I can't quite put into word how unpleasant this race was!  I am a SLOW runner but I am a RUNNER - well, I was in every other half I've ever done.  It was virtually impossible to "run" this race from the pink pen (2 hour 40 finishers) - from the very first mile, people were walking, sometimes three, four or five abreast, across the course.  Yes, they were raising money for good causes, yes the were having a great day out but why put down a totally unrealistic finish time and obstruct RUNNERS who actually want to RUN the Great North RUN who were stupid enough to be honest?!?  I'm not quick enough (or dishonest enough?) to start in a more forward pen so I was left to navigate left then right then left then right then left then right from one side of the road to the other around walkers for 13 BLOODY MILES!!!!  If it hadn't been a linear course, I would have simply stepped off the road at about six miles, given up and gone home - I've never done that in a half before, that's how much I hated it!  So my advice is if you aren't fast enough to start in the front half of the race and oyu actually want to run, either lie about your finish time or pick another half.  Rant over.  Sorry.