GREAT NORTH RUN
Venue: Newcastle to South Shields Date: Sunday, 5 October
Coverage: Live on BBC One 0930-1330 BST, highlights on BBC Two 1700-1745, and on the BBC Sport website
GREAT NORTH MILES
Venue: Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides Date: Saturday, 4 October
Coverage: Live on BBC One 1300-1410 BST and on BBC Sport website

By Steve Cram BBC Sport commentator

Bekele of Ethiopia was one of the stories of Beijing

This weekend's Great North meeting brings a couple of pretty open races and the chance of a British victory or two.

But the big disappointment is Ethiopian double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele's decision to pull out of the two mile race, due to lack of preparation.

It's hugely disappointing for the crowd and the organisers as they wanted him to see what the event is all about, with the chance of him coming back to race again.

But at least it means the other competitors have a chance of winning.

Eilud Kipchoge would have given him a good race. He performed well in Beijing, finishing second to Bekele in the 5,000m, has run well at this event before and is now favourite to win.

He won't come under too much pressure, although Bekele's younger brother, Tariku, may feature.

In the men's mile race, Britain's Mo Farah has a chance to end a bit of a disappointing year for him on a positive note.

Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, who won Olympic 1500m silver, has pulled out so it's a pretty open race.

Running a street mile is difficult to judge and it will come down to who has the biggest kick, which could suit Mo.

Another Kenyan, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto, is also running - and if the race was on the track, he might win, but Mo has a chance.

In the women's equivalent race, there could be another British winner as Lisa Dobriskey has a chance to repeat her victory from last year.

Dobriskey finished fourth in the 1500m at the Olympics

She is in good nick and recently won a street mile race in New York.

It will be interesting to see if she can take Kenya's Olympic 1500m champion Nancy Lagat on.

Was Lagat's performance in Beijing a one-off? And as I've said, street miles are a bit different.

Dobriskey has won it before and I tip her to beat Lagat in front of her home crowd.

The women's two-mile race is another pretty open race.

There's a mix of 10,000m and steeplechase specialists but nobody stands out.

Helen Clitheroe is Britain's best hope but Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot, who went off the boil a bit after a good start to the season and ran poorly in Beijing, tends to do well in these races and could win.

You can't count out the Russians though, such as Yekaterina Volkova, who is the steeplechase world champion.

The course from Newcastle to South Shields is a good one to run a fast time

She wasn't well in Beijing and it wasn't the Jo Pavey we were used to.

The next step for her is road racing, but does she have what it takes?

It is a good field, with the likes of former winner Derartu Tulu and Geta Wami running, but dare I say they are great names of the past.

The course from Newcastle to South Shields is a good one to run a fast time, and Jo's capable of it, she just needs to prove it.

She needs to run under 70 minutes and if not, she may end up sticking on the track.

Hayley Haining, who was on standby for the Beijing marathon in case Paula Radcliffe pulled out, is preparing for the Chicago marathon and this is also a big race for her.

I don't expect her to win but, if she wants to step up to world class level, she needs to start running faster half marathons.

I'm expecting a reasonably large group for the first five or six miles and she needs to stick with them.

Robinson came close to a personal best in Beijing

He ran close to his personal best in the Beijing marathon but, if he's going to get down to two hours nine minutes, he also needs to run quicker half marathons and this is a good opportunity for him.

There are no outstanding favourites but Kenyan duo Luke Kibet and Felix Limo are the two who are a bit above the rest.

Kibet has a bit more quality over the shorter distance, but if those two aren't up for it, look out for America's Abdirahman - he's got a good personal best, but it depends what shape he is in.

Steve Cram was talking to BBC Sport's Peter Scrivener