RUNNERS from across the region are being urged to sign up to the 'race with in a race' in the Simplyhealth Great North Run on Sunday, September 9.

The Northern Echo has teamed up with event organisers The Great Run Company to create a challenge for entrants living in our newspaper catchment area – with a prize for our first local male and female finisher and a full set of our local runners’ results printed in the paper following the event.

The race is the biggest half marathon in the world and runners from the region will be able to take their place on the start line and battle for local bragging rights.

The weekend kicks off on Saturday, September 8 with the Simplyhealth Great North 5k and the biggest ever Simplyhealth Junior & Mini Great North Run, with almost 9,000 children taking part.

On the same day, some of Great Britain’s best athletes will be competing at the Great North CityGames in a pop-up arena on the quayside.

Visit greatrun.org/north