ENGLAND manager Steve McClaren cannot wait to run alongside some of the world's best distance runners, including Paula Radcliffe, when he takes part in Sunday's BUPA Great North Run.

The former Middlesbrough boss will be one of 50,000 participants of all standards from elite to fun runners who will take on the half-marathon course, which starts in Newcastle and finishes in South Shields.

As well as Radcliffe, in her first race for 21 months, British number one and two-time Olympic fourth-place finisher Jon Brown and world half-marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru will also take part.

McClaren will become the third national team boss after Kevin Keegan and Graham Taylor to run in Europe's biggest road race as he raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

McClaren said: "I've never taken part in the Great North Run before so Im really looking forward to it - I think.

"My wife Kathryn and I are both running together - so there is already a bit of rivalry about who is going to get the fastest time.

"It's an opportunity to give some support and profile to charities that do so much good work.

The charities we are running for are Macmillan Cancer Support and Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

"Both charities do incredible work and it's important they receive as much recognition both financially and publicly to help them and increase awareness for the huge role they play in our communities.

"They can only continue to improve the breadth of their services and the number of people they can reach through the generous support of people like you."

** READ A FULL GREAT NORTH RUN PREVIEW IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **