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| Great North Run: Thousands set off in half-marathon | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| About 57,000 people are taking part in the 34th Great North Run. | |
| The 13.1-mile Tyneside half marathon, which started in 1981, will this year will see its millionth finisher. | The 13.1-mile Tyneside half marathon, which started in 1981, will this year will see its millionth finisher. |
| A special event in anticipation of the millionth runner saw thousands gather on Newcastle's quayside on Thursday night. | A special event in anticipation of the millionth runner saw thousands gather on Newcastle's quayside on Thursday night. |
| Brendan Foster, who founded the run, said he was "immensely proud" it would soon reach that milestone. | Brendan Foster, who founded the run, said he was "immensely proud" it would soon reach that milestone. |
| The race, which starts in Newcastle, had 12,000 participants in its first year. | The race, which starts in Newcastle, had 12,000 participants in its first year. |
| British win? | |
| The elite wheelchair race, which got under way at 10:10 BST, was won by Spain's Jordi Madeira in a time of 43 minutes two seconds. | |
| He was closely followed by Carlisle's Simon Lawson, who also finished second in 2012. | |
| The elite women started at 10:15 and the men's elite and mass began at 10:40. | |
| The millionth person to complete the run will be announced as part of a ceremony on the finish line at South Shields. | The millionth person to complete the run will be announced as part of a ceremony on the finish line at South Shields. |
| Celebrity runners taking part include former Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell, TV personality and former athlete Iwan Thomas and BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth, among others. | |
| The run could see another landmark this year, as double Olympic champion Mo Farah hopes to become the first Briton to win the men's elite race for 29 years. | The run could see another landmark this year, as double Olympic champion Mo Farah hopes to become the first Briton to win the men's elite race for 29 years. |
| Farah, who narrowly missed out to Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele last year, would be the first British winner since Steve Kenyon in 1985. | Farah, who narrowly missed out to Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele last year, would be the first British winner since Steve Kenyon in 1985. |
| Farah said: "This time I want to win it. The Bupa Great North Run is a big race and it would be nice to have a win in it." | Farah said: "This time I want to win it. The Bupa Great North Run is a big race and it would be nice to have a win in it." |
| Fellow Briton Andy Vernon, who won a silver and a bronze at the European Championship last month, will also take part, as will Bekele. | Fellow Briton Andy Vernon, who won a silver and a bronze at the European Championship last month, will also take part, as will Bekele. |
| The women's field is led by Ethiopian pair Tirunesh Dibaba, the multiple Olympic and world champion, and the 2012 Olympic champion Tiki Gelana. | The women's field is led by Ethiopian pair Tirunesh Dibaba, the multiple Olympic and world champion, and the 2012 Olympic champion Tiki Gelana. |