Great North 10K and Family Run cancelled - but Great North Run still planning to go ahead

The Great North 10k and Great North Family Run have been cancelled but race organisers have confirmed the Great North Run is still planned to go ahead.
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Organisers Great Run have been forced to cancel both the Great North 10k and Great North Family Run which were scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 28, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision to cancel the events has been taken following government advice on slowing the spread of Covid-19.

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In addition, organisers have acknowledged the increased pressure on public services that the coronavirus outbreak is causing.

Great North Run organisers Great Run are still planning for the event to go ahead.Great North Run organisers Great Run are still planning for the event to go ahead.
Great North Run organisers Great Run are still planning for the event to go ahead.

However all entrants will be able to claim a refund and organisers have confirmed that they are in the process of contacting everyone who is signed up for the Great North 10k or Great North Family Run by email with further information.

Paul Foster, chief executive of The Great Run Company, said: “We understand this will be disappointing news to the people who were looking forward to running the Great North 10k in 2020, but the safety of participants, spectators and of all those associated with the staging of the events is always our number one priority.

“We would also like to highlight the fantastic support we get from health professionals at our events, many of whom work with us on a voluntary basis.

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“We want to thank all of our participants and partners for their continued support and understanding during this challenging time.”

Entrants will still have the opportunity to receive their medal in the post if they log a run of the same distance (10k) between now and the weekend of the event.

Instructions confirming the medal process will be emailed to them.

Paul Foster continued: “We want our participants to celebrate their achievement, however they get there.”

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Organisers have said they are also still planning for Junior and Mini Great North Run on September 12 and the Great North 5k on September 11, to go ahead as scheduled.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Great North Run with a record 60,000 runners due to take part.

A Great Run spokeswoman said: “We are closely monitoring developments with Covid-19.

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“We will continue to take the advice of the UK government around the staging of large public events, and we continue to work closely with our medical and planning teams.

“At present we are planning for the Great North Run, Junior and Mini Great North Run and the Great North 5k to go ahead as scheduled, but we will update participants as a priority as and when the situation develops.

“If circumstances dictate that we must cancel any of our events everyone who had entered would be entitled to a refund in line with the event terms and conditions.”

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