GB and England International runner Matty Hynes was joined by budding participants in the famous Gateshead International Stadium to launch the Great North 10K Gateshead, a race which has been given a five-star endorsement from European Athletics Running For All.
With just three months to go, Matty offered some useful training tips to runners who are getting primed and ready to take on the North East’s biggest 10km running event which returns to the calendar on Sunday 3 July.
Hynes, who hails from nearby Middlesbrough and is a former podium finisher in this race, said: “It is great to be back in Gateshead to launch the Great North 10k Gateshead. Having been on the podium before it has special memories for me, not least running with the Olympic gold medallist Stephen Kiprotich.
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Matty was accompanied this morning by runners of all abilities who will be participating in the 10km this summer. On the first Sunday of July, 5000 participants will take on a route that incorporates iconic landmarks on the Quayside, including Sage Gateshead, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, before crossing the finish-line inside the Gateshead International Stadium track.
And alongside the 10km races and adjoining races for youngsters, this year’s event will also feature two brand new family events: the Great North 10k Family Mile and the Great North 10k Toddler Dash.
These inclusive events – for all enthusiastic runners aged 3 and up – are designed to help families enjoy getting active. They will both finish inside Gateshead International Stadium as well.
On the new developments, communications director at The Great Run Company David Hart said: “Now in its tenth year, the Great North 10k Gateshead has grown to become the North East’s biggest 10k running event.
“It’s also the perfect opportunity for many to get some important training miles in ahead of the Great North Run in September.
“We're also thrilled to be able to include a family element in the event this year. It's really important to encourage children to enjoy being active from a young age.
“With the Great North 10k Family Mile and the Great North 10k Toddler Dash, we hope to inspire the young runners of the future to take on the 10k in the years to come!”
Entries for the Great North 10k and the Great North 10k family events are open at www.greatrun.org/north10k
The European Athletics Quality Road Race standards act as an assurance for road runners throughout Europe. They distinguish between races that respect the standards and those that haven’t sought certification or assessment. They form the foundation of Running for All, a strong recognisable brand for running activities throughout Europe.
More information on Running for All:
Website: european-running4all.org
Twitter: @runningforall
Contact: [email protected]