The Gardeners' World Blog

For me, the BUPA Great North Run is one of the greatest days of the sporting year. The sight of fifty thousand runners heading across the iconic Tyne Bridge, as they make their way from Newcastle to South Shields, is both inspirational and emotional.

Everyone on the BBC team is moved by the endeavours of those taking part and moved by the stories which are uncovered. The world's biggest half marathon is so much more than just a 13.1 mile journey; not only a time for marvelling at the excellence of the elite runners but also celebrating the achievements of thousands of unsung heroes raising millions of pounds for charity. We can also admire the many famous names taking part who are putting their reputations on the line.

However, there is one famous name who stands out this year. She'll be that Pied Piper leading the masses down the course, focusing absolutely on the task at hand. Yes for Paula Radcliffe, this is a huge challenge as she races for the first time in nearly two years and for the first time since she gave birth to baby daughter Isla.

With her sights set on the Olympic marathon in Beijing next summer, Paula Radcliffe begins her comeback on a course she knows well. She's won the race twice before - in 2000 and 2003 setting a course record of 65 minutes 40 seconds in the process - she is a great favourite on Tyneside. "I love the Great North, have many happy memories and always get such great support there".

Thanks for all your comments.

There was one person unhappy about Matthew Pinsent's piece on cycling, feeling the BBC was wrong to highlight the drugs issue, whilst not covering cycling all that often.

I would point out that the BBC did have some of the Tour of Britain rights. It is also hard to think the drugs issue wasn't a worthy one to do on Inside Sport when the Tour de France had experienced a drugs problem for the second year running.

I hope the piece illustrated not only the problem - for example the difference in views about punishment for dopers was neatly illustrated by Millar and Wiggins and reflected again this week, as the Italians and Spanish refused to do Pat McQuaid's bidding on the doping issue - but also showed what some teams are trying to do to combat doping.