Great North Run 2022: Hotels, training plans & transport

It's a big week for the Great North Run 2022 with hopeful runners finding out the results of the ever-competitive ballot.

For some, that confirmation email will be a moment of excitement and for others it'll bring a fear of the challenge ahead.

However you're feeling about securing your place on the Great North Run start line, you should spare a thought for the many who haven't been so lucky.

Those without a confirmed place will now have to accept a role simply as a supporter or commit to raising money and running for a charity.

The iconic Tyneside half marathon is now just six months away and with places being handed out, it's time to think ahead.

Great North Run 2022 Hotels

The Great North Run has a world-renowned reputation on the running scene, and as a result, participants travel from all over the globe - last year's Men's top three came from the UK, USA and Kenya.

It's not just the professionals that travel either, thousands of novice runners make the journey up to the North East just for the challenge.

That means that spaces in hotels for the Great North weekend on September 10 and September 11 is filling up fast.

The Great North Run takes place on Sunday, September 11, meaning the night to stay over in Newcastle is on Saturday, September 10 - the race tends to start from 9:30 am on the Sunday so anyone not in the North East would struggle to travel up on the day.

Popular hotels in Newcastle include the Jurys Inn, Holiday Inn, Malmaison and Hampton Inn.

There's also the Hilton over in Gateshead.

If you're wanting to stay over on the Sunday, you might be better off choosing a location in South Shields to save the notoriously manic trip back to Newcastle.

There is a selection of fantastic independent hotels and B&Bs in the coastal town.

Looking at booking sites, many hotels are already fully booked and others are charging increased amounts, so it is worth booking sooner rather than later.

There are a number of options on Airbnb, although prices are already soaring.

Great North Run transport

For those who don't know Newcastle and Tyneside too well, thinking about getting to and from start and finish lines can be confusing.

What won't help matters is that the Great North Run route changed last year to start and finish in the city centre.

This year it's back to normal, starting on the central motorway in the city centre and finishing in South Shields.

The start line is easily accessible from anywhere in the city centre, including a half-hour walk from Newcastle Central station and just 15 minutes from Haymarket bus and metro station.

It can be more complicated getting back to the city from South Shields with large crowds and closed roads.

The most popular way to do that is via the Metro, although runners should expect long queues for the service.

Great North Run 2022 training plans

Anyone now with a confirmed Great North Run place will be thinking about getting training.

The six months until September 10 will fly by, but there are still plenty of weeks to get some practice miles in.

Having a training plan helps motivate many participants and these can be found online or via your own personal trainer.

As well as the all-important pavement pounding in preparation, runners should spend time stretching and recovering to avoid injury in the run-up to the event.