Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Anybody who has experienced the Great North Run, either as a competitor or a spectator, knows what a great atmosphere there is on the day of the race.

But training for the world's biggest half marathon can be a slog.

So if you're stuck in a training rut we'd like to help - by giving you the chance to swap training routes with other people preparing for the big day.

Running is hard work!

Pounding the same streets every night can leave you feeling demotivated so a new route could be just the thing to keep you going.

A new view, a fresh challenge, and off you go.

Swapping routes

We're looking for people from Tyneside and Northumberland to swap their training routes.

To make the routes easily accessible we're linking up with the website WalkJogRun, where you can map out your runs clearly street by street (and even work out the calories you're using!)

All you have to do is visit the GNR group on WalkJogRun.

What to do to see the routes:

1. Visit the WalkJogRun using this link:

Map out your routes on WalkJogRun

2. Select the group called "Great North Run(ners)". To do this click Find/browse under the Group tab and then click on the link to Great North Run(ners).

3. Click on "View routes for this group". You will now be able to see a list of the training runs already submitted to the group. Simply click on a route to see it on the map - or use the arrows to move around the map to see if there are any routes near to where you live.

Adding a route of your own:

1. First you'll need to register with the site - click on one of the "Create an account" links to do this. It's quick and free to register, you just need to think of a password.

2. Go back to the Great North Run(ners) group and click on the link to join it.

Click on a route to see it on the map

3. Find the start of your route on the map using the postcode search. (Start your route from a landmark or road junction rather than your front door.)

2. Click on "Create a route" then plot out your route on the map and save it, selecting to add it the Great North Run(ners) group when you do so.

It's as simple as that!

If your route is off-road you may find it easier to use the satellite view rather than the map view.

We'd like to feature a few of the runs on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Tyne too, so if you have one you really love and you'd like to tell us about it, and about why you are running the race, then get in touch.

Happy running!