The Great North Run

Getting to the start
Parked in the official car park in South Shields then walked 1.5 miles to the R1 bus, £3 and 30min later we’re at the Haymarket bus station. Follow all the other towards the start - no signs but the guy next to be is local and it’s his 3rd time so confident we’re heading in the right direction.

First stop was the loos - just as well as these ones had the shortest queues as it turned out. Got changed ready while waiting into the racing vest, strapped on the chip, removed all the clothing that needed to be in the bag. Then started to walk up the hill to the bagged buses, by the time I got to the first of the ‘green’ bagged buses it was around 10am, they were due to close at 10:10am. 10:08 they shut up despite having lots of room left and had to walk further up the hill to the late baggage vans . The walk from Haymarket to my place on the start was around 1.25 miles.

The start
Finally got into my cosy pen with all the other ‘I’ runners and we had a good laugh at how we were supposed to so some of Mr Motivator’s warm-ups in the space available. We watch the big screens as the wheelchairs and the ladies started. The gun went bang for our race and we stood still, 5 minutes later we started to moved slowly forward, around 26 minutes after the bang we crossed the start line.
(The pictures are those behind me and those in front of me at the start)

The first 5K
After all the noise at the start it went really quiet for the first mile, there were not many places to stand and cheer alongside the motorway. I did my best to have a gentle start but the first 5K was covered in 36:37 which was 11:49 pace – far too quick. I missed the first mile marker and was only aware at the second when I tried to ease off a bit. My watch at 2 miles said 21 minutes so 10:30 – 11:00 mile pace, and then something more sensible for the rest of the 5k.

5-10K
Here is where the big hill kicks in and boy did I pay for the early pace. This 5K took 12 minutes longer, 48:17, at a slow 15:35 pace. A welcome and surprising sight was mum and Angela around the 4 mile marker. Knowing what the long walk was like I though mum may have stayed at the finish, but she did me proud. Stopped to say hello but not long enough to really effect the time.

10-15K
Started to get back in to the running better here (45:26), but still slow at 14:39 pace and a 3hour finish still looked a possibility if I kept the modest running pace going. This 5K was the least hilly section of the course, not that it felt that way. Mum and Angela were hoping to make it to the 8 mile BHF cheering point but it was more than the 10min walk they expected and would never have got there in time, so they hopped back on the metro and went to the finish.

15K to the Finish
Slowed down dramatically at the end, averaged 15:59 pace over the last 6K. I had hoped I might be able to keep the pace going over this bit but I was very tired by this point and even struggled along the last mile despite all the cheering. I did manage to give a good showing over the last 500m so looks good on the video.

After the finish
More long walks – had I been in the big group around the 2 hour mark all this would be necessary, but at my end of the race it was more trudging. First to pick up the T-Shirt and stuff – stop to put that on as the baggage bus was a long walk and of course my van was the furthest away. Walk back to the British Heart Foundation tent where I could finally sit down with a welcome cup of coffee and a ham sandwich.