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Thousands of people will be lining up to take part in the world's biggest half marathon, the Bupa Great North Run, on Sunday 5 October 2008. Use this information to help you make the most of the day.

Travel

Planning how you are going to get to the start and away from the finish are important considerations.

Many roads around the route are closed and no event parking is available at the start so plan your journey in advance to cut down on any stress on the day and ensure you're there in plenty of time.

Extra Metro trains will run throughout the day and the Shields Ferry will operate extra crossings too. It's advisable to buy your ticket in advance - call 0191 203 3315 for more information.

There will also be shuttle buses running between a number of points. Before the race the last shuttle to leave South Shields for Newcastle goes at 8.15am. After that services run to South Shields Metro.

For local travel information call Traveline North East on 0871 200 2233 and use the links below for bus, ferry and Metro timetables.

Baggage buses

Worried about how to get your kit to the end of the race? Use the baggage buses.

Take your kit to the buses by 10am

Along with your race number and chip, you will be sent a baggage label. Fill it in clearly and then attach it to your kit bag.

A fleet of numbered buses will be parked at the top of Claremont Road, adjacent to the start. This year the baggage labels are colour-coded so make sure you take your bag to a bus which corresponds to the colour of your label.

The buses will leave at 10.10am before the start of the race and at the finish they will be parked on the grass by Bents Park Road. Keep hold of your number as only runners are allowed on the buses.

Championchip

Everyone running the Great North Run will be sent a Championchip, which is your own personal timing device.

It is attached to a strap and worn on your ankle (don't attach it anywhere else) and will be triggered when you cross over the start and finish mats to give you an accurate running time.

Start times

10.10am Elite wheelchair race start
10.15am Elite women's race start
10.40am Elite men's race and Great North Run start

Clothes left at the start of the run

The start area

There are a series of pens at the start with runners advised to go to the zone which matches the colour of their number.

Numbers have been allocated to fit in with runners' predicted finish times. There will be stewards at the entrance to the zones and you will be asked to show the colour of your race number to get in.

Remember the assembly area is 1km long so allow plenty of time to get to your zone.

Many people take an old T-shirt or bin bag to wear so they don't get cold while they are waiting for the start, which they then throw away before the start.

Make sure you throw anything to the side out of the way of other runners. Discarded clothes are collected by volunteers from the College for International Co-operation and Development for recycling.

Medical help

There will be at least 20 first aid posts along the course as well as mobile medical units and if you need medical attention at the end of the race staff will be there to help.

If you have any medical conditions, you should fill in the details on the back of your race number.

There will be two pick-up points at nine-and-a-half and ten-and-three-quarter miles where there will be mini buses for those who want to pull out but need to get to the finish.

There will be water stations on the route

Drinks stations

There will be drinks at the start and finish and at six stations along the route.

Bottled water will be available at miles three, five-and-a-half, eight and eleven-and-a-half. Lucozade Sport drink will be available at four-and-a-half and 10 miles.

The finish area

There is a funnel system at the end and marshals will direct you down one of the four lanes. It doesn't matter which one you go down because your chip will mean your time and finishing position will be automatically worked out.

Once you have crossed the line, keep moving on to the chip return area and to pick up your water and race souvenirs.

If you need to collect your belongings from one of the baggage buses, there will be signs directing you to them.

There is a family reunion area at the exit from the finish with signs with letters of the alphabet so you can arrange where to meet family and friends beforehand.

Leaving South Shields

There will be extra services on the Metro and Shields Ferry. Queues are expected for both services so allow plenty of extra time and you are advised to buy tickets in advance.

If you are driving and plan to leave early, the advice is to use the free town centre car parks and shuttle buses from the finish area. There will be a rolling programme of roads being reopened as the afternoon goes on.

There will also be plenty of buses running from Bents Park Road, along from the finish area.

Crossing the finish line

The Great North Run on TV

There will be live coverage of the event on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One from 9.30am until 1.30pm and highlights on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two from 6pm to 6.40pm.

The Great North Run on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Tyne

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Tyne will have comprehensive coverage before, during and after the Great North Run.

In the run-up to the event we have information, features and interviews with some of those taking part, photographs of previous runs and videos.

On the day we'll be out and about around the course taking photos and video, so remember to come back here to check if we've snapped you.

And why not email in your photographs and video of the event.