Great North Run Stories: Rebecca Griffin & Craig Heap
Among the 54,000 people taking part in the Great North Run are two very different runners, raising awareness of their chosen charities.
Among the 54,000 people taking part in the Great North Run are two very different runners, raising awareness of their chosen charities.
Crowds turned out in the rain on Teesside to welcome home gold medallist Kat Copeland.
Team GB's record medal haul is already encouraging people in the North East to take up new sports, but the real test of legacy comes later.
The Olympic 1500m runner Ross Murray, who trains with the Gateshead Harriers, told Pam Royle and Ian Payne he nearly became a holiday rep before he was selected for Team GB - but when he goes to Rio de Janeiro it will be as an athlete, not a tourist.
Kat Copeland greets crowds from the balcony of the Tees Rowing Club in Stockton, where she trains. Hundreds turned out in the rain to wave from the riverbank below. Kat won an Olympic gold medal in the lightweight double sculls at London 2012.
Olympic gold medallist Kat Copeland arrived in a gold-plated Bentley at her rowing club in Stockton, as crowds turned out to a homecoming in her honour. She said how proud she was to be there.
Ten Olympic rowers, including the gold medallists Kat Copeland and Sophie Hosking, will compete in a charity regatta in Hexham on Saturday. The fun day is being organised by one of their GB teammates, Matt Wells. The money raised will go towards his foundation, set up to help talented young rowers.
Young people onTyneside will be competing in rap battles and street dances as part of Newcastle's Olympic Games.
The Urban Games come after the end of the official Olympics but before the Paralympics in London.
The third annual event will see young people going head to head in alternative sporting and art activities including dance, rap, DJ-ing and skateboarding - among other things.
The Games were set up by youth development charity Solar Learning Services CIC in 2009 and now attracts 300 competitors.
Teesside's Olympic gold medallist Kat Copeland will be the guest of honour at a homecoming party in Stockton tonight.
The 21-year-old and her rowing partner Sophie Hosking took the gold in the Women's lightweight double sculls at London 2012.
The celebration for Kat is being held at Tees Rowing Club, where she trains. Members of the public are invited to the riverbank between the Princess of Wales Bridge and the Infinity Bridge.
Kat is expected to show off her gold medal from the balcony of the rowing clubhouse, overlooking the riverbank, at 6:30pm.
Team GB's record medal haul is already encouraging people in the North East to take up new sports, but the real test of legacy comes later.
Read the full storyNow the Olympics closing ceremony is over, thoughts are turning to how to make a lasting legacy in the North East. At one stables in Newcastle, the number of people interested in dressage has already risen after Team GB's double gold success.
The success of the Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin and her team has led to a rise in people wanting to take up dressage at Newcastle's Stepney Bank stables.
Mo Farah is set to take part in this year's Great North Run. The distance runner won two golds at the London Olympics.
The 29-year-old won the 10,000m race during the first week of the competition. A week later Great Britain held it's breath as Farah fought off competition down the home straight to win gold in the 5000m
Farah will line up with the other 52,000 runners on Sunday 16 September to take part in the 31st Great North Run.