GNR 2023 Race Report

[runningdad]

Long race report in coming. Suggest getting comfy with a cuppa.

So this year’s Great North Run was actually my B race for 2023. My main event is a marathon in October. So when I got a ballot place for the GNR I was in 2 minds as to whether to do it, but my marathon plan had a half marathon distance run earmarked for this weekend. So I decided to just go for it, treat it as a glorified training run, even though I wasn’t really ‘race ready’.

The day of the race was a lovely morning, but I could feel the heat building even as we took the short walk to the start line. The usual warm-up ended up being lots of walking up and down to drop bag, queue for the too few in number of toilets, finding the correct wave with 15 minutes to go, only to find out it was full. So further back I went. Squeezing in to a too full area of anxious runners keen to get away. Not the best starts.

It took me 30 minutes from the starting gun until I crossed the start line. Not an issue in itself with chip timing, but frustrating. By now the 11am start is feeling hot and will only get hotter. But off we went eventually. Not long after we got away the Red Arrows jetted ahead of us over the Tyne Bridge. Feeling the thrill now of being part if such an iconic event.

The first 10km went well. I felt strong and was ahead of schedule. Maybe a bit too fast because the heat of the day and jostling for position started to get to me. But the fantastic crowd support really carries you through. This was really needed as the increasing instances of drop outs with what looked like heat exhaustion was really worrying. What had I signed up to? A quick loo break at the 14th km gave me a breather, but did eat into my time. But needs must and allowed me to refocus.

The next 5km were a battle of will. Determined to keep going and not walk for fear I wouldn’t get going again. The oranges, ice poles, cooling showers, and water stations were a god send. But I just kept plodding away, using the tip I’d picked up in the HU Forums of counting to 100 when it was getting really tough.

Entering South Shields was such a welcome relief, I could almost taste the finish. But not there yet. By now the crowds had really built and were carrying us along. Shouts of my name by strangers was almost an emotional experience.

Eventually the finish line came into view and I crossed the line in 2h 2m. It had been a tough outing and while being over 2 hours is slower than my normal half marathon time, I’m seeing it as a strong training run for where I am with my marathon training.

After collecting all the usual goodies, meeting up with my family and watching a bit of the awesome Red Arrows display over South Tyneside we headed to the Shields Ferry as we’d left the car in North Shields. As we arrived on the other side of the Tyne the sky darkened and an epic thunderstorm ensued leading to flash flooding in South Shields and transport chaos. Thankfully we missed it all, though had a bit of a crazy drive home through torrential rain, thunder and lightning. Totally bonkers given the sunny hot day it had been.

So I’m now at home with my feet up and a cup of tea pondering if I’d do the GNR again. Maybe too soon to say. It’s definitely epic and I’m glad I did it. But some bits of how things are organised were not great. Right now my focus needs to return to the marathon plan and the longest training runs coming up. Slightly dreading those if things stay warm, but hopefully things will start to cool down soon.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations to you Runningdad on completing the Great North Run, you were lucky to have finished before that thunderstorm, I wonder if the later runners were caught up in the heavy rain or had they all finished before the rain started?, good luck for your marathon in October.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Wow, that long hot run must have helped your training. It's been so hot right across the country that it's been tough for most runners. Good luck with the rest of your training and be proud you ran the GNR

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I watched it on TV and really felt for you all as it looked so warm. So, you did extremely well in such tough conditions 💪

Fab time considering you stopped off for a loo break too! Really well done to you and congratulations 👏👏

Did you see Elvis? Apparently he was supposed to be there somewhere….

Good luck for the rest of your training 🍀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I almost got to the starting line for the GNR two years ago. I did speak to people who had run it before and their message was pretty consistent. I am not a two hour HM runner, so that may have coloured their advice, but the common theme was that I was not going to be able to achieve any proper running form, and that I should start near the back so that I could get a confidence boost from overtaking lots of people! It was best to see the race a huge celebration of running, a carnival buoyed up by waves of sound and warmth coming from the amazing crowds of people. It is also a huge source of funds for charities.

The running experience would be very different for those starting near to the front of course! Congratulations on your finish and time; hope you enjoy the day for what it was.🙂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Congratulations runningdad . Yesterday’s heat was totally out of character for that part of the world, and it must have been a shock for many of the runners. I remember how difficult it was running 10k on a hot day in June and although I started well, me and many others around me ended up walking the last km because we felt that getting to the finish line in a good state was most important. I hope your marathon is in better conditions.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

What a training run??? A fantastic time given the heat and loo stop, congratulations. An event that size sounds like a challenge in it's own right, with a run on top! Aon day like Sunday, all the more so. Congratulations 👏