Well it's the morning after and my legs ache and my head is pounding, however I am chuffed to bits to have got round yesterday.
The atmosphere in the build up was eveything I expected with plenty of words of encouragement form more experienced runners.
I was about halfway back in the line up and as the Red Arrows flew over head it took about 25 minutes after Sir Mo and the elites started for me to shuffle forward to the start line.
3 of us started together to raise funds for the intensive care unit at The Great North Childrens Hospital where my wife Julie works.
We were able to break into a run as soon as we crossed the start line and I have to admit to making the rookie mistake of going off to quickly. The other 2 runners wanted us all to at least cross the Tyne Bridge together so I decided to go with their pace but on reflection a first 3km of just uner 19 minutes (including a second km of 5.55 mins) was far to quick, actually quicker than my regular 5k pace.
As we passed through Gateshead and up towards Heworth my pace slowed but I still felt ok and got to the 10km mark in 1 hour 14 mins.
However after that I really started to struggle with the breathing and the second half of the run was a real battle.
However the brilliant encouragement of the crowd allowed me to drag myself over the line and I even managed to pick things up slightly at the end.
As I crossed the line I swore to myself I would never to this again, an hour later I was already planning next years run!!.
An absolutely brilliant experience that any runner should try at least once.
Next up for me is to do as many of the North East park runs as possible before Christmas but probably no more longer runs until the Spring.
My final time at 2 hours 52 Minutes was about 15 minutes slower than I hoped and my finishing position was 36,650 out of about 57,000.
Run happy, run safe.
Written by
ChrisAllen1
Graduate10
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It all looked amazing on TV too Chris, with the build up and when the overhead camera showed how many of you were waiting to cross the start line it went on for ever!
I imagine it is hard to keep your pace down at the start, your adrenelin must have been through the roof, so you did really well to dig deep after that first 10k! I can only imagine what running such a long distance is like, and know this must have been so tough and called upon all your reserves...especially with your asthma.
Congratulations on your achievement...You did the GNR! and have the medal to prove it!
I hope you recover well, and think your plan for the rest of the year is a good idea...
Love that you thought never again...then an hour later....🤔
A great big well done to you and all the runners! 🎉🎈Thanks for the account of the race it looked like fun ( at the start) and satisfying at the end. 🛫 you all deserved the salute from the red arrows. !!!
Looked like an brilliant atmosphere watching it on tv yesterday. I was joking with my husband saying that could be us next year! He did it when he was 14 but never since. Who knows whether I will want to or be able to run an HM by then but it's great to think it's actually possible thanks to C25k. And you are testament to that. A huge well done and enjoy your rest day 😀
Well done Chris, even completing the GNR is a great achievement and you should be so proud of yourself. We watched it on the TV which was a lot easier and it looked a nice day.
It was nice of you to let Sir Mo start at the front, but his wife also did it this year so their kids were all cheering on lady Mo.
You deserve to relax and get on the couch for a while now, and never take that medal off.
Hi Chris, Great to read your report. You even had my non-runner, not very well husband laughing as you only took an hour to go from 'never again' to planning next year's run! I do hope that you head soon stops pounding. Many, many congratulations! Very well done indeed! What a lot you have achieved in less than a year! Just amazing! 😊👏🏻🛋Time for a well earned rest.
Wow ChrisAllen1 , that’s just incredible...I watched the GNR from the comfort of my sofa in my jamas, with a brew & a coupla rich teas, I would’ve loved to have been part of such an amazing event, you should be proper proud of yourself , that’s such an acheivement & a brilliant time!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well done Chris, if I say so myself, it is a real achievement and whenever you watch or hear it mentioned from now on you will get a little buzz form knowing you have run it.
Brilliant post Chris and excellent time! Congratulations on your great achievement. One my colleagues that I work with did the GNR a few years back and mentioned yesterday that there’s a couple of long hills is that true? And if so were they hard ones?
You and all the other participants have giving me thoughts that I could maybe do it next year........at the moment it’s just a thought though🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣
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