North Tyneside 10k, well that was a tough one. - Bridge to 10K

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North Tyneside 10k, well that was a tough one.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10
β€’39 Replies

I had really been looking forward to this one as it attracts a much bigger entry than many races and the route offers some amazing scenery.

I woke early and had a couple of hours to relax and sit out in the garden with a couple of strong coffees with the sun already shining out of a clear blue sky.

The start was at a sports centre near North Shields and once parked up it was immediately obvious that this one was a different scale in terms of number of competitors compared to the Dalton Park and Blyth runs.

People were milling around everywhere but just before 10 we were called to the start on a closed section of road. I decided to start near the back on the hope of overtaking some people rather than my usual tactic of starting as near to the front as possible which always results in people streaming past me.

Almost 2000 were lined up in front of me and as the horn sounded and the temperature climbed I started quickly and made my way up the field. The first kilometer was through a housing estate with plenty of people out offering encouragement to the runners. Then at North Shields a right turn and a sharp downhill plunge to the river Tyne. We made our way through the Fish Quay then around the bay towards Tynemouth with views south over the river to South Shields. In the far distance I could make out Souter Lighthouse, close to the finish of the Great North Run. Both the first couple of kilometres were well under 6 minutes, in all honesty to quick for me and my progress was brought to a halt by the 2 steep climbs up into Tynemouth.

From this point it was following the coast north passing some beautiful spots, Tynemouth Priory and beach, Cullercoats Bay and the newly restored Spanish City in Whitley Bay.

After the climb I got some of my momentum back but after the quick start and with temperatures well into the 20s for the last 3 to 4k the legs felt like lead.

As I struggled over the finish line at another local beauty spot, St Mary's Island, I was very glad to get home thought my time of 1 hour 9 minutes was at least 5 minutes slower than I hoped.

Still it was a wonderful event, well marshalled with hundreds of people cheering us on and weather you can only dream of in the North East at Easter.

2 weeks to go until the Sunderland HM where I must remember to start slow.

I'm sure many of you will have had races over the Easter weekend and hope you enjoyed them.

Run happy, run safe.

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ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1
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39 Replies
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AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Great time for you Chris considering the temperature, you will have gained a little experience from today for your Sunderland HM in two weeks, just hope the weather is a little cooler than it was today.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toAlMorr

Thanks Al, tough today.

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate10

Great run Chris...always good to hear from people who live even further north than me! I have never run in a field greater than 1(me!); 2000 would freak me out. Just think of the queues for flat whites and brownie at the end of the race. Definitely not for me, but I really admire those who can do it. You are brilliant πŸ₯‡πŸ₯‡πŸ₯‡

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toBeachcomber66

Haha, thank you, unfortunately there was no coffee shop for a flat white but we did head off for a pint and a burger in a beer garden after!!!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10β€’ in reply toBeachcomber66

That's nothing Beachcomber66, The Great North Run last year attracted 43,000 runners, so I don't think that you will want to run in that, nevertheless it's a great spectical to watch on TV.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10

Starting a race slow is so hard, but in this heat any activity is hard! Good for you and good luck for your HM.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toIrishprincess

Thank you, I think I need a plan for the HM,, time at 5k, time at 10k etc and try to stick with it.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

I'm rubbish with plans and just follow what my body tells me. It's not let me down yet πŸ™‚

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Well done in that heat ChrisAllen and with hills. It seemed to end in a different place to where you started. Did someone come and pick you up at the end?

I will have to investigate what they’ve done to the Spanish city.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toDexy5

Yes we started near North Shields and ended at St Mary's, my wife picked me up, after years of neglect they have done a great job revamping the Spanish City.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

I have a vision of a visit I made to Whitley bay one Easter. It was freezing, I was wrapped up warm in winter clothes and then girls in very short skirts and bare legs started arriving in coaches. I think there was an all day dance going on at the Spanish city.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toDexy5

Very different now!!!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

πŸ˜‚

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate10

Sounds amazing. I think I will out that on my list for next year. I love that part of the world. Hit everywhere this weekend though so well done for finishing in that time!

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toSaartjie

Thanks, it's one I'm going to try to do every year.

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

And that was supposed to say hot not hit!

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

Well done! I’m at Sunderland too but only the 10k as going Liverpool half 2 weeks later. Are you doing Souter 10 miler?

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toTasha99

At the start of August?, yes I'm doing that one. What sort of time would you expect to run a 10 miler in?

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

I did York 10 miler last week in 1:42. I might do Souter but I’m unsure of summer running πŸ€” Although I’ve just signed up to Dalby Forest trail half marathon in July 🀣

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toTasha99

That's more or less my pace normally, maybe a touch quicker t g am me, let me know if you sign up for it.

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

Will do πŸ‘ŒπŸ½

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

Mind it was cold then. Hot weather is a different story! Would be great to finally meet someone off here 😊

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toTasha99

Same, if you do it we can run it together.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10

Huge well done you.... lessons learnt too.. start slow and keep a bit back... :) ?

A great run nonetheless! :) xx

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toOldfloss

Thanks Floss, as for lessons learnt, probably not!!! Xx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

No probably not... Unless I start with an incline I shoot off like a greyhound out of the trap! ( Did I just say that out loud??)

You will be awesome ! xx

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toOldfloss

I know, I always seem to forget I'm not Eliud Kipchoge πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ xx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10β€’ in reply toChrisAllen1

But... I think maybe, that is not a bad thing... we do set off with that high hope... the expectation, and then pulling back is a welcome relief...:)

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate10

Well done! Sounds like a great time to me πŸ…πŸ‘πŸ‘

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toBaddieThePirate

Thanks Baddie, I know, just a bit annoyed the legs went in a 10k, normally can go longer before I start "the plod" πŸ˜‚

Fionn42 profile image
Fionn42

Superb, great time too given the heat - very many congratulations!

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toFionn42

Awww thanks Fionn

pogol profile image
pogol

Nice one well done all runners I was giving out water at half way in Tynemouth never seen 1500 bottles go so quick! It was hot picking them all up afterwards! but great atmosphere- hope to run it next year 1.15 target slow and steady.

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply topogol

Thanks for doing it, all the marshalls and volunteers, not to mention the public, were fantastic. πŸ‘

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe560minGraduate

Fantastic, well done Chris. πŸ˜ƒ ... and oh my goodness- all those places are the stuff of my childhood! πŸ˜€

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toElfe5

Ah that's good to hear, it's a fantastic stretch of coast.

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne

Well done πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€. It’s the first hot run and that was a great run. Sounds challenging too with those hills. So how are we going to curb your enthusiastic gazelle starting pace????

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10β€’ in reply toWimborne

Ha, I doubt it, although MUSTN'T do that at Sunderland Half. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Walshy3 profile image
Walshy3Graduate10

That ways a great time and you conquered my nemesis as well ie the hills!!! I hope your hm is flat and fast and the sun stays low!, I’ve a leg of Belfast half marathon in a fortnight and I hope to god we don’t get this heat wave😳 best of luck for your run x

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