Earlier this year, 26 years after it was first staged, a staggering 47,000 runners took part in the Great North Run, helping it retain its title as the most popular half-marathon road-running event in the world.

Run in north east England between the city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and its coastal neighbour South Shields every year, the first Great North Run took place on 28 June 1981, attracting an impressive 12,000 runners. Since then the race has steadily grown in popularity, attracting more runners each year culminating in this year's massive total. Covered live on terrestrial TV, the Great North Run actually comprises more than one race; there's a race for men, one for women and a wheelchair race, and each race contains several different categories including the elite athletes, who are the professional runners.

Over the years, the Great North Run has also attracted its fair share of controversy, especially following the deaths of four runners in the 2005 race, staged in searing heat. That prompted an increase in emergency medical cover the following year, but in a race in which so many people participate it is perhaps inevitable that there are one or two fatalities each year; rather ironic, considering the current race sponsor is BUPA, the private healthcare company.

The 2007 race, which took place on 30 September was started by local 'Geordie' hero Sir Bobby Robson, and featured the comeback of British Marathon runner and winner of the women's race in 2003, Paula Radcliffe. Current England football manager Steve McLaren also took part in the race, as did assorted bunny girls, the Blues Brothers, fairies, clowns, cavemen and many thousands of runners in fancy dress, all participating in order to raise money for various charities.

The race has always proved a great draw for celebrity runners; in previous years it has attracted football commentator John Motson and actor Christopher Ecclestone, star of ‘Doctor Who' and current BBC hit series ‘Heroes'. Cartoon hero Scooby Doo regularly puts in an appearance and in 2007 New Labour spin master Alistair Campbell and Emmerdale's Tony Audenshaw also pulled on their running shoes.

As well as the race, the city puts on many associated and supplementary events around the time of the Great North Run, attracting many more visitors than just the race participants. With so much going on it is not hard to see why getting a room at any of the many hotels in Newcastle on Great North Run weekend is nigh on impossible unless booked almost a year ahead! After 27 successive races, the Great North Run is going strong and looks to be set for many years to come, allowing its participants the chance to raise many more millions of pounds for charitable causes.

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