Great North Run 2011: Startline pictures

The Red Arrows officially started the Bupa Great North Run 2011 on Sunday.

Runners at the start line of the Great North Run

Around 54,000 people registered to take part in the Great North Run which starts at Newcastle and finishes at South Shields.

Sunderland's Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer Tony Jeffries was one of the many celebrity runners. Athlete Mo Farah fired the gun to start the race.

Wheelchair Racers at great North Run 2011

Wheelchair athletes, including Britain's Shelly Woods, started the Great North Run ahead of elite woman and men and the rest of the 54,000 strong field.

Elite men runners' legs, Great North Run 2011

The elite woman and wheelchair racers gone, the elite men lined up ahead of up to 54,000 ordinary runners.

BBC Newcastle broadcasted live from the start line and Sue Sweeney spoke to Sunderland author Terry Deary who ran the length of Hadrian's wall in six days earlier in the week.

Red Arrows fly over the Tyne Bridge. Picture: Scott Heppell/Nova/Handout Photo

The Red Arrows paid tribute to Red Arrow pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died in August, by flying over the Tyne Bridge.

This year - the 31st Great North Run - millions of pounds will be raised for charities.

Josh Cassidy from Canada set a new a course record in a time of 37.52 to win the men's event.

Lucy Karbuu of Kenya was a surprise winner in one hour, seven minutes and six seconds, with Portugal's Jessica Augusto second.

Martin Mathathi won the Great North Run in a record time of 58 minutes 56 seconds to take nine seconds off Zersenay Tadese's 2005 record and set the sixth fastest half-marathon time.

Rain was welcomed by some of the runners crossing the finish line at South Shields.

The crowd was treated to a performance from the Red Arrows as their friends and family crossed the finish line in South Shields.

Thousands of people travel to South Shields to cheer on the elite athletes, celebrities and friends and family as their run comes to an end.

Thousands of jumpers and sweatshirts discarded at the start line are collected and donated to charity.

The clean-up operation has to be as fast as possible to allow Newcastle's central motorway to reopen. The rubbish tells its own (carbohydrate-rich) story.

Tyne & Wear

Great North Run 2011: Startline pictures

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