Great Run FAQs

We are in close contact with Public Health England and will continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We will ensure any appropriate advice is shared with our participants and if anything changes we will update you all as soon as we can.

We will email participants directly to confirm as well as updating the event pages on the website and social media.

If circumstances dictate that we are required to cancel any event, entrants will be entitled to a refund (minus a £5 admin fee). We will transfer the refund (and iTab fee if purchased at the point of entry) back to the card that was used for payment.

All refunds are subject to a £5 administrative fee to cover the costs involved in processing the original booking, fixed costs incurred in planning and developing the event, including staff and supplier costs, and third party payment providers. This is the case for all Great Run Company events and is outlined in our event terms and conditions at the time of booking. It is common practice across all similar event and ticket providers.

If you have entered via a charity, please contact the charity directly and they will be able to assist further.

If you have entered with your company via the Business Challenge please contact your team coordinator who we will communicate with directly.

Where possible we will try and find an alternative date later on in the year. We will contact all entrants with further details.

If you are able to join us on the new date you won’t need to do anything, we will simply roll your entry into the new date. If you are unable to take part you will be able to request a refund of your entry fee (minus £5 admin fee)

Yes, if you are unable to take part later on in the year, you will be given the chance to request a refund. More details on how to request the refund will be emailed to you.

If you have entered via a charity, please contact the charity directly and they will be able to assist further.

If you have entered with your company via the Business Challenge please contact your team coordinator who we will communicate with directly.

We cannot transfer your entry to the 2021 event but where possible we will try and arrange an alternative date in 2020. If that new date is not suitable, you can request a refund.

We will automatically process a refund of entry fees for all cancelled events (minus £5 admin fee). If you would like to enter an alternative event later in the year, or the following year you can do so in the usual way.

Fundraising isn't administered by The Great Run Company so you should contact the charity you have signed up with, or check the guidance on your fundraising website (e.g. Just Giving, Virgin Money Giving). Your donation is still important to the charity though, possibly even more so at this time, and you've already put in the hard work in your training so do consider still giving them your fundraising.

Please email us at info@greatrun.org and we shall correct this for you. Please state how it is currently showing and what you would like it changed to.

Please email us at info@greatrun.org and we will update our records. Please state your full name, the event entered together with your old and new address.

Please ensure you notify us at least six weeks prior to the event (ten weeks if you have entered the Great North Run or a Marathon event) otherwise we will be unable to prevent your race pack from being posted to your old address.

Any undelivered race packs are returned to us so we can forward them on, but should you need to you can collect a replacement race pack from the information point on the weekend of the event.

Please email info@greatrun.org for more details.

If you would like to amend your estimated running time please send an email to info@greatrun.org clearly stating your full name, postcode, which event you have entered and your new estimated running time. We will then be able to amend this for you.

This is an important safety measure and we ask that you enter an accurate time.

Please ensure you notify us at least six weeks prior to the event (ten weeks if you have entered the Great North Run or a Marathon event) otherwise we will be unable to amend.

Please see the 'Zone Start/Wave Allocation' section of the FAQ's for more details'.

Unfortunately not all of our events are wheelchair friendly, please check the event website for more information or email info@greatrun.org.
If the course is suitable and you are taking part in a wheelchair please indicate when asked on the entry form.

For those taking part in an assisted wheelchair, both the wheelchair entrant and the assister will need to register for a place in the event.
Once entered into the event both will be allocated a race number and will be asked to line up towards the rear of the field.

Unfortunately not all of our events are wheelchair friendly, please check the event website for more information or email info@greatrun.org
If the course is suitable and you are taking part in a wheelchair please indicate when asked on the entry form.
The race will be staged under IPC rules and self-propelled wheelchair athletes must confirm to the BWRA minimal classification race system. It is strongly recommended that only experienced wheelchair racers attempt the race unaided.
If you are a self-propelled wheelchair racer interested in joining the elite race, please email info@greatrun.org. We will then be able to give you more information about the Elite Wheelchair Race.

If you are accepted for any of our events you do not need to run for the associated charities listed on the entry form or website. You can run and raise money for any charity/cause of your choice.
All you need to do is contact your chosen charity directly and request a sponsorship pack.

If you wish to change the name of the charity that you are running for, all you need to do is let your original charity know and then contact your new chosen charity directly for sponsorship details.

If you selected to run for one of our official charities when completing your entry form, they will be in touch with sponsorship details in due course. If you would like them sooner please contact your charity directly.
If you did not select one of our official charities, you will need to get in contact with your chosen charity and request a sponsorship pack.

For the Great North Run and our Marathon events the race packs will be sent out four weeks prior to the event. For all other Great Run events, packs are sent out approximately two weeks prior to the event.

Your race pack should contain the following:

• Race Number
• Timing Chip to give you an accurate race time

If you have any questions about your race pack please email info@greatrun.org.

Once you have received your race pack the most important thing to do now is read all the information provided. This is important race preparation and will ensure your day is more enjoyable.
Runners do not need to register on race day.

If your race pack does not arrive please email info@greatrun.org. The team will verify your entry and give you details as to how you can collect a replacement pack on race weekend.
Competitor’s information guides can also be downloaded from the webpage of the event you have entered.

No you don’t have to run with your child.
All entrants of the Mini event are sent an Adult bib in their race pack, this for the accompanying adult to wear on race day if they wanted to run alongside them.

Yes you can. All entrants of the Mini event are sent an Adult bib in their race pack, this for the accompanying adult to wear on race day if they wanted to run alongside them.
There will be a question on the entry form for the Junior events which asks if you would like someone to accompany the child on race day. If yes, an Adult bib will be sent with the race pack for them to wear during the run.
Adult bibs can also be collected from the Great Run information desk on race day.

If your entry is accepted, your fee is not refundable unless supported by a doctor's note. If this is the case please send a doctor's note and covering letter stating that you would like to be withdrawn from the event to:

Great Run Customer Services
PO Box 1355
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 4BZ

Or you can scan it and email to info@greatrun.org

Refunds will be accepted at least six weeks prior to the event (ten weeks if you have entered a Half Marathon or a Marathon event) otherwise we will be unable to stop your race pack being sent.

After this time no refund will be offered, however, for the Great North Run only, you will be eligible for a guaranteed entry the following year at the standard entry fee.

All refunds are subject to a £5.00 administration charge. Refunds will not be possible for any other eventuality.

A runner, who is no longer able to take part, is entitled to reallocate their place in an event to another participant for a fee of £10.

This option is only available prior to number allocation and race packs being prepared (approx. six weeks before the event weekend)

The existing runner requests via email to info@greatrun.org to exchange their place and supplies new runner email address. The new runner is sent an online entry form via email to pay the £10 fee whereupon the existing runner is replaced in the system with the new runner.

(Please not this applies for all senior Great Run events aside from Great North Run).

A person who has been accepted as an entrant into the 2020 Great North Run who subsequently decides not to run prior to the event is eligible for a guaranteed place at the standard entry fee in the 2021 event.

Once the entrant has committed to withdraw their entry you cannot be reinstated into the 2020 event. Your decision is final.

All requests to withdraw entry must be made prior to the event. No withdrawals will be made retrospectively.

The following procedures must be adopted when requesting a withdrawal:

Withdrawal by Email (can be done before 1st July 2020)

Please email info@greatrun.org with the following text:

I am unable to take part in the 2020 Great North Run and would like to withdraw my entry in return for a guaranteed entry into the 2021.
My name is
My date of birth is
My post code is

Withdrawal Request Online (to request once run pack has arrived)

After 1st July we cannot stop your run pack from being posted to you so you will need to wait for this to arrive before requesting the withdrawal (as you will need to know your run number).

Visit www.greatrun.org/withdraw and complete the online form before the deadline of 6pm on the night before the run (Saturday 12th September 2020).

Then return your run number/timing chip to the following address (you don’t need to return the event day magazine). You will need to pay for postage.

2020 Great North Run Withdrawal
PO Box 1355
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 4BZ

Withdrawal Request in Person (on Saturday 12th September)

If withdrawing your entry in person you must take your run number/timing chip to our Great North Run information point on Saturday 12th September. More information about our location and opening hours will be added closer to the event weekend once they are confirmed.

What Happens Next:

After the 2020 event has taken place we will go through the withdrawal requests. Entrants who opted for withdrawal will be added to a database and will be contacted via email in November 2020 with instructions of how to register and for their priority place in the 2021 event. Charity withdrawals will be passed back to the relevant charity to action. If no email is received, the runner can email info@greatrun.org to request the instructions.

Runners will be given a period of 28 days to register and pay for their priority place in the 2021 Great North Run.

Once this time period has passed the offer of the priority place automatically lapses and the race organisers have no further commitment to providing a place to the runner in the 2021 event.
Transferring the guaranteed place to another person will not be permitted.

If circumstances dictate that we are required to cancel any event, entrants will be entitled to a refund (minus a £5 administrative fee). We will transfer the refund (and iTab fee if purchased at the point of entry) back to the card that was used for payment. All refunds are subject to a £5 administrative fee which covers some of, but not all, of the costs we have already been committed, such as fees charged to us to process the original booking, staff time and supplier costs, and third party payment providers. This is very much in line with other event and ticket providers across the industry. This is the case for all Great Run Company events and is outlined in our event terms and conditions at the time of booking. If you have entered via a charity, please contact the charity directly and they will be able to assist further. If you have entered with your company via the Business Challenge please contact your team coordinator who we will communicate with directly.

Your starting time and wave allocation will depend on your estimated running time as stated on your entry form.
Runners can determine what wave they have been allocated to by looking at their race number, which is sent out in the race pack. The background colour of the race number and letter will determine which zone runners are in.
Full details of wave assembly points and start times can be found in your race pack and in the Competitors Information Guide, which can be downloaded from the events webpage.

We cannot guarantee that all runners who estimated the same running time will be allocated in the same wave.
If you find that you have been allocated to different waves, the rule is you can move down a wave to meet your friends or family, but not up.

If you would like to run in a slower wave then you do NOT need to change your race number.
All you need to do is assemble in the later wave on race day. Great Run does not need to be notified of your change down.

Due to the number of runners taking part in our events, we ask runners not to move to a faster wave (towards the start line). Runners should stay in the wave they've been allocated, or move further away from the start line to a slower wave. Race numbers have been allocated on the estimated time given on your application. If you feel you should be in a higher wave please email info@greatrun.org for more details of how you can be moved to a higher wave.

All finishers will receive a finisher's pack as soon as they cross the finish line.
Finishers' packs are sorted by size, so please take the t-shirt size you asked for on your entry form.

To view your race results please visit www.greatrun.org/results
Make sure the correct event is highlighted and then you can search by your Race Number or Surname.

To view your race results please visit www.greatrun.org/results
Make sure the correct event is highlighted and then you can search by your Race Number or Surname.
If no result is displayed please email info@greatrun.org with your full name, race number and the event in which you took part. We will then arrange for our results team to investigate.
Please note timing chips must be worn in accordance with information printed within your pre-race information.

To see photos of you taking part during the event and download your free certificate please visit www.greatrun.org/photos
Make sure the correct event is highlighted and then you can search by your Race Number or Surname.
You can also download your Free Certificate from this page.
Please note that unfortunately we cannot guarantee all runners will have a photo of themselves. Pictures are tagged by your race number clearly shown on the cameras. If your race number was obscured in anyway when running past the cameras, it will not pick up.
If no photos are shown please try using the ‘Find More Photos’ link to enter a description of what you were wearing on race day.
Or if you ran with a friend, please try entering their Surname or Race Number.
Our official photographers are Marathon Photos. More information can be found by visiting their website www.marathon-photos.com

To see photos of you taking part during the event and download your free certificate please visit www.greatrun.org/photos
Make sure the correct event is highlighted and then you can search by your Race Number or Surname.
You should see photos of you displayed along with a link to download your free certificate
Any problems please email info@greatrun.org

You can purchase one of our Great Run Training Quick dry technical t-shirts via the link here.

They are 100% texture polyester with improved breathability, “Wicking effect" moisture control, lightweight fabric and have an exclusive 2020 Great Run Training print.

We have a short sleeve T-shirt for £13.99, a long sleeve for £17.99 or you can get both for £30 (prices include package and postage)

They are available in the following sizes (chest width is shown in inches)

• Small (38”)
• Medium (42”)
• Large (46”)
• XL (48”)

Please note, these are on sale for the whole 2020 Great Run series (they are not event specific).

Our Great Run Training T-shirts are of a unisex design and cut, they are on the larger size so please choose the size below your standard T-shirt size.

Please contact info@greatrun.org if you have any problems completing your order.

Our Great Run Training T-shirts are of a unisex design and cut, they are on the larger size so please choose the size below your standard T-shirt size.

All T-shirts will be sent from February 2020 onwards or within 28 days thereafter. Subject to availability.

If your T-shirt hasn’t arrived, please email info@greatrun.org. Please include your name, date of birth and the T-shirt you have ordered (Short Sleeved, Long Sleeved or both) and we will verify your order and give you an update of when you should expect it.

Yes, you can, please return your T-shirt to the address below, you will need to include a covering letter stating your name, your address and what size you would prefer instead, and we will get a replacement sent out to you. You will need to cover the costs of returning it to us. Standard post (1st/2nd class) will be enough, no need to pay extra for special/recorded delivery but we do recommend getting proof of postage.

The Great Run Company Training T-Shirt
PO BOX 1355
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 4BZ

They are available in the following sizes (chest width is shown in inches)

• Small (38”)
• Medium (42”)
• Large (46”)
• XL (48”)

We will confirm via email that your return has been received and when you should expect the replacement.

Please visit www.greatrunshop.com where you can find some event specific Great North Run Merchandise. This is run by Scimitar, our official merchandise supplier.

Their contact details can be found here

You can yes. We ask that the music is on a low volume so you are aware of things happening around you and please pay attention to instructions from marshalls on the day.

Unless specified on the event's webpage there are no cut off times

Unfortunately we are under pressure to reopen the roads we have closed, so we do have a race sweep vehicle. This travels at a 17-minute mile pace. If you fall behind this vehicle you will be asked to complete the remainder of the course on the pavement. The finish area will remain open until the last entrant has crossed the finish line.