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Great North Run: Thousands set off in half-marathon Great North Run: Thousands racing in half-marathon
(about 1 hour later)
About 57,000 people are taking part in the 34th Great North Run. Thousands of runners continue to power on in the 34th Great North Run as Mo Farah has become the first British man to win the the men's elite race in 29 years.
The 13.1-mile Tyneside half marathon, which started in 1981, will this year will see its millionth finisher. About 57,000 people are taking part in the 13.1-mile Tyneside half marathon.
A special event in anticipation of the millionth runner saw thousands gather on Newcastle's quayside on Thursday night. The event, which started in 1981, will this year see its millionth finisher.
Brendan Foster, who founded the run, said he was "immensely proud" it would soon reach that milestone. Brendan Foster, who founded the Newcastle to South Shields 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. Farah completed the race in 60 minutes one second, a personal half-marathon best, narrowly beating Kenya's Mike Kigen.
British win? The last British man to win was Steve Kenyon in 1985, who won it in 62 minutes 44 seconds.
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. The women's elite race has been won by Mary Keitany from Kenya, who has set a new course record with a time of 65 minutes 49 seconds, beating Paula Ratcliffe's previous 2003 record of 65 minutes 40 seconds.
The elite wheelchair race 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.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.
A special event in anticipation of the millionth runner saw thousands gather on Newcastle's quayside on Thursday night.
The race, which starts in Newcastle, had 12,000 participants in its first year.
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.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.
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."
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.