The Great North Run
The World’s Favourite Half Marathon
The Great North Run is the world’s favourite half marathon. Each year over 56,000 runners take part, raising over £25 million for different charities. Running from Central Newcastle, through Gateshead to finish in South Shields, the Great North Run is a truly iconic event.
The video above was produced for the Great North Run 2021 (which, following cancellation in 2020, was the event’s 40th anniversary). It gives a flavour of the event’s fantastic atmosphere, and the importance it holds for the people of Tyneside.
Run for the Army Benevolent Fund
Our charity has limited number of guaranteed places to join Team ABF in this incredible event. Our places cost £35.00 each (a non-refundable deposit) with a fundraising agreement for an additional £350.00. In return, we will provide you with support for your fundraising and one of our fantastic new season running vests. There is an option to have a running t-shirt if you would prefer.
If you would like to register to run for us, please click on the Register Now button above (or use the registration button at the bottom of the page). Team ABF places are normally over-subscribed, so act fast if you want to take part!
Run with #TeamABF
“This was my second time running the Great North Run for the Army Benevolent Fund. It was hard work, but I know that the money that I raised will be put to good use.
As a member of Northumbria OTC, I know what a difference support from the ABF can make to the lives of soldiers, veterans, and their families in need. The support that I got from the ABF team was fantastic!” (India, ABF Great North Runner, 2022 and 2024)
Great North Run Ballot Places
If you were lucky enough to secure your own ballot place, please consider using it to raise money for our charity. There is no fundraising target attached if you have your own place, and you will still get the same support as you would do if running with one of our own places, including a free running vest or t-shirt. If you would like to do so, please register using this registration form. Please note that registration as a ballot place runner does not include the cost of a place in the Great North Run – it is only for runners who have secured their own ballot place.
“I have always wanted to run the Great North Run; when the Army Benevolent Fund said they had a few places left I jumped at the chance. ABF provided me with the opportunity to take part in this famous half marathon, inspiring and motivating me to train and get fit. It was an honour and privilege to promote and raise funds for the charity.” (Mark, ‘multiple’ ABF Great North Runner)
“I have always wanted to run the Great North Run; when the Army Benevolent Fund said they had a few places left I jumped at the chance. ABF provided me with the opportunity to take part in this famous half marathon, inspiring and motivating me to train and get fit. It was an honour and privilege to promote and raise funds for the charity.” (Mark, ‘multiple’ ABF Great North Runner)Fundraising Support
The most effective way to fundraise is via the integrated Fundraisin online platform. Following registration, you will be guided through the set up of your personalised fundraising page. All eligible donations made this way will automatically add Gift Aid (if a UK taxpayer), therefore increasing each donation by 25%. We can also provide forms for offline donations and help with additional fundraising ideas. We are here to help!
Our electronic Fundraising Pack is a great place to start you off on the right foot, and to make sure that you stay legal!
“Running the GNR was a bucket list challenge for me. The event has an electric atmosphere, where everyone is behind you the whole way. Arriving at the brow of a hill, and seeing the ABF flags on the pass-over was certainly a much needed morale boost. Hearing shouts of encouragement from Barney and Amy, was incredibly emotional, giving me the extra boost I needed. I was extremely proud to wear the ABF vest, whilst doing my bit to raise money and awareness for such a worthwhile and respected charity. ” (Hazel, ‘multiple’ ABF Great North Runner)Preparation
While the Great North Run is a fun event, it is important to train. We have included a number of tips to get you started – just click on the Training Tips tab above for more. There are numerous guides available, such as this informative article from Runner’s World.
On the Day
The Army Benevolent Fund will be there to cheer you along the route, with our main cheering station on the Coast Road in South Shields.
Unfortunately, we will not have a presence in the Charity Village (we believe that the extra money this would cost would be better-spent in support of our charitable work) but we’ll be able to easily spot you in our amazing running vests!
Terms and Conditions
We try to keep our Terms and Conditions as simple as possible, but we do have a responsibility to protect the interests of the Charity, and you. If you have any queries regarding these Terms and Conditions please do email us. Please click on the Terms and Conditions tab above for full details.
During the registration process, you will be asked to agree with the Terms and Conditions; an electronic copy will also be emailed to you along with your registration confirmation.
Reaching your fundraising target is hugely important, as the number of grants, and the amount of support, that we are able to offer are based on the fundraising predictions of events such as the Great North Run.
Great North Run Complete!
All of our runners will receive a personalised Certificate of Achievement which will record your race time.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about running for the Army Benevolent Fund, please get in touch with Amy and Barney via email, or give us a call on 01748 900236/900237.
“The reason I run was to support the ABF . I was very fortunate in my service I didn’t have to access any support mechanism such as the ABF.
I have always been keen to support charities like the ABF . I have always striven to support and help in any way I can.
So as long as I am upright and breathing I will support the ABF”. (Sam, 2021 ABF Great North Runner)
Your Privacy Matters
Of course, we will need to communicate with you about this event, after that it is up to you. The application form allows you to choose how (or if) we communicate with you in the future. We value your privacy; our full privacy statement can be found here.
The Route
The Great North Run starts in Central Newcastle, running through Gateshead and finishing on the Coast Road in South Shields. It is a pretty fantastic route lined with cheering spectators.
We aim to have at least two cheering points (dependent upon the availability of volunteers):
- On the A184 (Felling Bypass) just beyond the Heworth Interchange; there is a metal footbridge that crosses the dual carriageway at this point – please look up!
- On the A183 (Coast Road) between the 12 mile point and finish.
Watch the route flyover below.
If your supporters are near any of our cheering points, please come along and say hello! Please click on the Volunteering tab above for more details about volunteering opportunities.
If you would like to see the route first hand, watch this time-lapsed video from 2015’s Great North Run:
Register now via Fundraisin!
You will be taken through the simple secure registration process using the Fundraisin platform, including seamlessly setting up your fundraising page. Simply click on the Register Now link below.
Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email which will include a link to the fundraising pack and to a copy of the Terms and Conditions. Shortly after, you will be given details about how to get your free charity running vest; you will also be able to claim a free eco-wristband and eco-pen.
If you have any problems with registering, please get in touch with our North East Regional Office by email.
Great North Run Ballot Places
If you were lucky enough to secure your own ballot place, please consider using it to raise money for our charity. There is no fundraising target attached if you have your own place, and you will still get the same support as you would do if running with one of our own places (including a running vest). If you would like to do so, please register here. All that we ask is for you to complete a simple registration form; this just helps us to ensure that you get the same high level of stewardship as our other runners.
As part of the confirmation process with the Great Run Company, when you are offered a ballot place, you will also be encouraged to run for a charity via the Enthuse platform – you will be able to select the ‘Army Benevolent Fund’. If you set up your fundraising this way, please let us know so that we can make sure that all of the support from the ABF is in place for you.
Communities
When you register to run with Team ABF, you will be invited to join our private page on Facebook. Here you will be able to connect with your fellow ABF Great North Runners, swap training tips and advice, and stories about your running journey.
You will also be invited to join our new Strava Club; here you will be able to compare your training and progress with others, and revel in the shared encouragement provided by the platform.
Training Tips
There is a huge amount of advice on how to best prepare for the Great North Run on their official website.
Effective training begins with making sure you are following the correct training plan for you. Your starting point will depend upon your previous experiences, your current fitness level and also your work and family commitments. It is essential you start from where you are now and build up gradually. Be realistic about your starting point, if you take on too much, too soon, it will become unmanageable, your body will break down and you’ll open yourself up to risk of injury.
Building up
Even if you come from a good level of fitness, trying to build-up too quickly will certainly get you injured. Running is a repetitive activity that involves your foot hitting the floor repeatedly with considerable force.
The reason why experienced runners can handle such high levels of training is because they have taken years to get there. Your body adapts slowly to new stresses and a product of regular running is that your bones will harden and become more resilient to the new forces. So fit people beware: your engine (heart & lungs) may find it easy – but after a while your legs won’t.
Rest and repair
Rest days are essential, the natural thought is that you get better when you train hard. While that is not altogether untrue, the reality is that your body actually gets fitter while you are resting. During hard exercise, your body gets tired, waste products build up and energy levels fall as you have used up fuel – you are technically less able than before you started training!
If you continued the same level of activity over several days you would become progressively more tired and eventually you will breakdown – either with injury or illness. However, when you stop and rest your body starts to repair the damage, which it will do to a higher level than before as the body recognises a need to adapt to the new stresses that you’re subjecting it to.
Consistency
A regular training pattern is more important than any one session. There is a cumulative effect from training regularly which is not achieved by doing all your training on one or two days each week.
Energy
Your training is done to encourage physiological changes in your body – one of these is the ability to use different forms of energy. The most efficient energy source is glycogen – basically a sugar stored in the muscles. This will last for about 1 ½ hrs of fairly rigorous exercise – like running.
After that has gone the body learns to use fat for energy – which we all have a big supply of. The problem is that the body does not convert fat to energy very efficiently, although it can be improved by doing runs over 1 ½ hrs.
Nutrition
A healthy diet and fluid intake are essential. Your body burns carbohydrate for the energy you need to make the muscles move, it also needs protein to help it recover from the damage done by hard exercise and it needs vitamins and minerals to maintain its health. So what you need is a good balanced diet. Make sure you are taking in adequate carbohydrates. If you are taking in a lot of fruit and veg, yet still get colds you may need to look at vitamin supplements – but they are not essential if your general health is good.
Hydration
Fluids are essential. Even on a cold day you will lose a lot of liquid through sweating – if this does not get replaced your body cannot function properly. So make sure you keep hydrated. During exercise you should drink to thirst to avoid over hydrating. When training for less than 75 minutes, water or an isotonic drink are adequate. If training for over 90 minutes, consider using an energy drink to keep your glycogen levels topped up.
Be kind to your feet!
One of the simplicities of running is that you can do it right from your doorstep and whilst there are many technologically advanced pieces of kit out there, the only essential piece of kit you need is a good pair of trainers.
During your training and on the day of the marathon, your feet are the thing that will make your race successful or unsuccessful and will also be the deciding factor in whether your experience is enjoyable or torturous.
Choosing the right footwear
Get the right shoe to match your running surface. Road running, track running and cross country all require a different shoe. This may mean owning more than one type of shoe depending on what type of run you have planned. Depending on how serious you are, you may also have a racing shoe specifically for racing.
Know your pronation type. Essentially pronation refers to the way your foot rolls when you walk and run. Most people are neutral runners but if you over or under pronate, without the right support, it could lead to knee and hip issues so get your gait checked. Also bear in mind that your running style will change as you become more efficient so regularly recheck things to make sure you are in the right shoe for your running style.
Look for a shoe that is light weight and breathable but at the same time, make sure it is up to the job. When training for a half marathon you need something a little more substantial to help absorb some of the impact but at the end of the day you are going to be wearing your shoes for many miles so the lighter the better. Let the shop assistant know you are training for a half marathon.
The most important thing is that your shoe fits properly and is wide/long enough so your toes can move freely. The more you run, the more your feet will expand so to ensure your feet have enough room to move around, consider buying your trainers half or a size bigger than your regular shoe size.
Go shoe shopping at the end of the day or after a run when your feet may be slightly swollen. Also be sure to wear the same socks you will be wearing during your runs. This can make a huge difference in how the shoe fits. Try on both shoes. Your feet may not be the same size!
Barefoot running
Barefoot running is a personal choice and needs careful consideration. If you have never tried it before, get some advice as this isn’t for everyone. Always begin with a slow transition from your normal trainers to minimal footwear.
Further information
There’s plenty of further information available via the internet from other reputable sources, such as this Half Marathon article in Runner’s World here.
Disclaimer: the Army Benevolent Fund does not accept any liability for the advice given above. It is given simply as a starting point for your journey; your personal training plan will need to be individually tailored. If in doubt, please seek professional guidance.
Terms and Conditions
We try to keep our Terms and Conditions as simple as possible, but we do have a responsibility to protect the interests of the Charity, and you. If you have any queries regarding these Terms and Conditions, please do email us.
When you complete the registration process, you will be asked to agree to these Terms and Conditions. If you are running in your own ballot place, the conditions not applicable to you are annotated in bold.
The Detail
- You agree to pay a non-refundable registration fee of £35.00 plus a fundraising target of a further £350.00 (not including Gift Aid). You further agree to raising at least £100.00 of your target by Friday 30th May 2025. (Not applicable to ballot place runners)
- All monies raised should be paid to the Army Benevolent Fund by Friday 24th October 2025. Online donations will come directly to us, so this will only apply to any ‘offline’ fundraising you may have done.
- We purchase our places from the Great Run Company for £65.00 each. If you do not take part and do not defer your place to next year, we will invoice you for £65.00 to ensure the Charity does not lose money. (Not applicable to ballot place runners)
- Once you have registered, you will be sent an entry token; this must be redeemed by the date stated in the accompanying email. Failure to redeem your token will invalidate your place and we will have to invoice you for the £65.00 costs (or balance thereof). (Not applicable to ballot place runners)
- We know that situations can change. If you find that you can no longer take part, through injury or other commitments, you must tell us as soon as possible. We will take you through the options to defer your place to 2026. When you defer, you will be charged by the Great Run Company for the cost of an individual place, which will guarantee your entry for 2026. If you do not defer, we will invoice you for the cost of an individual place (or balance thereof). If you defer but do not take a place next year, again, you will be invoiced by us. (Not applicable to ballot place runners)
- If you defer to next year, your existing fundraising will be carried over, but we advise you to let your sponsors know that this is happening. If you do not take part at all, donations already paid to us will not automatically be refunded, unless your sponsors get in touch with us and ask for a refund. Any donations that you are holding (cash etc) should be returned to your sponsors, unless they wish for the money still to come to the Charity.
- You agree to comply with any rules or regulations relating to the event as we or the Great Run Company (including event officials and stewards) may notify you of from time to time in respect of the event.
- If you fail to reach the required fundraising target of £350.00, we reserve the right to invoice you for the remaining balance. (Not applicable to ballot place runners)
- You acknowledge that participation in the event may be physically demanding, and you are aware of the nature of the event and associated medical and physical risks involved.
- You agree that you are physically capable of taking part in the event and agree to be solely responsible for your actions. The Army Benevolent Fund is not responsible for any injury or illness that you may suffer because of your participation in the event.
- You must tell sponsors that the money raised will benefit the Army Benevolent Fund, a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (SCO38189). Further information about the Charity can be found on our website.
- You must ask sponsors to pay the monies directly to you, or via your fundraising page, not directly to the Army Benevolent Fund.
- You agree to conduct all fundraising using legal methods and in compliance with the advice contained within your fundraising pack; the fundraising pack will be sent electronically with your registration confirmation.
- You agree to the Army Benevolent Fund storing the information that you provided on their database in accordance with your communications preferences on the registration form. Please see our Privacy Policy for details.
- You agree for us to use any images taken by us, or supplied by you, to be used for publicising the Charity’s activities. If you do not wish for your images to be used in such a way, please email us to inform us of your preferences.
- You are responsible for your own travel, accommodation and insurances whilst participating in this event.
- Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we will still need to get in touch with you in relation to this event, by email and telephone.
The terms and conditions above are necessarily comprehensive, both to protect the interests of the Charity, and you as a runner. We understand that personal situations will vary, so if you have any specific concerns, please do get in touch.
In selecting YES during the registration process, you acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions set out above.
Gallery
The Army Benevolent Fund has been involved in the Great North Run since the very start, but here are some of our favourite images from the last few years.
Volunteering Opportunities
We rely on our fantastic volunteers to help with our fundraising efforts, and the Great North Run is no different.
If you have someone running, or if you simply want to put a smile on someone’s face, please get in touch with us by email or give us a call – we would love to have you on board!
We aim to have at least two cheering points (dependent upon the availability of volunteers):
- On the A184 (Felling Bypass) just beyond the Heworth Interchange; there is a metal footbridge that crosses the dual carriageway at this point.
- On the A183 (Coast Road) between the 12 mile point and finish.
It would also be good to get a smattering of of other cheering points along the route – a little encouragement for the runners goes a long way.
So that you will stand out from the crowd, we will provide you with one of our bold new t-shirts!
Volunteer Now!
If you would like to volunteer or fundraise in a different way for other events, please do get in touch with us!
Contact Us
If you need any further help or assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us in the North East and Yorkshire Regional Office:
The Army Benevolent Fund
Hipswell Lodge
Catterick Garrison
North Yorkshire
DL9 3AX
01748 900236/900237
Thank you
