What a day it was for the North East! On September 7, 2025, the Great North Run once again brought together a sea of humanity—over 60,000 runners—who pounded the 13.1-mile course from Newcastle upon Tyne to the breezy shores of South Shields. The half marathon, famous for its vibrant atmosphere and the support of up to 200,000 spectators, should have been remembered solely for athletic feats and emotional finishes. But this year, the talk of the town wasn’t just about times or triumphs—it was about a medal and T-shirt mix-up that left the region both amused and bemused.
Instead of immortalizing the iconic River Tyne and the cities of Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields, the 2025 finisher medals and T-shirts featured the unmistakable shape of Sunderland and the River Wear. For an event so deeply rooted in Tyneside pride, it was a geographical gaffe that sent social media into overdrive. The error was quickly spotted by eagle-eyed runners and supporters, sparking a wave of memes, jokes, and even a few conspiracy theories about the route for next year. But let’s be honest—who could have predicted that the Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland AFC, would find its way onto a medal for a race that starts with Newcastle United stars?
Organisers, the Great Run Company, wasted no time in addressing the blunder. In a statement issued on September 8, they acknowledged the mistake with a dash of humour and humility: "Wear sorry! As the eagle-eyed have already spotted, the shape of the river on this year's finisher T-shirt & medal is indeed the River Wear. 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."
The statement continued, "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. 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."
It wasn’t just the runners and organisers who missed the slip-up. Sir Brendan Foster, founder and president of the Great North Run, admitted he had admired the designs for ages and failed to spot the error. "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," he said. Foster’s good-natured response summed up the mood: a little embarrassment, sure, but plenty of pride and humour too. "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."
The medals themselves, circular and adorned with an aerial view, were intended to showcase the cities along the route. Yet, the map depicted Sunderland’s streets and the River Wear, with the words “Newcastle,” “Gateshead,” and “South Shields” superimposed, leading to even more confusion. The T-shirts, light blue and emblazoned with a river pattern at the center of an abstract design, carried the same cartographic error. The finishing touch? The ribbon of the medal was red and white—Sunderland’s colours—prompting some on social media to joke about Sunderland fan and BBC commentator Steve Cram’s possible involvement in the design process.
Newcastle and Sunderland, separated by just 12 miles, share one of English football’s most intense rivalries. So, the accidental inclusion of Sunderland’s landmarks on a Newcastle-centric event’s memorabilia was always going to raise eyebrows. As one participant quipped online, "Beautiful as it is, I can't help but think this year's Great North Run medal would be more appropriate with a map of Tyneside on it, rather than the streets of Wearside and the Stadium of Light." Another runner, a Sunderland supporter, wrote, "Thought it was a joke, but just checked and the map on the medal is actually of Sunderland."
Organisers were quick to reassure participants that the design was not a cryptic clue about a future route change. "To answer the rumours that this was the route reveal for next year… sorry to disappoint, it’s a mistake," they said. The company also addressed complaints from a small number of runners who did not receive their finisher T-shirts due to size shortages, promising to send them out promptly: "We apologise to those who didn't get the full experience of receiving their T-shirt at the finish line. We're communicating directly with these runners to ensure they receive their finisher T-shirt speedily."
Despite the mix-up, the event itself went off in classic Great North Run style, with elite runners delivering world-class performances. Kenyan Alex Mutiso stormed to victory in the men’s race, while his compatriot Sheila Chepkirui took the top spot in the women’s event. British star Eilish McColgan secured a strong third-place finish, adding to the excitement and prestige of the day.
Even with medals and T-shirts that might not have matched the course, the spirit of the Great North Run was undiminished. The race remains a celebration of the North East, its communities, and its sporting heritage—rivalries and all. For many, the 2025 medal will be more than just a symbol of 13.1 miles conquered; it’ll be a conversation starter and a piece of running folklore for decades to come.
As the dust settles and the region looks ahead to next year, one thing is certain: the Great North Run continues to unite people in unexpected ways. Whether you’re from Tyneside or Wearside, this year’s event is proof that even a blunder can bring a smile—and maybe, just maybe, a new tradition of double-checking the map before the medals are struck.
