MySide: The Great North Run

I have been photographing the Great North Run since 2018. As a photographer who loves documenting community events, and busy crowd shots, the GNR has always been a highlight of the year for me.

I thought it was really impossible to cover the whole day, and for the first couple of years, I only went to the start line. It was really interesting to see the runners gathering, finding their place in the right pen. While there is a good atmosphere there, I found so many runners were really focusing on the race ahead, head down, eating a last minute banana, leaving their jackets behind. The gravity of the task ahead was ever present. From a casual observer’s point of view, it would be easy to just see the humour of the many costumes that runners wear, but many also tell a deep story of fighting against disease, lost loved ones, or total support for charities and research foundations that support so many in need. 

The third year I decided to switch to the finish line. Wanting to avoid the roads, I took the ferry to South Shields. The atmosphere at the finish line was different. The mood was one of satisfaction from a huge achievement, so many people cheering. The crowds were unbelievable, almost impenetrable. The support for the runners, and the event itself, was impressive and inspiring. I weaved through groups of people camped out, waiting for their runners. They were there for a great day out, having their picnics, and embracing their loved ones after the race. 

I began to think that there must be a way of covering both start and finish, but not if I relied on my own transport. Luck had it that in 2023 I managed to get a seat on the official media truck that precedes the elite athletes. My thought was this was just transport for me: I don’t have anything near the right kit to photograph the runners, no super long lenses, and I definitely was not going to elbow my way through to the back of the truck to get a good view of Sir Mo on his last appearance in the GNR. What else to do but look at the side of the road? What I found somehow surprised me, but in hindsight, it shouldn’t have. I turned my camera to the people watching the race, and the vignettes of north east folk I captured I found fascinating and charming. Everybody was having a great day out. People were camping, many had chairs, picnic blankets, handmade signs of support for the runners, all giving me the greatest smiles as I zipped by. 

I loved that experience so much that when I had the opportunity to do it again in 2025, this time supported by Side, I didn’t hesitate, and I had an even better time. Having the previous experience, I knew I had to be on the other side of the truck so I didn’t have to shoot against the light like the first time. There were more people on that side of the road as well, so it was non-stop shooting for 13 miles! The costumes, the signs, the humour, the family groups, the music bands, the water stations, the charities’ cheerers… So much going on! No offence to the pro athletes, but this was better than anything else!

It takes 50-something minutes to go from start to finish (the elite runners’ time), but for me it felt even faster than that, it flew by. Arriving on the media truck meant that I could physically cross the finish line, see the runners get their medals, and witness how they met their loved ones at the end. It was a privilege. I really have the utmost admiration for everyone who takes part.

I managed to also document the children’s race last year, which was also great fun. I have a couple more shots in mind to add to the project before I consider it finished, so I will be around this weekend. 

The GNR is such a big, bold, brave and beautiful event, I hope my photos do it justice and that they will serve as a historical record.