running home by Alaistair

The results for Wetherby were slow to appear as the chip timing company failed to produce an accurate set of results. You would think by virtue of using chip-timing mistakes would be history but after two failed attempts the results were an absolute mess…felt so very sorry for race organisers? The chip company had blamed it on a faulty batch of chips but have so say I’ve certainly never come across anything like it. Thankfully after about 5 days and it don’t figure how, they have managed to come up with a set of results that most people are happy with. So the weekend started with the great news that my run of 43:16 was enough for M50 2nd place for the Wetherby fixture and M50 3rd for the Yorkshire Dales Series.

Was up a 4am yesterday to get ready for the trip to Tyneside; Julie & daughter came with me for company and by 7am we arrived early enough to catch the first Metro into Newcastle. It’s been two years since my last GNR as last year missed out due to injury so to once again step down onto the central motorway was a real buzz.

Had the opportunity to catch up with Malcolm at the start…so glad he was able to track me down and meet up again after so long. Changed and moved to the start pen 1 hour before the start, might seem a bit drastic but if you can get your hydration in balance and sorted especially on such a cold morning makes life so much more comfortable. So I settled in to the pen and mentally switched off trying not to think about peeing; time passed quickly watching the start come alive and the runners start to cram into the pens.

Before the start we were slowly moved forward to within 20 yards of the start line and at the off was across the line in seconds. Appreciated that for the first couple of miles the route is fairly quick but worked hard to rain in the effort and keep it in control…felt good. The plan was to make the most of the downs but leave enough to work the ups hard, but with respect!

Carried two small Gel pinned to the inside of my shorts with the intention of using them at 5 & 10 miles. The climb to 5 miles was hard and waited until the route dropped to attempt the Gel; didn’t go brilliantly, choked a bit as I struggled to gulp it down at pace, in hindsight should have slow down first.

Went through 10K at about 43:30 going great guns. Only problem I was having was my core temperature felt very high…past 8 miles actually got into a bit of a panic, just felt so hot began to wonder if had just over cooked the effort on the hills and was in danger of conking out! Made the most of the first road shower and water on-route which helped cool me down but the price was the pace slowed annoyingly.

Onto the John Reid Road whilst fatigue was starting to kick-in still felt good, just wished could’ve pick the pace up more, certainly couldn’t have worked any harder. Have to say the support from the start to the finish line was amazing; this is the first year I’ve run with my name on the race number, the reaction from the crowd was so uplifting especially on the final mile.

Crossed the line in good shape smashing my recorded time for the GNR course by 4 minutes and delighted to set a new Half PB. The conditions for run were excellent, cool, no wind, mostly overcast with rain coming in the last couple of miles.

Sun 18 Sep,  Great North Run 11,  13.16 miles,  1:33:34

 Pace Splits: 6:42, 7:00, 6:47, 7:09, 7:18, 6:53, 6:52, 6:55, 7:30, 7:15, 7:28, 7:29, 7:12, 6:43

Posn 1223,  M50 38th

Must say that it’s just never enough, loved the race but the draw to come back to Tyneside and try harder is unbelievably strong…this event gets into your blood and is so hard to walk away from will probably stop trying……