Are you from overseas? Or do you originate from a different country but now live in the UK? Well why not become part of one of the most famous races in the world?
This year’s Great North Run is actively trying to encourage someone from every single country in the world to compete – something which has never been achieved from any long distance run….ever!
The race, or ‘fun run’ as it’s known to many, is the largest half marathon in the world, and takes place annually in the North East of England. (every September between Newcastle and South Shields).
Organisers are now looking for just 17 more nations to sign up to secure runners from the 193 UN member states.
Saint Kitts and Nevis was the latest addition to the lineup at country number 174. The East Caribbean volcanic island is just west of the Dominican Republic and has a population of around 54,000.
Since the beginning of August, six additional countries have been recruited to the race, including Honduras, Togo, Kyrgyzstan, Samoa and Comoros.
Watch: Granada’s entry to the 2016 Great North Run
Watch: the Great North Run highlights 2015
David Hart, Great North Run Communications Director, said the organisation is hoping to announce more countries in the coming weeks.
“We have someone down in Rio to recruit some Olympians there” he said.
After accomplishing the goal of having a million runners complete the half marathon in 2014, the organization set its eyes on a new feat.
“We are really pleased with the progress we made so far,”
In order to qualify to represent a certain nation, the participant needs to have been born in the said country, even if they don’t currently reside there.
Email; international@greatrun.org or tweet #GNRWorldRun if you are on the list (below), or you know someone from one of the missing countries.
Here’s a list of countries that are still to be represented:
Andorra
Bhutan
Burkina Faso
Central African Republic
Chad
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Liechtenstein
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Niger
Palau
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Solomon Islands
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Factfile:
- This year’s race is on Sunday 11th September
- The first Great North Run was staged on 28 June 1981, when 12,000 runners participated.
- The run was set up by former Olympian and gold medal winning runner, Brendan Foster
- Team GB’S Mo Farah has won the last two runs (2014 & 2015) and will compete again this year
- The 1992 edition of the race incorporated the 1st IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
- Martin Mathathi holds the current men’s course record with his run of 58:56 minutes in 2011.
- Mary Jepkosgei Keitany‘s women’s course record of 65:39 minutes, was set in 2014
- The race is ran by members of the public too, many of whom dress up in costumes
- Tracey Crammond was crowned the millionth runner to cross the line in 2014’s race
If you’re doing the Great North Run and you want the memories of the day to last a lifetime, then check out our range of fantastic products, from phone cases and canvas prints to mugs and photo books, we’ve got it all.
Note: General entry has now closed for 2016, but you will be able to find out more information on the 2017 race in due course.
See the GNR website for further information.