By Emily Goddard

great north runJanuary 5 - The general entry ballot has today opened for the 2013 Great North Run in what looks to be another hugely successful year for the event, which attracted a record number of applications last year.

More than 108,000 people applied to take part in what is Britain's biggest running event last year, which this year is due to take place on September 15, with 55,000 successful entrants accepted and every postcode region in the country being represented on the start line in Newcastle.

The 2012 Great North Run was also the first major mass participation event following the hugely successful London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, raising an estimated £30 million (£49 million/€37 million) for hundreds of charities.

london 2012 medallists great north runLondon 2012 gold medallists Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford, Ellie Simmonds, Nicola Adams and Kat Copeland start last year's Great North Run

British London 2012 gold medallists Greg Rutherford, Mo Farah, Ellie Simmonds, Kat Copeland and Nicola Adams took part as honorary starters to set the runners on their half marathon journey as the legendary Red Arrows display team flew overhead.

The Great North Run is televised live on BBC One and across Europe on Eurosport, with a highlights programme being shown in more than 100 countries across the world.

Prospective applicants can register here, with the ballot closing at noon on February 4.

Entrants will be advised of the outcome later that week.

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