So as promised everyone, here's a summary of yesterday's run, hopefully it will inspire some to have a go at this wonderful event next time round.
The day itself, after all the waiting and build up came around so quickly. My training runs had been sporadic but I had done the full race distance the week before with a new PB of 2 hours 29 minutes.
My wife's cousin was also running as a relative novice and had driven up from Norfolk to stay with us for the weekend and after a weeks rest I felt reasonably confident of beating last years effort and was really looking forward to sampling the incredible atmosphere again.
The day dawned bright and sunny if a little chilly in the North East and I got up at 6 to give time to relax and have a couple of coffees before setting off for central Newcastle. My wife drove us to Haymarket where we had a pastry and another coffee and a chat with some other runners. Now it was time to join the growing throng heading up through the University buildings, past the dozens of baggage buses and finally to join the always inspiring masses on the central motorway.
By now the sun had climbed higher and it was quite warm. I left my cheap top to be collected for charity along with thousands of others and with 20 minutes to go we entered the green zone about midway along the crowd.
Still feeling OK we wished each other luck as Sir Mo set off at the front and we bagan to shuffle forward. About half an hour after we started to move we finally crossed the start line and were able to break into a run immediately.
Those first 3km in the city and across the Tyne Bridge are famously downhill and just like last year I went off fast but this time it felt fairly easy and controlled.
Once over the bridge the crowds thin a bit for a while as you pass Gateshead Stadium and move towards Hepworth Metro up some inclines. This is the first real section of the run and I dug in and passed 5k in 33 minutes, nicely on pace. I lost contact with my running partner at this point but continued to run strong and unlike the previous year I was the one, in the main, doing the passing this time.
The sun continued to grow warmer but I ignored all the water station's and plowed on, past the left turn at Whitemare Pool and on towards the coast. 10k was reached in even pace at 1 hour 8 minutes and this was the point I had intended to have a short walk. However I felt strong and decided I could at least do another park run before a rest!!, the crowds which had swelled again at Heworth died away a bit before we passed the border into S Shields but all the roundabouts were filled with bands and charity supporters. 15k came up in 1 hour 42, my best for this distance, I was tiring slightly but decided I could have a go at what I thought I would never manage and run a HM non stop. After all it was just another Park Run to the coast. All around now people were tiring in the growing heat, especially some of the amazing fancy dress entrants and I did pass several runners having medical treatment at the side of the road but the amazing support from the crowds spurred me on as I got to 20k and the final uphill mile along the coast.
To my surprise I even managed something of a sprint finish as I imagined the huge crowds were cheering just for me and I crossed the line with no walking, no water stops and a time of 2 hours 18 minutes, absolutely ecstatic with that.
I picked up my medal and goody bag, finally found my wife and relatives then it took us 2 hours to get out of South Shields!!!.
An amazing day, not sure I will ever beat that time but I am already planning next year. It also topped off an amazing running year in which I have done 13 events of 10km or more so far (one more to go next month) and set new PBs for 5k, 10k, 10 mile and now HM.
Running has brought so much to me over the 2 years I have been doing it and wheather you are happy just doing a couple of kilometres at a time or training for an ultra marathon I would say keep at it.
For now, run happy and run safe and sorry for the long post 😂😂
Does it matter "how" we run???
A run that was sloooow, and three Haribos
I FEEL GOOD.....I KNEW THAT I WOULD....
