What started as a Dare......... by dizzie1981

Wow what a great day today has been! I have to say, it's a totally different experience starting at the front and I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity.

George, Jane and I got to use the queue-free celebrity toilets (which smell of perfume instead of urine) just past the start line.George had a natter with Nell Mcandrew and Sophie Rayworth whilst I stared at half the cast of eastenders,holby city and Joe Mceldry  - pinching myself. We then line up 3 rows behind the start line! When the gun goes off we literally go right over the mat in seconds. We all shoot off at a silly pace without the usual sea of runners to weave through. Jane starts to overtake George and I early on, however we're both still surprised to reach the 1st mile marker in 7mins 55secs. By the 2nd mile marker, and the beginning of the first incline, George has backed off the pace and I find myself running solo. I'm aware im running faster than I should be, but I figure I'm going to walk at some point on the John Reid road so I may as well make the most of it while I can. Before I know it I'm passing the 10k marker in 50 minutes (which would be a PB but apparently I can't claim that?!). It's then that I notice the 1hr 45 pacer guy running alongside me and I decide to hang on to him as much as I can.

At 7 miles I've caught up with Jane and Im worried as I never catch up with Jane! Turns out she's ok and its just me thats running faster than 'normal'.She tells me to press on and I have to say, Im feeling great.

At 8 miles something starts to go wrong, i remember doing a little sprint through the crowd to get to the guy with the water hose as I'm feeling hot. It's then that I feel a sharp stab of a stitch in my right hand side so I slow the pace down a little. The pain is coming and going but I'm managing to keep running up until I start to feel really hot. The sun is now baking the side of my face and my skin is all goosebumps and I'm feeling pretty ropey. My garmin has given up - it's now displaying a compass instead of any useful information! I'm taking walking breaks now but I'm determined not to throw away all the hard work done over the last 9 miles. A nice lady offers me some jelly babies on the John Reid road and after a few minutes I'm starting to feel a bit better.The rain is a god-send and I'm able to pick up my pace a bit.

I reach the short sharp downhill section before the home straight somewhat surprised as I havn't noticed all the climbing this year as I've been distracted by the stitch. I'm clueless as to what pace im doing but Im all ready to sprint when disaster strikes. Little niggly stitch is now full on 'I need you to stop' side stitch and Im really hacked off! At the 800meters to go point I have to stop to walk. Im embarrassed and im disappointed as Im so close to the finish and I cant run just that little distance! Im doubled over trying to run as a right angle and people are screaming at me to keep going. Complete strangers are dragging me along telling me not to give in and im in agony! I finally managed to straighten myself up to go through the finish line when I notice the clock says 1hr 53mins 37secs

My goal was to do the GNR in under 2hrs so I'm delighted with the result, but I cant help thinking what would have been if I didn't get that stitch?! I didn't feel tired or sore at any point but I was completely crippled in the last 800 meters by a stitch. I'm now left wondering if I can do a sub 1hr 50 half which prior to today would have been considered impossible to me.

I had a great day and I think its really helped restore whatever competitive streak I once had  . I have to also point out what a great job those marshals did. Speaking from experience, the rain is great for running but its pretty miserable for those guys standing about for hours in it. xx

It's that time of year again! This time I'm pleased to be running the GNR instead of marshaling it. It's always nice to help out but I'm up for giving it another shot this year.Plus this year's run is going to be extra special...

Despite the lack of blogging I have been training pretty consistently. My last long run was 14 miles 2 weeks ago and just a 5 mile taper run last weekend. It's been a fun few months raising money for 'Acorns Children's Hospice'. Obviously it all started with the West highland Way in April when Jane and I managed to raise £500. Since then we have combined our fund-raising with the other members of my running club who are also supporting 'Acorns' at the GNR and we have raised a further £700 .

The inspiration for all the fund-raising came from my good friend George (realBUZZ48) who's Grandaughter Emily sadly died xmas 2006. Since then George's efforts at fund-raising for Acorns have been inspirational (and sometimes bizarre!) and I've been more than happy to try and help out. He recently managed to get an ITV reporter & camera man down to our club to do a piece on our fund-raising. There might be a few shots of us running this week on the local news but I'll be surprised if they show any of my interview with Jane

 Because George is so dedicated (and a bit old) he's ran every Great North Run... Yep that's all of them since 1981 (the year I was born George just in-case your reading this ) The perk to being an 'ever present' Great North Runner is that you get to start at the front (well, just behind the elite's that is!) This year George has been given a few extra passes so he isn't all lonely up at the front and he was kind enough to give one to me and Jane. So this year I'm starting at the front in Zone A! Whoop! I'll hopefully get to mingle with a few celebs before the starting Gun goes off. The only problem now is that I don't have an excuse not to go for a PB  eek!

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9238487.By_George__he_s_run_it/?ref=fbrec

www.justgiving.com/team-acorns

Oops left it an awful long time between blogs. Training hasn't been as structured as normal. I've been trying to fit in running around holidays,drunken weekends and work. I do need to get back on track though as the Great north run is approaching!

Today was my first long run in a while and its fair to say I struggled! I joined George for a 10 mile run from Shadforth not realising how hilly the surrounding area is. The heavy rain over the last 48 hours made the trails really muddy and slippy and we found ourselves walking a lot. The views over Durham must be quite impressive when it's a clear day. George had us climbing lots of stiles and ducking in and out of bushes which joined on to new paths! Initially I thought he just needed the loo as it really didnt look like a path leading anywhere  We had an interesting descent through a corn field which would have made a great photo but my god it really whipped your legs and I was convinced I would emerge bloody at the other end.

We made it back to Shadforth muddy, knackered (well I was) and wet. Thankfully the heavens only really opened with the thunder as we got in the house.  I'm glad I've got some mileage done but I don't half feel unfit at the minute. Hopefully I'll still be able to do a sub 2hr Great North Run

I feel like I've been doing a lot more physical activities lately. I must have been to 5 swimming session now and I'm pleased to say I can now do lengths without emerging coughing and spluttering in the deep end. Still a long way to go, its way more technical than I realised, but I'm really enoying it.It's a lot more tiring too now that I've cracked the breathing.Who knows, perhaps I'll enter a Tri next year

I went to 'go ape' on Monday with a friend and although I'm frightened of heights it was really fun! I'd recommend it to anyone. You really can only stay scared for so long...

I've still been running 3 times a week and I'm trying to keep a long one in there every few weeks with the GNR approaching. Today I ran 12 miles with Jane along Durham River. It was supposed to be 10 but we met up with George in Durham and his short-cut turned out to be a sneaky ploy to lengthen our route! The temperature today was uncomfortable to say the least. We were pretty glad when the heavens opened on us 5 miles in to the run although it didnt last long. By the time we got home we were hot and sticky feeling like someone had poured warm lucozade over us. I must have brought home several thousand flies - gross.

I'm absoloutely shattered now!