Photo via Athletics Weekly

Great North Run prepares for a special milestone

The AJ Bell Great North Run marks its 45th anniversary on Sunday, September 13, 2026, welcoming elite competitors to the famed Newcastle-to-South Shields stretch amid sunny skies, mild breezes, and expected 17-degree Celsius temperatures. Reigning champions Alex Mutiso and Sheila Chepkirui return to defend their crowns while gearing up for autumn marathon targets.

Mutiso, who prevailed last year in 60:52 after dueling alongside Belgium's Bashir Abdi, heads the men's contingent with a personal standard of 57:59. The 2024 London Marathon titlist is targeting the 58:56 course best set by Martin Mathathi 15 years prior, using the race as preparation for an early December showdown in Valencia against fast contenders including John Korir and Yomif Kejelcha, the latter having clocked an exceptional 1:59:41 marathon debut behind Sabastian Sawe's 1:59:30 world mark in London.

Formidable opposition in the men's division arrives via a trio of US-based challengers. Casey Clinger, owner of the American 25km standard and a 59:34 half-marathon mark, lines up alongside Zouhair Talbi, a Moroccan-born runner with a 59:41 personal best who previously clocked 2:03:45 to take fifth in Boston as the fastest American in event history.

Joining them is Clinger's training cohort Clayton Young, who holds a 60:52 half-marathon best and received a lighthearted push from mentor Ed Eyestone to lower that mark en route to pursuing the 2:04:43 American marathon record in Chicago next month.