Newcastle University

The Great North Run - the world’s largest half-marathon - celebrates its 30^th anniversary this September and this exhibition forms part of the celebrations.

The North East has a long association with sport and a unique running heritage. The first Bupa Great North Run took place in 1981, attracting 12,000 runners. Today, the event is the world’s largest half-marathon, annually attracting over 54,000 entrants and many thousands more supporters. With four hours of live coverage on the BBC, it is one of the UK’s most loved sporting events. 

Part of 2010 Bupa Great North Run Culture, In the Long Run explores its history, origins and growth, as well as raise awareness of its significant role in reflecting and shaping the North East’s cultural identity. 

As well as telling the stories of elite runners, In The Long Run also explores the huge organisational effort behind the Run, documenting the event’s community spirit and creating a powerful piece of social history. 

Alongside memorabilia and star objects, the exhibition includes artwork from the archives of Bupa Great North Run Culture, with paintings, films, photographs and drawings. Artists whose work will feature include Claire Leona Apps, Vicki Bennett, Suky Best, Ravi Deepres and Michael Baig-Clifford, Graham Dolphin, James Edwards, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, Julian Germain, and Jane and Louise Wilson.  

The exhibition marks the first time works from Great North Run Culture’s cultural archives have been shown together. 

Beth Bate, manager of Bupa Great North Run Culture, says: “In The Long Run is a really exciting exhibition which will give people the chance to delve right into the Bupa Great North Run and find out more about its fascinating history and the thousands of people who have made it a success.”

* In The Long Run: thirty years of Great North Running will be on display at the Great North Museum: Hancock from 17 July – 17 October 2010.

Image: Tyne Bridge © Pete Langdown.