AJ Bell Great North Run, Newcastle to South Shields

AJ Bell Great North Run 2026

Newcastle to South Shields
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13 September 2026 Running Half Marathon World's biggest halfIconic finishAutumn target

The world's biggest half marathon. 60,000 runners from Newcastle across the Tyne Bridge to the coast at South Shields, with the Red Arrows overhead.

Terrain
Road
Point to point, A-roads
Elevation
Rolling
123m gain
Entry
£69
Ballot & general entry
Region
North
Newcastle to South Shields
Your runway

5 weeks to race day: the sharpening window

A full build no longer fits, but a sharp one does. This close in, the job is specificity and freshness: race-pace touches, open-water or brick rehearsal, and a taper your nervous system actually absorbs. No heroics; arrive fresh.

R
Recover
Fix the nervous system first. Sleep, HRV, and the noise out.
A
Align
Fit the plan to your actual life, not the one you wish you had.
C
Condition
Minimum effective dose. The right sessions, done fresh.
E
Execute
Race-week protocol, pacing, contingency. Nothing new on race day.
Predict your finish time Training plans

Building for this one? Training plans cover the sessions, the weekly shape and how the block is paced. The R.A.C.E. Framework explains why it is built that way.

Abraham Spring, founder of Unbroken

“The best atmosphere in British running. Do not bank time on the early descents; the rollers collect the debt by mile 10.”

Abraham Spring: founder, Unbroken

The race

The Great North Run is a national event more than a race. The Tyne Bridge crossing with the Red Arrows above is one of sport's great moments. The course rolls more than people expect and the last mile along the seafront is exposed, so pacing discipline beats bravado. As an autumn A-race it anchors a perfect 12-week summer block.

Questions, answered

When is AJ Bell Great North Run 2026?

AJ Bell Great North Run takes place on 13 September 2026.

What distances can I race at AJ Bell Great North Run?

Half Marathon. Whichever you choose, anchor a structured block to the date and let your readiness shape each week.

How hard is the course?

Road terrain, rolling profile with around 123m of climbing. Point to point, A-roads

How long do I need to train for it?

From today you have 5 weeks. Focus on sharpening and freshness rather than fitness you can no longer build.

How do I enter?

Entries are handled by the organiser via ballot, from £69. Use the Register button above: it goes straight to the official site.

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Photograph of Newcastle to South Shields: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Not official race photography.

This listing is for information only. Unbroken is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by AJ Bell Great North Run or its organiser. Details are based on publicly available information; names are used descriptively to identify the event. For accurate, up-to-date information and to enter, always use the official event website.

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