334 miles away from Hedge End I spent much of the weekend wearing my Hedgie vest with pride!
Saturday
I set out destined for the Quayside early Saturday morning to start my weekend of running with the Great North 5k. Planning to run a not too fast race as a warm up for Sunday’s main event I lined up just below the Tyne Bridge alongside lots of other club runners and many others taking part in their first ever race.
Saturday
I set out destined for the Quayside early Saturday morning to start my weekend of running with the Great North 5k. Planning to run a not too fast race as a warm up for Sunday’s main event I lined up just below the Tyne Bridge alongside lots of other club runners and many others taking part in their first ever race.
The route for the 5k took me over the swing bridge, an out and back stretch along the Gateshead Quayside before running a few metres along the track for the Great North City Games and back over the Millennium bridge to finish on the Newcastle Quayside. Despite my original plan I ended up just going for it and running hard on what was a hilly (and not the most picturesque) course. Apparently my mum saw me finish on the big screen and I was over the moon with my time…especially seems as my watch told me I had run my fastest 5k at 19:59.7!!!! It’s a shame I actually ran 3.19 miles (5.13km) so the official time doesn’t agree!
Result: 20:28, 46th position, 7th 0 – 34 year old woman, 52nd in age and 9th woman.
http://www.greatrun.org/Results/default.aspx?r=445&bib=9121
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/583962778
After the 5k was over there was plenty going on around the Quayside. Two bowls of pasta at the pasta party were consumed for lunch to carbo load ready for Sunday and numerous Soreen samples collected after watching some of the junior and mini Great North Run events and the start of the Great North City Games before heading home to rest ready for Sunday.
Result: 20:28, 46th position, 7th 0 – 34 year old woman, 52nd in age and 9th woman.
http://www.greatrun.org/Results/default.aspx?r=445&bib=9121
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/583962778
After the 5k was over there was plenty going on around the Quayside. Two bowls of pasta at the pasta party were consumed for lunch to carbo load ready for Sunday and numerous Soreen samples collected after watching some of the junior and mini Great North Run events and the start of the Great North City Games before heading home to rest ready for Sunday.
I had wanted to head to Strada for dinner to eat my favourite pre-race dinner which was tried, tested and fuelled me through the London Marathon but over the summer the restaurant in Newcastle had closed so I went for a home made version instead…salmon, green lentils and vegetables which tasted good (even if I do say so myself!). Living on the road which the baggage buses are located and within eyesight of the Central Motorway where the thousands of runners assemble on Sunday morning meant there was plenty of setting up action to watch (I could have stayed up all night to watch them set up!). I even saw Tony and his fridge park up outside my flat to start his Great North Run challenge!
Sunday
So a sunny Sunday morning arrived and people were already milling around outside my window getting ready and waiting for the start. After eating breakfast (porridge with jam and later a banana) I sat down on the sofa listening to the commentary over the start area and waiting to watch the start of the coverage on BBC1. I finally decided to head to the start area just in time for the wheelchair start, said goodbye to my mum who was heading to her vantage point to try and spot me and bumped into an ex-NUAXC team mate.
Sunday
So a sunny Sunday morning arrived and people were already milling around outside my window getting ready and waiting for the start. After eating breakfast (porridge with jam and later a banana) I sat down on the sofa listening to the commentary over the start area and waiting to watch the start of the coverage on BBC1. I finally decided to head to the start area just in time for the wheelchair start, said goodbye to my mum who was heading to her vantage point to try and spot me and bumped into an ex-NUAXC team mate.
The start area for the Great North Run is nothing like any other race I have ever run in…imagine 57,000 people trying to get into different coloured and zoned start ‘pens’ on a dual carriage way…it is chaos! Eventually got into my start zone just in time to watch the elite men being introduced.
So the gun was fired and I didn’t move…after a few minutes I began to move forwards towards the start line, finally crossing it nearly 12 minutes after the start of the race (that’s quick compared to nearly 45 minutes last year!). I was off and running and despite the road being crowded started at a pace a lot quicker than I intended. Running through the tunnels along the central motorway under the city centre chants of “Oggy Oggy Oggy! Oi Oi Oi!” are one thing that is guaranteed on the Great North Run.
By the time I reached the first mile marker my watch already said I had run 1.1 miles…I blame the dodging people and squeezing through gaps in the crowd! At times it felt like I was running further sideways that forwards! The big landmark of the Great North Run is running across the Tyne Bridge and I managed to time it perfectly this year, just coming off the bridge as the Red Arrows flew over!
As I ran the first few miles I knew my pace was quicker than I had intended and faster than that of any half marathon I had run before but I felt good so just kept going! This year I knew exactly where my mum was going to be watching from so made sure I was on the right side of the road and kept my eye out for her…I spotted her but she didn’t see me until I shouted at her – at least it was more successful than last year! About 100m further up the road I heard my name being shouted and turned round to see a few uni friends, which made me smile!
I kept counting down the miles of the hilly course, still feeling strong although in need of water…I tried to grab some at 7 miles but the volunteers weren’t the most helpful and I didn’t manage to get any but finally got a bottle and had a few sips about 11 miles. The spectators of the North East are really into the Great North Run, standing at the side of the road handing out jelly babies, ice pops, orange pieces, water and even showering runners with their garden hoses! With about 2 miles to go I caught up with and overtook a fellow runner medic who was running with her mum and then I came to the downhill towards the seafront!
So the gun was fired and I didn’t move…after a few minutes I began to move forwards towards the start line, finally crossing it nearly 12 minutes after the start of the race (that’s quick compared to nearly 45 minutes last year!). I was off and running and despite the road being crowded started at a pace a lot quicker than I intended. Running through the tunnels along the central motorway under the city centre chants of “Oggy Oggy Oggy! Oi Oi Oi!” are one thing that is guaranteed on the Great North Run.
By the time I reached the first mile marker my watch already said I had run 1.1 miles…I blame the dodging people and squeezing through gaps in the crowd! At times it felt like I was running further sideways that forwards! The big landmark of the Great North Run is running across the Tyne Bridge and I managed to time it perfectly this year, just coming off the bridge as the Red Arrows flew over!
As I ran the first few miles I knew my pace was quicker than I had intended and faster than that of any half marathon I had run before but I felt good so just kept going! This year I knew exactly where my mum was going to be watching from so made sure I was on the right side of the road and kept my eye out for her…I spotted her but she didn’t see me until I shouted at her – at least it was more successful than last year! About 100m further up the road I heard my name being shouted and turned round to see a few uni friends, which made me smile!
I kept counting down the miles of the hilly course, still feeling strong although in need of water…I tried to grab some at 7 miles but the volunteers weren’t the most helpful and I didn’t manage to get any but finally got a bottle and had a few sips about 11 miles. The spectators of the North East are really into the Great North Run, standing at the side of the road handing out jelly babies, ice pops, orange pieces, water and even showering runners with their garden hoses! With about 2 miles to go I caught up with and overtook a fellow runner medic who was running with her mum and then I came to the downhill towards the seafront!
But once you hit the seafront there is still a mile to go! The whole way along the last stretch the crowds line the route, spurring you on to the finish line. I was still feeling strong and think I managed to pick up the pace a bit for a sprint finish! Just as I came up to the finish I heard Mo being awarded his finish medal and the national anthem being played…what a way to finish!! My watch made it 13.25 miles and recorded my fastest half marathon time!! (Somehow the time on my watch agreed exactly with my chip time…some skill there!!)
Result: 1:36.36, 1823rd position, 68th 0 – 34 year old woman, 884th 0 – 34 year old, 117th woman.
http://www.greatrun.org/Results/default.aspx?r=437&bib=11122
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/584951264
I was amazed with my time…I can’t believe I managed to keep going at the pace I did!!!
Now I had finished it was time for the thing I love most about BUPA running events….the free post race massage!! Where else can you find people causing themselves and laughing about it than foam rolling post massage!!! After meeting my mum, collecting my bag and getting changed we walked the uphill route to South Shields town center to catch the metro back to Newcastle before grabbing a few bits of shopping and heading home to relax!
So what can I say about my weekend of running…..well the Great North Run is certainly something that should be on every runners bucket list! The atmosphere is just fantastic and nothing like any other race I have taken part in! I still can’t quite believe how fast I ran and that I finished 19.59 quicker than last year and 12.38 than my HM PB! But what I really missed was seeing fellow Hedgies on the course and the fantastic support of the Hedgie family along the route!
Result: 1:36.36, 1823rd position, 68th 0 – 34 year old woman, 884th 0 – 34 year old, 117th woman.
http://www.greatrun.org/Results/default.aspx?r=437&bib=11122
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/584951264
I was amazed with my time…I can’t believe I managed to keep going at the pace I did!!!
Now I had finished it was time for the thing I love most about BUPA running events….the free post race massage!! Where else can you find people causing themselves and laughing about it than foam rolling post massage!!! After meeting my mum, collecting my bag and getting changed we walked the uphill route to South Shields town center to catch the metro back to Newcastle before grabbing a few bits of shopping and heading home to relax!
So what can I say about my weekend of running…..well the Great North Run is certainly something that should be on every runners bucket list! The atmosphere is just fantastic and nothing like any other race I have taken part in! I still can’t quite believe how fast I ran and that I finished 19.59 quicker than last year and 12.38 than my HM PB! But what I really missed was seeing fellow Hedgies on the course and the fantastic support of the Hedgie family along the route!
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