I was lucky enough to get a bib to this race *literally* the day before it began. And boy was it worth it. Having run Boston and witnessed the immense and overwhelming crowd support along the course, I was not expecting to experience anything like that anytime soon. The Great North Run absolutely delivered.

Getting to the start line from local transport into the city center was really easy - and there were sufficient porta potties (one of my biggest peeves) at the start. Gear was popped onto buses that matched your bib, which was great and also easy to locate. The start was incredible. It was a massive race and the energy was through the roof (sky?).

The race itself was fantastic. Yes, I had to duck and weave a bit because I was in a corral different from my normal pace, but that wasn't too much of an issue and is expected when you're running with thousands of other people. The route was well-marked and aid stations were clear, well-placed, and offered little water bottles, which were exceptionally useful given how unusually sunny and warm it was that day. That being said, there isn't a ton of shade, so if you get a day like the 2016 race, pop on some sunscreen because I managed to get a bit of a burn despite it being September and in Newcastle...

The crowd. I cannot do it justice in this review. It was just like Boston. People were everywhere along the course. It is worth it to run this race for the crowd (and finishing view of the North Sea) alone. Families were out in massive numbers with orange slices, Jelly Babies, water, music, posters, and cheering like crazy. So great and really impressive.

The finish line. In the last stretch on the way to the finish you get to South Shields and you see the sea. What a view. And, I happened to catch a glimpse of Mo on the podium as I got to the finish line, which was pretty great as well.

Really enjoyed this race, highly recommend it. The manageable distance of 13.1 miles with the support expected of a top-notch full marathon makes this an experience for everyone who wants to give running a go.

(In light of how much I liked this race, I entered the lottery for 2017, but didn't get in. And am therefore contemplating running for charity. It is that good and definitely worth it.)