run and to run in his memory.

I know you have you have had tremendous support from the Red

Arrows and the public as well? have been astounded by the support.

It has just really carried me through the last few weeks. The

military have been brilliant and the public have been there.

How have you kept going? Well, John and I were big runners. We loved

running and it is hard to do this without him, but running is

brilliant and it is going to get me through and the at moss moss fear

is great. -- atmosphere is great.

You are saying that you are looking forward to seeing the Red Arrows up

there again? I know that they fly at the the Great North Run but I've

never seen them. It will be I always like a young lady in in

tutu, I'm not sure about a bloke! There is a serious reason why you

are dressed like this? I'm run by my niece who was killed in a tragic

accident. The reason we're dressed like this because she was a

fantastic dancer and that's the reason for the tutu and the glasses

are because it is what she wore all the time. She wore big glasses and

the red lipstick which I haven't got on yet, it is just to brighten

her face and make her look so beautiful. That's why we're dressed

like this today. You are a cousin. You set up a fund

in her memory. What's the fund for? It is just for young adults just to

fund them with the performing arts, to help them with the performing

arts really. And you are looking forward to

today, bitter sweet? Yeah. It is a bit scary, but I'm looking forward

to it. Tell me what's your official duties

today? Today, it is to write a poem during the run while I'm running

and have it finished by the end to go over the highlights show!

It never does seize to amaze me what people turn up to run the

Great North Run. What is this? lime is Lee Curtis, we're running

for the national lifeboat service. People risk their lives every day.

We thought we would run and see how much money we can raise for them.

How about you two ladies? We're raising funds for Walk The Walk,

Uniting Against Breast Cancer. There is the scene at the start and

as the thousands are making their way down the central motorway, it

will be their turn to get away. The will be their turn to get away. The

wheelchair athletes are ready. 20 elite wheelchair racers are

ready to go. There is Josh Cassidy of Canada. He won a brilliant race

through the Tyne Tunnel a couple of days ago and panning across, we

have seen Richard Coleman and Shelley Woods the defending

champion in the women's race. A big smile to the camera. Lovely

The first racers of 2011 are underway.

Next to Shelly Woods, we saw a brief glimpse of Amanda McGrory.

brief glimpse of Amanda McGrory. She is in the pink and white.

Shelly Woods in the light blue, but Josh Cassidy of Canada gets this

race underway being chased hard by the Frenchman.

It should be a great race here today.

Well, every year this sight is one that inspires thousands to come

part. Those who have been here before, they know what it is about,

but it doesn't diminish the experience they are going to have.

Good Good conditions this year. It is about 13 Celsius at the start.

It is very, very light breeze and the sun just trying to breakthrough

the clouds and that means we should have good conditions for the elite

racers. It will be the women to get us underway. A strong field with

good British representation from Jo Pavey and Helen Clitheroe. A good

start as they campaigned against for the election to the Olympics

next year. It is important they get a good run today. They have tough

competition against them. A quality field, but we have got a real

serious British presence. I'm interested to see how Helen

Clitheroe runs today. We know Jo Pavey came here a few years ago and

finished third. I wonder if Jo can go any better than that this time?

They are going to have certificate suss competition -- serious

mile is always a bit quick. They have to be careful they don't

overcook it. There is a fair few people in front of them. It will

take a long time for them to cross the start line. Jo Pavey keen to

get things underway and comes here in good shape, thinking she can run

well and she will be running the New York Marathon and hoping to get

the qualifying time for the Olympics. She has it, but she wants

to run in New York. There are four or five women who are going to

qualify in the next few months leading into next year so it is

important that these next couple of races go well, particularly today.

So the warm up is well underway. It won't be long before they get

their turn. Even Nell McAndrew going through

her routine. Full of smiles as ever. No doubt, there will be a swift

performance from Nell. She is a very, very good runner.

Joe pavy is at the back of that group. Unfortunately, there is Jo

Pavey. Helen Clitheroe running strongly and staying in position

there in her debut in the half marathon. She has had injury

problems for 12 months and she was hoping and indeed I think expecting

to put in a good performance today. It is early stages, but not good

signs at this point. It is a really poignant day for the

favourite in the green vest and mo Farah. They are on their way.

All of the training, all of the preparation now put into practise.

All of the stories set to unfold, all of the millions of pounds to be

raised for charity and we hope as well a performance or two that Mo

Farah might have an eye on. This Kenyan runner has opened up a

huge gap. 27 minutes of running only on the clock. Much less than

half-way and there was alstrong group, -- a strong group, included

in that group was Helen Clitheroe and Jo Pavey and suddenly they find

themselves repofd from the lead -- removed from the leader and away

down the road, but they have probably been taken by surprise the

way the former Commonwealth champion is running. The two

British athletes are locked together.

The field has broken up early. Jo Pavey is running with Helen

Clitheroe. I am sure she wants to make sure she finishes of Helen

Clitheroe because that would be unexpected if it were to be the

other way around. There you see the desmation caused by the Jamaican.

There is a big, big gap at this early stage. They are going to turn

the corner and head towards South Shields, but at this early stage

that's a large lead. The women are at the half-way point

and the men and the masses have just got underway, just past the

the first mile. You can see and Andy Vernon in the height vest.

There is a group of talented Kenyans including the London

supporting them already. The Kenyan has been pouring it on.

It was the mile before that where she had done the damage. She is

running very, very strongly. This is really quick running from the

Kenyan and something which we haven't seen for quite a highly

there. So perhaps taking the field by surprise.

Josh Cassidy of Canada held the lead since the beginning. This is

his fifth Great North Run, he won it before in 2008. He has never

been out of the top three and he will win it by a mile here today. A

very fast time, indeed. Josh Cassidy is our first winner.

Absolutely exhausted, but this man developing into one of the finest

road racers of his generation in a wheelchair.

Another fast time for the French athlete. The conditions have been

ideal for fast wheelchair racing. He couldn't catch Cassidy though.

The Jamaican running strongly now. She based herself in Japan Japan

after she won the Commonwealth Games. Her manager has been telling

us that she has been running well and had a chance, but I don't think

he thought this. Now Shelley Woods has broken away from Amanda McGrory.

She has ridden beautifully here. Just outside McGrory's course

record. Shelly Woods on her own. Nobody else to be seen anywhere

within 400 or 500. The gaps here are really

substantial. The former winner struggling up the road here. The

pace that the Jamaican has set. If she were to maintain the pace it

would be one of the best runs ever. The course record belongs to Paula

Radcliffe, but she is going quickly. The leading man in the black vest

vest. In the green vest there is the London Marathon winner and

behind him the former world marathon champion. Those two have

been taken by surprise. There is good track speed athletes ahead of

them. They are forcing the pace a thousands cross heading down

towards South Shields the Red Arrows do their familiar fly-past.

On this occasion they will be remembering Red Four performing the

here and adding to the sense of occasion as ever. Look at this bren

darks there is a -- Brenda, there is a real push forward. That is

unexpected? The two more renowned Kenyan distance runners are behind

him. They will have been taken by surprise. Look at how fast he is

moving. This is a huge burst. He is trying to get away from him. I

wonder why doesn't he wait longer. It is early to be attacking as

aggressively as this. Just using the hill there and the

drop down to the pool area. That is early to be doing this. He has a

lead there and he has opened it up quickly. He doesn't have a lot of

pedigree over this distance. He is looking comfortable. They

wouldn't want that gap to get too big, but once somebody is away, it

exceptional. She is looking as though she is heading for a good

time. Look at those mile splits. She is going extremely well.

That's good running. This is going to be a really strong performance.

She has to keep going over the last three miles and it will be tough.

She is all on her own, but she will get support.

This is a tough part of the course, and if she is going to get the fast

time she has got to keep the pressure on here, but she's going

well. Well this little group now is

working together. Helen Clitheroe is running a fairly solid

performance. She raced yesterday in the Great City Game. I am not sure

Jo Pavey would be too happy to see Helen at this point.

They are heading for something around 70 minutes and I am sure Jo

would have been looking for something a little quicker than

that. But as a debut for Helen Clitheroe, it is a really solid

performance and she is a good runner, Helen Clitheroe. She had a

busy year. She started out with idoors and completed a full outdoor

season on the track and she is having a good run today.

The break wasn't long lasting. The bronze medallist in the World

Championships a couple of years ago and then fifth place this year and

he looks like the track runner he is, he is starting to put the

pressure on. He is beginning to look more relaxed the faster he

goes. She knows it has been a great

performance. She must be aware of how fast she is going. The clock is

ticking quickly. We were thinking she might get under 67 minutes. Not

too many women, only nine have run under 67 minutes ever in the

history of half marathon running. She is producing the best

performance since she won the Commonwealth title.

And the big surprise is the way she has done T she has runaway from the

field. Put world-class athletes behind her and showed her training

in Japan and back in Kenya has really worked for her this time.

She She became a mother a few years ago. She has won - well, you can't

see her competitors. They are so far behind.

It is going to be outside 67 minutes, but one of the quickest

runs. She wins the 2011 Great North Run. A brilliant run from the

little Kenyan. Really, really world-class road running and she

looks behind, nobody in sight. Only a couple of weeks ago Mo Farah

was racing this man on the track. Mo was second in that race. He just

failed to win the gold medal. A good performance by him there, but

today he really is running well. He looks more relaxed the faster he

goes. He's stretching now away from the field and if you look at his

pedigree, his time is over 10,000, his time is over 5,000 meters, you

knew he would run a good one and this is.

The winner in 2009 having to settle for second place. It has been

another good run for her. Her father died back in May and she

said that really affected her. She has got his name tattooed on the

inside of her arm. I am sure she has got a few thoughts for him as

she enjoys the plaudits from the crowd and a quick time as well. Not

too far outside her personal best, but today she was a long way behind

the winner, but a good performance from the Portuguese athlete.

Jo Pavey in fourth place. It is great to see her back from that

injury problem. Now she can go off to the New York Marathon and run

well there and hopefully, this Portuguese runner has run well.

Coming on through there. Third place for her. In the the distance

we can see both Jo Pavey in fourth place and a great debut in the half

marathon by Helen Clitheroe. Jo really had to work hard, not

only to close that gap, but to put some distance between herself and

Helen Clitheroe. She looks at the watch, I think she will be

disappointed with that. It is a solid run. She might have been

looking for something quicker. No doubt these in marathon training.

Helen Clitheroe is very happy. She crosses the line in her first

marathon and that's a promising This is the leader. He knows he is

on for a good time. He just has to keep the pressure on. I have been

so impressed with the way he performed today. We look at the

second placed. What a superb run. One of the

quickest ever half marathons the world has seen, never mind the

Great North Run. It will be inside the course record, 59 minutes and

05 seconds. But we have a new course record

holder. And it is under 59 minutes. What a performance from the Kenya.

No wonder he is pleased. That will certainly send a very signal to an

awful lot of people that this man could be one to be reckoned with at

the longer distances. And the London Marathon winner,

Mutai, not strong enough. The man to look out for next year in the

Olympic marathon. A good solid performance from this

I was just going to try and give it everything I had. The wind was

favourable, but it was a hard- working day.

On every hill I was climbing like a mad woman! I was descending like a

woman possessed and trying to go out on all the flat. I'm happy and

I think it was actually the fastest I decided to come to go to Kenya to

train in Kenya to stay with my family. I was happy because my

manager has supported me well and also my husband and my family has

supported me well. That's why I A new course record for Martin

Mathathi. When I run half-way, my manager

encouraged me. He gave me a lot of motivation and encouragement, soy

made, -- so I made it, yeah. Some really high quality running

there. Don't fooled. We may call the rest of them fun runners, but

they are trying to get to the finish as quickly as they can. Well,

How many times have you been at Great North Run? My 20th

consecutive, but I'm only 70! This is Ryan McCloud. It was his

dad Mike who won the first Great North Run. Ryan has represented

Great Britain. I mentioned Liz Webster who is

running for for for motor neurone disease in memory of her husband

and we can catch up with her now. She spoke to Denise Lewis. Tell us

why you are running today? running for Martin Webster my

husband who died this year of motor neurone disease. He was BBC sports

director and he directed the first Great North Run and has ever since.

Last year was the first year we had to sit and watch it because he

wasn't well enough to run it and I told him I would run it. Here I am

running it in memory of him because he loved this place. He loved the

land and he loved the energy and enthusiasm and his first film story

was about a runner from the north- east and since that time he a great

fondness for this place. Everybody wishes her the best of

luck. She knows how to get attention,

Nell McAndrew. She is such a good runner. I am trying to see the

clock. 85 minutes, well done, Nell. Flying around.

Flying around. If you pardon the pun!

It maybe magical at the start of the Great North Run with tens of

thousands of runners stretched out across the central motorway, but it

is hard to match the atmosphere at the finish. The sense of

achievement as the runners come through the finishing line and on

to get their goody bags with the important medals and the reunion

with family and friends. My My name is synonymous with a few

football clubs, but most importantly Sunderland.

The first celebrity home as always. Another super quick time? Yeah, I'm

getting better. I'm creeping up getting better. I'm creeping up

there. Quite an outfit. Is it Batman?

scat batgirl -- Batgirl. I shaved my legs.

I thought you might might turn out in a Sunderland kit today? I said

to them, "Get me a shirt and I will wear it." They couldn't get me one

in time so I have my own numb. -- number.

Joe McElderry, a South Shields boy, Joe is looking pretty good, isn't

Some more well-known weather people. Was that hard out there? I think

because of the rain and things, but I got a pain in me ankle and it was

travelling up me leg and I really enjoyed it and I'm alive and that's

the main thing. An actor from EastEnders if you are

a soap fan running for the Marie Curie cancer trust.

Well, the brollies are up, but it is maybe not the best for

spectating, but for the runners, it is giving them a nice cool down in

the last mile or so. There is Sophie Raworth. There is a smiling

Sophie crossing the line. You finish, you must be relieved?

Oh yeah, it went really well. I'm happy.

You raised lots of money? Yeah, I raised a couple of of hundred

pounds for the Army Benevolent fund. We lost a lot of troops and this

goes helping the blokes who need the help now.

Lots of famous faces come up to the north-east to do the run and one of

the celebs was former X Factor Joe McEld dree. I'm wondering how fast

he tried to run run because afterwards he had enough breath in

# Back when I was a child # Before life removed all the

innocence # My father would lift me high

# And dance my mother and me # And then spin me around until I

fell asleep # Then up the stairs #

13 half marathons? 24 half marathons, 24 time zones of the

world. Around the world in 24 days. world. Around the world in 24 days.

Explain why you did it? I had cancer and I wanted to put

something back into a charity that supported cancer research in the UK.

I wanted to do a big thing. That was great. I was all clear for five

years until just before last year's Great North Run and then

unfortunately I got diagnosed. A different type of cancer. It has

been a bit of a rough year, but after 38 treatments, two months ago,

I had all my tests completed and I'm free from cancer again. So I

beat cancer three times and I'm really, it is a great day just to

be back here again. There are some remarkable people

out there today. Well, as the sun returns here to

South Shields, it still looks a little bit dull in the distance. It

is sunny at the finish now. A story which touched the the

hearts of the people in the north- east is the story of Emma Newton. A

whole bunch of people were running in memory of her and they have

finished running now. Zpr. There is Robbie, Emma's father

and one of the twins. He has been on on TV all day this guy? It is

fantastic. Was it good? Brilliant. Excellent, unreal. I want to do it

I'm thinking of our son who is in hospital with leukaemia. There is a

few tears along the way. And the red hair? It goes with the

red and white appeal at Southampton where they are raising money for

leukaemia. It has been all sorts of weather?

Horrendous. I have interviewed lots of people

after the Great North Run. Nobody has called it lovely? I like it. I

enjoyed it. It has got a lovely atmosphere and you have got lovely

people helping you and meeting you at the end makes it worthwhile.

If our coverage inspired you to take part next year, the date is

Sunday, 16th September, the 2012 Great North Run. If that's too long

for you to wait, you can take part in the Great Manchester Run on

Sunday, 20th May. The details are When it comes to half marathons,

the Great North Run is as good as it gets. Once Once again it lived

up to its reputation. Brilliant athletics and inspirational stories

and the Red Arrows. The best bit, well we get to come back in 12