Had I written this review closer to the event the first time I completed in 2016 the review would have been more positive. But having done lots of events since this race really doesn't stack up as great with the one exception being the phenomenal crowd support.

The course is dull once out of Newcastle and basically a duel carriage way. The finish is good but once you finish it is a logistical nightmare first to meet people then collect your bag which although you will have placed nicely on a bus several hours ago will now either have been moved as other collected there's or simply buried under others if you are quick to finish the race!

The race is massive and I would always expect it to be busy but it does take a couple of hours to get back to Newcastle after the finish and not sure what it's like in a car but the area seems pretty gridlocked.

Great atmosphere but comes with the logistical problems you would expect trying to move nearly 60k runners from one city to another. Overall the waiting around and crowds actually made the whole thing a bit stressful.

I wouldn't do it again but do think everyone should do it once for the crowds but be prepared to wait for everything.