Great North Run bosses apologise over medal map blunder

Around 60,000 runners took to the streets of Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields on Sunday (September 7) as the world-famous annual half marathon got underway.

And after running 13.1 miles while being cheered on by 200,000 spectators, runners were crowned with a special 2025 medal to mark the major achievement. 

But it didn’t take long for racers to realise something was amiss with their medals; the map was about ten miles south of the actual race route. 

The Great North Run medal (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

This year’s medals, while having place names for Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields, in fact featured a map of Sunderland and the River Wear. 

Great North Run t-shirts also featured the outline of the River Wear. 

The Great North Run has since issued an apology, admitting it was in fact a “mistake” - with founder Sir Brendan Foster saying even he didn’t spot the mistake. 

The firm said Howard Lee did not design the 2025 medal, and instead helped reveal it with a unique art video, which was based on a design provided to him.

A spokesperson said: “Wear sorry! As the eagle-eyed have already spotted, the shape of the river on this year’s finisher t-shirt and medal is indeed the River Wear.

The t-shirt also showed the River Wear (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“To answer the rumours that this was the route reveal for next year…  sorry to disappoint, it’s a mistake. Lots of people looked very closely at the designs, and none of us picked it up.

“We had Newcastle United stars on the start line and the Stadium of Light on the medal. The Great North Run is truly a celebration of the region, even more so than we had planned.

The River Wear (Image: GOOGLE)

“For the 60,000 who ran yesterday, you’ve got the most unique t-shirt & medal in Great North Run history, a keepsake that we’ll be talking about in 44 years’ time.”

Sir Brendan Foster added: “I loved the designs for the medal and t-shirt, spent ages marvelling at them, and never spotted the mistake, even when we hung it in Fenwick's window. 

The River Tyne (Image: GOOGLE)

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I’ve lived on the River Tyne my whole life, and I should’ve noticed, but if I’d run the Great North Run yesterday, I’d still be wearing my medal with pride. 

Thanks to everyone who took part in an amazing event yesterday, and all the supporters who came out to cheer on the runners.

”It was a fantastic Great North Run, and we’re already looking forward to 2026, after we’ve brushed up on our geography."