I think the 'official' route was a bit silly anyway. Metrocentre is quite easy to access through frequent services from both Newcastle and Gateshead so, unlike Spillers Wharf (or the Transporter Bridge for the Teesside Running Day), there's no need for a shuttle service into Newcastle. On the run I was on, we ended up waiting in traffic while traversing through Newcastle as well as doing a circle as to go around the Central Station twice. Now, I'm not saying there's no merit in doing a run across the Tyne Bridge then back over the Redheugh, but there are other places you could go which would take a similar amount of time. For example, why not run a route up through Ryton and Crawcrook then back along the bypass to Blaydon and Metrocentre, or a run along the A1 then up through Lobley Hill and Whickham. There are other options available where less traffic would be encountered.