UK ATHLETICS HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURNS TO THE GREAT NORTH RUN

With less than six months to go until the 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday on 7 September 2025, the Great Run Company and UK Athletics are proud to announce that the UK Athletics Half Marathon Championships will return to the world’s biggest half marathon in 2025.

Paul Foster, Chief Executive, The Great Run Company, said: “We are fiercely proud of our heritage in long distance road running so it is only fitting that the Great North Run once again plays host to such an important event in the UK road running calendar. The Great North Run always welcomes the world’s best athletes in our elite races and the UKA Half Marathon Championships will be a true celebration of the best of British running.”

Jack Buckner, Chief Executive, UK Athletics, said: “We’re delighted that The Great North Run will once again incorporate the UKA Half Marathon Championships. Great Run Company events, especially the Great North Run, play an important role in developing British athletic talent, helping them prepare for success. Hosting our championship race at this iconic event gives British athletes the perfect platform to perform alongside a world-class field and spurred on by some of the best spectator support we experience in the UK.”

The UKA Half Marathon Championships is open to registered club runners from a UK Athletics affiliated club who meet the following entry criteria:

Male – should have achieved a performance of 1:20:00 or faster since 1^st January 2024

Female – should have achieved a performance of 1:30:00 of faster since 1^st January 2024

Athletes wishing to be considered for an entry should contact matt.turnbull@thegreatruncompany.com . More information is available at greatrun.org/elite-entries/.

The 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run is televised live on the BBC each year and broadcast across 167 countries. The event will feature some of the world’s leading athletes competing in the elite Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair races, which set off before 60,000 runners take on the 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields.

Demand for the 2025 Great North Run hit an all-time high, with registrations for ballot places increasing 100% year on year. Those keen to be part of this festival of running can still take part by securing a charity place to fundraise for one of the events many charity partners – find out more at greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/#gnrcharities.

Check out the Great Run RIA Member profile here  . 

Photo credit: Great Run