Missed the Great North Run 2027 Ballot? Your Other Ways In

The September ballot for the 2027 AJ Bell Great North Run closed on 20 September 2026 and was drawn the next day, so if your email said you were unsuccessful, you still have a few ways in. Great Run says unsuccessful entrants can try again in a January ballot or look at charity places, although new Great North Run memberships for 2027 to 2028 have already sold out. Below we set out what is open, what is closed, what we could not confirm, and a simple training timeline so you are ready for 12 September 2027 whatever happens.

What happened with the 2027 Great North Run ballot?

Great Run's FAQ says the September ballot closed at 23:59 on Sunday 20 September 2026, with the draw on Monday 21 September. Every entrant is sent an email with their result shortly after the draw. Entrants gave card details when they applied, and Great Run says money is only taken from successful entrants, so if you have not been charged, that is usually a clue.

If you never saw an email at all, check your junk folder before assuming the worst, then contact Great Run's customer services. We could not find an official figure for how many people applied this time, so we will not guess at the odds.

The race itself is a half marathon (13.1 miles) from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields on Sunday 12 September 2027, with a listed start time of 10:50am at the time of writing. Great Run says 63,000 people took part in 2026 and bills the event as the world's biggest half marathon. You need to be 17 or over on race day to enter.

What are your other ways into the Great North Run 2027?

Here is where each route stands at the time of writing, based on Great Run's own event page and FAQ.

Entry routes, dates and availability change, so check greatrun.org for the latest details. Accurate at the time of writing.

How does the January ballot work?

The Great North Run event page says that if you were not successful in September, you can try again in the January ballot. Great Run's FAQ adds that unsuccessful September entrants will be contacted in the New Year with a reminder. There is also a reminder sign-up form on the event page if you did not enter in September but want to try in January.

Exact dates for the January 2027 ballot had not been announced when we checked. For the 2026 race, the January ballot was reported to close on Sunday 11 January, so it is worth getting the reminder set up now rather than relying on spotting it in the news.

In September, entrants gave card details up front and were only charged if successful. The January terms may differ, so read them when the ballot opens. And remember, it is still a ballot. Luck decides it, so it makes sense to have a plan B ready.

What should you know about charity places?

Great Run says there will be many charity places for the 2027 Great North Run, and that all ballot entrants will receive information about charity entries in due course. Charities buy their places in advance, then offer them to runners through their own websites.

A charity place is not down to luck, but it is a commitment. Most come with a registration fee and a fundraising target, and the details vary from one charity to the next. Before you sign up, check:

• The registration fee and the minimum amount you agree to raise.
• The deadline for reaching that amount.
• What happens if you get injured or cannot run.
• Whether you would be comfortable fundraising alongside your training.

If the answers suit you, it is a solid route in. If they do not, there is no shame in waiting for January.

Can you still buy a Great North Run membership?

Not for 2027. Great Run's membership page says new memberships for the 2027 to 2028 term are sold out. Members skip the ballot with a guaranteed place for two years, although they still pay the entry fee and register each year.

Membership places are capped and sold on a first come, first served basis. If you would like a guaranteed spot in a future year, keep an eye on Great Run's site for the next membership window and be ready to move quickly when it opens.

Can someone give you their place?

No. Great Run's FAQ says its option to pass a place to another runner applies to all its events apart from the Great North Run. So if a friend gets a place and later cannot run, they cannot hand it over to you.

That also rules out buying a number from a stranger online. Beyond the rules, running on someone else's number means the organisers hold the wrong person's details if you need help on the course. It is not worth it.

What if you do not get a place at all?

You still have plenty of good options, and Great Run runs two other races in Newcastle that were open for entries when we checked:

• Great North 10k on Sunday 4 July 2027, a city-centre route past landmarks including the Tyne Bridge. It is a great stepping stone, and it falls early in a 12-week half marathon block.
• Great North 5k on Friday 10 September 2027 on the Quayside, two days before the half marathon, so you still get the race-weekend atmosphere.
• A different half marathon. There are lots of autumn half marathons around the UK, and the same training gets you ready for any of them.

If you are newer to running, a 10k is a brilliant first target in its own right. Our 8-week first 10k training plan is a good place to start.

How should you train for September 2027 if you are not sure you are in?

Train as if you have a place. Around 47 weeks is plenty of time to go from little or no running to a comfortable half marathon, as long as you build gradually. If you get in, you are ready. If you do not, you are fit for another race. Here is a simple outline, working back from 12 September 2027.

A few beginner rules make this work:

• Keep most runs easy. You should be able to hold a conversation. Easy running builds your engine without wearing you out.
• Build slowly. Add a little time or distance each week, and take an easier week every few weeks.
• Do your strength work. Two short sessions a week of squats, lunges, calf raises and core work help your legs cope with the miles.
• Winter counts. Short runs in the dark and cold months are what make the summer block feel manageable.

When you reach late June, our 12-week half marathon training plan for beginners lays out the block week by week. For the course itself, race-day timings and what to expect from Newcastle to the coast, read our complete Great North Run training and race guide.

How can Edge help you get to the start line?

A long lead-in like this is where a plan really helps, because the hard part is staying consistent through winter. Edge Pro gives you a fully personalised plan that combines running, strength, HIIT and mobility in one place, ready within 24 hours, and a real coach you can message anytime. If you get a place in January, switch to a different race, or have a busy month at work, you can message your coach and talk it through.

Edge syncs with Strava, Garmin, Apple Health and Coros, and manual entries count too. The Edge app is free to use, and Edge Pro starts from £19.99 a month with a 7-day free trial (a card is needed to start the trial). Edge has 20,000+ members.

This article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, returning from injury, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP before starting, and see a physio for any niggle that does not settle.