Make a dash for place in next year's run

SIR Brendan Foster is encouraging people to seize an early opportunity to bag a place in the 2026 Great North Run.

- BARBARA HODGSON

With one day to go before this year’s half-marathon gets under way, the event founder sees this as the prime moment to encourage those ‘next-timers’ to sign up.

As an entry ballot opened on Wednesday, offering a first chance to secure place for next year, Sir Brendan said: “This is the time that people are most excited about the run - they might sit and watch it on TV thinking ‘I would love to do that next year.”

Every September, the world-famous half-marathon brings inspiration to others, including first-time runners keen to join the 60,000-strong throng.

So, Sir Brendan says they can enter now and will find out within days if they are successful. Then they can have a full year to train.

“They can start training in September this year and, if they are doing it sensibly and gently, they will be ready for it next year,” he says. “The idea is to encourage people.”

Those who miss out will have a second chance to enter for 2026 in a few months’ time when the traditional January ballot comes around. Places tend to be snapped up superfast.

The Great North Run has grown hugely since its debut in 1981 when 12,264 people took part. Tomorrow’s event - the 44th - will see, like last year, around 60,000 runners in action while around 200,000 spectators are expected to line the 13.1-mile Newcastle to South Shields route.

It seems the number of applicants always far exceeds available places. So can there be capacity for any more?