I did the Great North Run!

[MaryAB]

I've been quiet on these boards lately (still been stalking them!) but I wanted to share this with you all because if I can do it you all can!!

I started running last November ish and graduated January. Since then I've been running 2/3 times a week and have done a few 10k runs. I'm not very quick but I have been trying to increase my stamina rather than my speed. I got in my head pretty early that you can either work on your speed or your distance! not both

On Sunday I took part in the Great North Run which was brilliant! I was really nervous because i hadn't done the distance before, even in my training i'd only gone as far as 9 miles. When it came to it though I did it! It was hard but the whole way through I knew I could do it, I walked a few bits but only for 60 seconds at a time (laura training kicking in!)

I really would recommend anybody thinking of entering an event to go ahead and do it, I really enjoy the sense of personal achievement when I finish

When I crossed the line on Sunday I said never again.....2 days on I'm looking for more half marathons!

Mary xx

[AliB1 Graduate]

Woo hoo well done you. I watched it on the tv in awe of all the runners, both elite and the mass!

[ellerunner Graduate]

Well done!

I was watching on TV too. I've just done my first parkrun, that's only 3 miles, you've done another 10 on top of that! Can't ever imagine being able to do that.

[MaryAB Graduate in reply to ellerunner]

You say that but when I did my first parkrun in March i though the same. It was a few weeks before I was doing a 10k and I couldn't imagine doing that distance let alone 13 miles!. Running is just as much a mental challenge as a physical one!

You can do it!

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to MaryAB]

Thank you - I'll certainly going to try to run further!

[swanscot Graduate]

Well done, MaryAB! That's a great achievement.

[Gridlet Graduate]

How fantastic! I watched it on on the T.V. too, it looked great fun! Where did you find the courage to enter? I would love to do something like that but I am a scaredy cat!

[TJFlute]

Great to hear from you Mary. Great North Run? That's amazing! I think most of us were watching it; and you were running it

[jenniej Graduate]

Well done! Like the others I watched it on TV and was in complete awe of the runners. Being able to do that after graduating in January is fantastic. It must have been fabulous running over the Tyne Bridge.

[ScottishHoosier Graduate]

Great news, Mary!

[notbad Graduate]

Well done Mary that's a fantastic achievement! I would love to do the GNR next year, I have a friend who does it every year and she's very encouraging (she says the atmosphere is wonderful) so you never know, next goal for me (I'm working towards 10k, so a bit to go). Love reading blogs like this.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

Well done Mary, fantastic, given me the confidence I need to take up the offer of a late place in the Cardiff half in just over three weeks now!