I. Must. Be. Insane. by pickassoreborn

• My last ever blog post for the while.

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  Oct0420061:23 a.m.

  I don't believe it. I hope this blog client improves next year - there's a button which I accidently pressed when entering a load of text which is right next to the "insert picture" button which deletes all the text I wrote.
  
  I think pictures speak more than the text I carefully inserted for the past 15 minutes...
  
  
  
  The exodus of people walking down to the holding pens at the start!
  
  
  
  
  
  The wait - we waited a while before we slowly moved towards the
  start line. Rather strangely, we had to all vault over a barrier to get into another line. I hoped no-one injured themselves doing this as it would of been the worst possible start to the run..!
  
  
  
  The largest costume ever to grace the GNR - a millipede though it was facing the wrong way at the holding pens.. ooops!
  
  
  
  The slow walk down - Nessie can be seen to the left, three Scottish blokes also running for Cancer Research UK. You can also see the evil sun poking its head from behind clouds. Grrr.
  
  
  
  I took this photo on the move..! Heading towards the Tyne Bridge, I felt fantastic - full of energy and really happy to be running with other people raising money for charities!!
  
  I have to mention at this point that the locals were fantastic when it came to support - even when the heavens opened up about 3-5 miles into the run itself. They were very, very supportive - I've not had my name shouted so many times by so many people as I did on that day - kids holding out hands to get a high (or low!) five from me was truly inspiring and heart-warming.
  
  I still can't believe I kept good pace and didn't slow or stop once - near the end of the run with the straight leading along the seaside of South Shields, I heard some huffing and puffing from a poor lass behind me and decided to do the decent thing and help her out. I could of gotten a faster time, but I held back and paced myself to the same pace she was going at. I was shouting words of encouragement and telling her that we were "almost there!" even though we were at the 800m marker..! She told me that it was her second run, and the run she had last year wasn't as bad as it was this year. I still kept up the pressure and helped her through it.
  
  The final straight though - she suddenly darted ahead of me! I legged it after her and shouted more words of encouragement - I overtook her and crossed the finished line with a feeling of pure elation and achievement (I can't wait to see my finishing photo..!) and as I turned to see her finish, she crossed the finish line and fainted straight away! I thought the worst - "What have I done?!". Thankfully the St. John's Ambulance were on the case and they told me that I shouldn't worry. She was soon on her feet and thanked me for helping her to finish with a big ol' hug. Forget the time I finished, I was glad to help someone out..!
  
  I grabbed my goody bag and had trouble putting on my thermal blanket (much to the amusement of the announcer - "Steve from Cancer Research is having trouble with his blanket! Aha, now he's got it!" to which I gave him the same grin I've been giving on the entire course. I met up with the landlord at the Cancer Research tent in the charity village, which looks like this...
  
  
  
  ...and enjoyed the hospitality of the Cancer Research UK tent by scoffing their bananas and Mars bars and having a lovely cuppa! I also spotted this fella -
  
  
  
  Yep, Mr Findlay Young - the bloke who ran 24 half marathons as well as the final one at the GNR! I'm glad he finished it and he was glad too..!
  
  So there you go - it's all over. I'm still waiting for my landlord to e-mail me the final photo of me with my medal at the finish, though it seems like I'll never get to put it on this blog. No matter. I managed to update the blog anyway! Thank you to everyone who has read my blog from those difficult early training sessions in February to now. I hope that I've somehow inspired at least someone to take up running - and more importantly - running for charity!
  
  You may yet see me next year as I've put my name forward for the GNR next year and I think I've inspired some of the guys from work to hopefully form a running team for next year...! I'll be running for Cancer Research UK or Macmillian Cancer Support - it was a no-brainer to put my name forward for next year because of one thing - the support. It was such an inspiring thing to have so many people encourage me to do my best. Also thanks to the kind chap who offered me some jelly babies to help my stomach through the last few miles - and thanks once again for all the regular readers of the blog who gave me help, advice and encouragement.
  
  I love you all! Here's to next year!!
  
  Love, Steve
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  Comments (3)

  • Alaistair 'Steve, could not agree more about next year, it was such a fantastic day could not think of any reason not to do it. Great pics - thought the guys with the green dragon thing must have had a tough run, my jaw dropped when I was them walk past. Great run.....' added 4th Oct 2006

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  • dizzie1981 'Great photos! I started off near one of those green things but on the other side so shame we didnt spot each other!Im gona watch the whole thing on tape now to see if I can spot myself!Here's to next year!' added 4th Oct 2006

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  • Racey_Tracey 'Thanks for sharing the photos, hope to see you next year. i was stood a little way back from Nessie, how close we all were without seeing each other. ' added 5th Oct 2006

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