The past weekend saw the return of the Great North Run for its 41st year here in the North East. This year was unique for a couple of reasons; it was the 40th time the event finished along the traditional route in South Shields and the first time doing so since the Covid pandemic, and it was a bittersweet affair with the recent news of Queen Elizabeth's passing.
A one-minute silence was held prior to the start of the run in honour of the beloved monarch. After which, the event maintained its remarkable atmosphere which attracts runners from all over the country.
There were countless costumes and people running for charities and various good causes. And amongst the crowds were members of very special renown, the All Runs Club. These dedicated few have the distinction of completing every single Great North Run since it began in 1981.
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On Saturday 10 September, the All Runs Club gathered for a catch-up and some cake ahead of another half-marathon together. Whilst they reminisced and shared their excitement for finally returning to the South Shields finish line, I asked them a difficult question.
Having done every single Great North Run, is there a year that stands out to you the most and why?
Anne Wilson, All Runs Club Coordinator said, "That's really hard. The first one, which was new for all of us and I was 34, I'd never run a step in my life. I saw Brendan Foster and Mike Neville on the telly and thought, I can do that. We've had a lot of special years really."
"I mean, it's awful this year with the Queen, but when Princess Diana died just a few days before, it was lovely because we had the Bishop of Durham come to the start. He said some prayers and we had a silence and it all went really really well."
Chris Perdon described a particularly challenging year, "I was in London at a concert and it went on sort of all night, on the Saturday night. And I had to leave the concert at about five o'clock in the morning to get to Gatwick airport, to fly up from Gatwick to Newcastle. That was 2000, so that was 22 years ago I think."
Dennis Hewitt also had one year that proved to be a struggle, "About '95 I think, I snapped my Achilles tendon three months before the run. Stupid thing to do playing football but, I got out of plaster about two weeks before the run, got a bit of physiotherapy. And I was determined to do it, you can't not do the run. So I managed to run about five miles and walked the rest of it. But as long as you finish, it still counts."
Thomas C, who everyone refers to as Chris, said, "Probably the 21st, mainly because of the photo-op on the Quayside just beside the new Millennium Bridge."
Gordon Booth couldn't pick a favourite, "Not really, I've enjoyed all of them. You know, all 41, as well as the virtual, run a couple of years ago, which doesn't count towards the number but, I've enjoyed every one. It's the atmosphere, the people, not only at the start, you know the first mile or so but also when you get down to South Shields. Fantastic support from the people, from the public, wonderful."
Aileen Strawn explained, "I think it has to be the first one for me. I think it was, we didn't know if we could run 13 miles at that time and it was such an unknown. And when we came to the start and you saw the twelve and a half thousand runners that were gonna do it, and it was just amazing to see."
Brenda Dodd agreed with her friend, "As Aileen, the first one. We trained together, Aileen and I worked together so we trained together for the first one. And we thought, ooh god 13 miles, that's a long way, but actually, it was alright. Like you said, the support is tremendous."
Robert Preston was nostalgic for the very beginning, "Ooh, I suppose the first one really. I never intended on doing the first one, I was persuaded to do it by some friends. And I didn't really particularly want to do it, and then just to take part was absolutely fantastic."
John Gray described an incredible recovery, "2019 because I had a cardiac arrest and I sort of died for 15 minutes. So, that was in the May and I came out of the hospital in June, I was in a coma for a while."
"I kept saying, I must do the Great North Run even if I do it in a wheelchair. And they said, well you can walk so long as somebody's with you. So I contacted Great North Run and they got an entry for one of my friends to walk with me."
Anne Wilson added, "Since the 30th Great North Run, we've met up every year on the day before the North Run and I make a cake and we just have a nice chat, and eat cake, and have a group photograph."
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