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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Tony Blair starts Great North Run | Tony Blair starts Great North Run |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Former prime minister Tony Blair and three Beijing gold medallists sounded the starting hooters for the 28th annual Great North Run on Tyneside. | Former prime minister Tony Blair and three Beijing gold medallists sounded the starting hooters for the 28th annual Great North Run on Tyneside. |
| A record 52,000 runners have set off on the half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields. | A record 52,000 runners have set off on the half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields. |
| Some 30,000 spectators are lining the route to cheer on the participants. | Some 30,000 spectators are lining the route to cheer on the participants. |
| Mr Blair was joined by the Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, the Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy and the Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmons. | Mr Blair was joined by the Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, the Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy and the Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmons. |
| The former prime minister congratulated race founder Brendan Foster on making the event a success. | The former prime minister congratulated race founder Brendan Foster on making the event a success. |
| Celebrity runners | Celebrity runners |
| He said: "Brendan has done the most amazing job and the Great North Run is now one of the big events worldwide. | He said: "Brendan has done the most amazing job and the Great North Run is now one of the big events worldwide. |
| "There is thousands of people running and I think they are going to raise about £10m for charity, which is utterly incredible." | "There is thousands of people running and I think they are going to raise about £10m for charity, which is utterly incredible." |
| Celebrity runners this year include model Nell McAndrew, Apprentice winner Lee McQueen and former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody. | Celebrity runners this year include model Nell McAndrew, Apprentice winner Lee McQueen and former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody. |
| The event started with the elite wheelchair athletes at 1010 BST. | The event started with the elite wheelchair athletes at 1010 BST. |
| The elite women followed them five minutes later, with the mass runners starting after the elite men at 1040 BST. | The elite women followed them five minutes later, with the mass runners starting after the elite men at 1040 BST. |
| Are you going to watch the Great North Run? | Are you going to watch the Great North Run? |
| Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |