A RUNNER has maintained his incredible 40-year streak of completing every Great North Run.

Chris Kinghorn was among the 12,000 runners on the start line in Newcastle in June 1981 for the first event.

And about 60,000 participants started the annual race last month, with Chris once again among them. And he’s done every race in between!

He said: “For the first two years, it was a means of keeping fit.

“I was sitting behind a desk and it was not the healthiest of occupations to keep me reasonably fit.

“We got to 10 years and thought that is the first 10, let’s see how we keep going to 20 years.

“On the 21st year, there was a party on the quayside next to the new Millennium Bridge.

“Steve Cram turned up and we had a birthday cake.

“Then, 10 years ago, there is a wee club for those that have run each of the Great North Runs.

“There is about 80 of us; one of the members, who dressed up as Minnie Mouse to do the run, she decided she would bake a cake and have a get together.”

The 13.1-mile event, which sees athletes run from Newcastle to nearby South Shields, was the brainchild of former Olympic 10,000m bronze medal winner and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.

Each year, thousands join some of the world’s top athletes making their way through the city.

Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah won the race six years in a row between 2014 and 2019, while members of the public have raised millions of pounds for charity.

Chris, who lives in Haddington, told the Courier that he still enjoyed taking part in the event, which next year will toast its 42nd year.

He said: “The support all along the route was incredible and it always has been.”

Over the years, at various events, he has represented a number of good causes, including Cancer Research UK and the Red Cross.

The 76-year-old finished this year’s race in 3hr18m33s and has not ruled out being among those on the start line in the north-east of England at next September’s event.

The former insurance worker, who is a member of Haddington Running Club, said: “I will enter for next year but see how I am at the time.If I don’t think I can achieve the finish line in one piece then I will not do it.

“I’ve seen people running until they hit the pavement face first.

“That’s a very sobering happening.”