NOBODY, it seems, is either too old or too young to attempt the Great North Run.

The youngest we have had must be young Bell Gambles who, at the age of three, used her Christmas money to enter the mini run in 2013.

Her money was to go to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the Freeman hospitals who were looking after her granddad.

Chris Bryant, for instance, decided to do the run after losing 10 stone - from 25 to 15 stone.

The race attracts around 57,000 people and is the largest half marathon in the world.

But just these two examples show that while the Great North Run in a huge event, within that vastness are all the individuals who have been training in all weathers to try and make sure they can finish the race.

And they do it for so many reasons.

There are the professional sports men and women who want to win it – and, by the way, Maryport's Simon Lawson came second in the wheelchair race.

There are those who do it for fitness, those who like a challenge. But more – so many more – do it for charity.

Sometimes the entrant is running in memory of a loved one and supporting the charity who helped in troubled times.

Sometimes people take on a charity because that is a good way to book a place in the half-marathon which is always fully booked.

Whatever the reason, the fact is that the amount raised for charities in the Great North Run probably adds up to millions.

And the people who run it are as diverse as the reasons for running.

We have mentioned the elite sportspeople but, at the other end of the scale, are people who have decided to challenge themselves.

They are the ones who have never done anything like this before, but are willing to give it a go..

Runners, walkers, wheelchair racers, people in silly costumes – this is all part of the largest and, arguably, the best half marathon in the world.

We salute you - everyone of you

Now get out there and start your training now for 2022!