It was Denis Wharton who mentioned it first but it's become the talk of the BBC Athletics website since. In order to guarantee you will be accepted to run in the Great North Run in the next three years you have to pay £30 upfront and then the entry fee of £34 for the race each year. However, if you didn't run in the 2004 race you still won't be guaranteed an entry. Some people, including many in the North East, have said they will boycott the race for life. The surprising thing is that anyone is surprised.

For all their claims of raising money for charity the big city races are about raising money for their organisers who ride roughshod over the needs of grass roots athletics. The London Marathon Company, which stages the equally as expensive London Marathon, are proposing to organise a half marathon in Liverpool on the same day as our own road race. They haven't applied for a permit and if one was denied, as it should be, they would organise the race without one. Whereas we send in our unattached levy fees, some of these big races with-hold significant amounts.

According to some runners they're happy to pay massive entry fees in order to experience the atmosphere. They shouldn't be surprised if the clubs decide to introduce some atmosphere of their own by raising race entry fees themselves. That way what the clubs do for the sport might receive the appreciation it deserves. Just a thought!! Supportive, critical or alternative opinions welcome for discussion.