JUNIOR runners will kick-start the beginning of the 2011 Great North Run this weekend – 24 hours before the big race begins in earnest.
As thousands of people descend on the North East in preparation for the world-famous half marathon on Sunday, youngsters from across the country will be lacing up their running shoes to join the event.
Newcastle’s Quayside will welcome competitors in the Bupa Junior and Mini Great North Run this morning as young people of all abilities, from age three to 16, take on the 1.5km and 4km route.
The Bupa Mini Great North Run covers a distance of 1.5km for children aged between three and eight while the Bupa Junior Great North Run is for those aged from nine up to 16 and follows a 4km route with separate races for boys and girls.
More than 5,000 young runners took part in the events in 2010 and, like last year, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is the official charity for this year’s Bupa Great Junior and Mini runs.
Today is also the return of the Great North City Games which will see top world-class athletes such as Hannah England and Mo Farah go head-to-head with other international athletes on a purpose-built track on the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides.
But the main focus of thousands of runners will be the 31st Great North Run tomorrow, which Mo Farah will officially start.
Record numbers of people will take to the streets of Newcastle for the 13.1 mile run to South Shields and runners are advised to give themselves plenty of time to get to the starting point ahead of the crowds.
Visitors are reminded there is no event parking available at the start, the main event parking is on the Leas in South Shields.
For those travelling by Metro on the day there will be additional services running on Sunday to support spectators.
It is expected that up to 100,000 passenger journeys will take place on Sunday, and in order to manage this large influx of passengers, 80 customer service staff will be at six key points across the network, including Haymarket, Gateshead and South Shields Metro stations.
This year, Nexus has introduced a range of wristband ticketing to ease the stress of travel for runners and spectators on the day of the run ensuring they can access stations and services as quickly as possible. Tobyn Hughes, director of customer services at Nexus, who own and manages Metro, said: “The Great North Run is the biggest day of the year for local public transport services.
“This year we have a weekend wristband ticket for travel on both Saturday and Sunday, which can be used on Metro, the Shields Ferry and Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland. There is also a DaySaver for the day of the Great North Run and a single ticket wristband for a one-way journey on Metro, the Shields Ferry and Northern Rail services.”
Shuttle buses will be provided by Go North East and Stagecoach between Newcastle’s Haymarket, Heworth Interchange and Bents Park from 7am, until the roads close for the race, and then from around 12.30pm to 5pm.
Runners may strike it lucky with the weather this year according to the Met Office, but some showers are expected throughout the day.
Dan Williams, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: “It looks like it’s going to be a day of some scattered sunshine and showers.
“There may be some showers that could be locally heavy at times but there is likely to be some sunny times between the clouds as well. Temperatures seem to be ideal for running, not too hot and not too cold, with a top of 13 to 14C.”
For those intending to drive to either the start or finish point on Sunday reminders are being issued about road closures in the area with the Tyne Bridge, Gateshead Highway and the Felling By-pass, A184 from Gateshead Highway to White Mare Pool closed to traffic from 9am.
Diversion routes will be fully signposted, but some disruption is inevitable. Drivers are advised to take alternative routes wherever possible.
The Tyne Bridge and Gateshead Highway are expected to re-open by 2pm.
