The Great North Run

The great north run, 13.1 miles, a run on a road linking newcastle to south shields. This has always been an event I've been interested in doing. I've helped officiate the run in 2002, and the year after I was signed up to do the run with my friends, only to pull out as I went in holiday instead.

Fast forward the clock 8 years and I still hadn't complete the run. In 2007 I had made a list of things I wanted to do and wanted to achieve by the time I turned 30. I'm not sure where this list is nowadays but I remember a few things on the list and doing the great north run was one.

The OH decided that this year she wanted to tackle the 13.1 mile route. She'd never done anything like this before and wanted to run the course to raise money for mind, a charity close to her heart. I decided I'd run it with her for morale support and also to get this off my list. I decided to run for prostate cancer UK.

After months if thinking I need to start training before I knew it the dag was here. OH had done a lot more training than I had but I strangely didn't feel too worried, I knew I'd be able to do the course. The day arrived and we were on the start line, I have to say that on the start line was the point where I lost my patience and got most annoyed. I mean it took an hour to get to the actual start line once the race had begun, by which point the race had already been won in south shields( not that I had any ambition of winning) put into the mix the fact it was raining and a cold wind blew and we were standing waiting to run made it seem more miserable, although I knew full well that once I started running I'd be grateful for the wind and a slight rain.

Once we were under way the mood changed dramatically into a one of awe, there was this bad weather yet thousands of people lined the streets cheering your name and encouraging you on and clapping you. It was incredible. Myself and my OH ran together the whole distance. We'd been for a few runs together before and so paced ourselves accordingly, and we found we could just keep running and running, we set little targets first to run to 3miles, then 5miles,then6,7 until before we knew it we were at mile 8 and hadn't stopped at all. We had to stop at this point for a toilet break, which lead to a real difficult restart, which took more affect on me at 10miles as I felt my knee start to ache.

Again banks and lines of people kept cheering you on and there was no question of not finishing. We kept running until you could see the sea, and with it thousands of more people shouting, clapping, cheering telling you you've got 1 more mile. At this point you run on pure adrenaline, you don't notice and aches, you see the finish line and know you'll be crossing it in a matter of minutes.

The great north run was an amazing experience and one I will always fondly look back on in my life. My time of 2:27 was good, but I know I can do better so now it's been complete the next step is to run it again and better myself. The next day at work a colleague told me he was planning on running it next year to raise money for his son who was ill, even though I was suffering from a bad knee I immediately said I'd run it with him. I'm looking forward to trying to beat my time.

As I crossed the finish line on Sunday, I reverted back to my mental list of things to do before I turn 30, on that list, underneath complete the great north run was to complete a full marathon. As I crossed the finish line it dawned on me, that crossing that point on south shields would only be halfway in a full marathon, I'm sure my body would be up to the challenge.

If you like to sponsor me for. Implying this years run you can do here, all money will be going to Prostate Cancer UK, who you can read about here...

If you'd like to sponsor my OH for completing the great north run please go here, she was running on behalf of Mind, you can read about them here.

Day 259 The games

Today we were in newcastle. Tomorrow sees us tackle the great north run and before the run a pasta party is held on the banks on the tune river. Next to it is the great north city games also. We went by this today and it was quite a nice event.

The sun was shining and as we enjoyed our pasta we got to watch British and American athletes go head to head. There was a temporary race track laid out. Some of the athletes had even competed and win golds in the recent Olympics. We saw the pole vault, an event that I'd imagine requires a very high skill level and could be quite dangerous too...

Day 231 Keep on running

Training for the great north run is going, well, ok. I only seriously started training 2 weeks ago, and even then haven't seriously trained. So tonight u went for a run. I ran 10.6k which is 6.59 miles. I was quite pleased as this is around half the distance of the great north run, and as I finished I didn't feel knackered I felt I could of gone for more.

However there was a slight snag, 3 miles into my run I noticed my shoes had a serious malfunction, never mind I continued on the beaten track, I'll have to get some new ones...

Day 213 The Olympics

Today I went to the Olympics. Ok I was in newcastle watching the women's football but it's part of the Olympics so it counts. I went to see Canada v Sweden and France v Columbia. I really enjoyed it and it only made me wish I was more successful and had got more of the tickets I'd originally requested. As I got to my seat someone was sat in it, no matter though there were plenty of seats to choose from.

I did feel a bit sad though as the stadium was largely empty, but the British fans of course are always the best at having a laugh and enjoying i, the women's football was quite good and the standard of play was better that I thought it was going to be, Canada in particular impressed me with some great attacking play.

There were also plenty of mexican waves going on, which many people joined in with. If you get the chance I'd recommend going along to one of the games they are definitely worth it