Great North Run 2021: Start time, route map, road closures and TV coverage
The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world and is this year celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Here we give you all the details on 2021’s race…
When does the Great North Run 2021 start?
The Great North Run kicks off Sunday, 12 September
This year start times are staggered across more than three hours to enable social distancing.
Runners are asked to head to the Arrival Zone, on the Claremont Bridge to the Town Moor, at their allocated time.
The race’s participants are split into five start groups.
The Elite Wheelchair and Visually Impaired athletes will start at 9.15am.
Then the Elite Women’s group start their race at 9.20am.
At 9.45am the Elite Men and Orange Wave runners at 9.45am.
Finally the White Wave will start at 11.05am, followed by the Green Wave at 12.25pm.
The first ever race took place June 28 1981.
What is the running route?
The race this year will end start and end in Newcastle.
It is the first time in its history that the Run will not finish in South Shields.
The race will kick off on the central motorway in Newcastle – runners will cross the Tyne Bridge twice.
Where are the road closures?
Newcastle Quayside
Closed Friday 10 Sept 2021, 2pm until Saturday 11 Sept 2021, 6pm
Swing Bridge
Closed Friday 10 Sept 2021: 3pm – 8pm
Saturday 11 Sept 2021: 7.30am – 6pm
Newcastle road closures
- A167 (CME) – from a point 200 metres west of Cowhill Interchange to its junction with Great North Road. Roads Closed 7:00am to 8:00pm Sunday 12th September 2021
- Great North Road – between its junctions with Grandstand Road and Barras Bridge.
- Forsyth Road – between its junctions with Great North Road and Highbury.
- Clayton Road – between its junctions with Great North Road and Abbotsford Terrace. Roads Closed 7:00am to 6:00pm Sunday 12th September 2021:
- A167 CME – from its junction with Great North Road to Tyne Bridge.
- Jesmond Road (A1058) – between its junctions with A167(M) and Osborne Road.
- Claremont Road – between its junctions with Queen Victoria Road and Barras Bridge.
- Barras Bridge – for its entire length.
- Percy Street – from its junction with St Mary’s Place in a southerly direction for a distance of 75 metres.
- St Mary’s Place – between its junctions with Percy Street and College Street.
- John Dobson Street – for its entire length.
- Durant Road (Saville Place) – from its junction with John Dobson Street in an easterly direction for a distance of 40 metres.
- Market Street – for its entire length.
- Tyne Bridge – for its entire length within Newcastle City boundary.
- New Bridge Street West – between its junctions with John Dobson Street and Pilgrim Street.
- Blackett Street – for its entire length.
- Pilgrim Street – between its junctions with Blackett Street and Shakespeare Street.
- Hood Street – for its entire length.
- Grey Street – between its junctions with Blackett Street and Shakespeare Street.
- Grainger Street – between its junctions with Blackett Street and Nelson Street. Roads Closed 6:45am to 2:30pm Sunday 12th September 2021:
- Claremont Road – between Grandstand Road and Queen Victoria Road.2
- Hunters Road – between its junctions with Claremont Road and Sheraton Street.
Gateshead road closures
From just after midnight Saturday, September 11 to 11.59pm on September 12
- A167 Tyne Bridge and Tyne Bridge approach, High Street and Gateshead Highway
- A184 Askew Road (from West Street to A167 High Street); Quaysgate; Eastgate (from High Street to Oakwellgate); Park Lane; Park Road, Felling Bypass to its junction with A194 (M), A194 and White Mare Pool.
How can I watch on TV?
The Great North Run will be streamed across the BBC.
Coverage will get going at 9am on BBC2, rather than BBC1.
However, at 10am live action will switch over to BBC1 , where it will then run through until 1.45pm.
Highlights of this year’s race starts at 5pm on BBC2 and is on until 6pm.