phil.im

Blog Post Written On: 21.09.2009
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Yesterday I completed my first ever Great North Run, and I absolutely loved it. It really was an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

The day started with me being dropped off at about 9.30am beside the civic centre for the short walk to the starting line on the central motorway in Newcastle. At this time in the morning, it was cool with beautiful clear blue skys and i just knew the day was going to be a good one, although i knew the temperatures would rise a bit to levels that would make the run a bit uncomfortable.

So after a quick visit to the portaloos, i went to my designated zone in the starting area with just under an hour to go and started warming up and doing a few stretches. Even with abut an hour to go, the Central motorway was absolutely packed. I’d never seen anything like it, it just blew my mind. I was feeling pretty proud to be there.

Then 10.40am arrived and the starting gun was blown by Sting, and we were off, well we were about 10 minutes later when we actually crossed the starting line.

By the time I finally crossed the starting line, it was getting a bit warmer, and for anyone from the North East of England today was just about the best weather we ever get. I was told the temperature got upto about 17/18 celcius, but when you’re running it feels double that.

Running over the Tyne Bridge was the first landmark, but there was still 11.5 miles to go, so i couldn’t really take it in, as i was trying to get my head around finishing this thing.

I’d never actually done any runs in warm weather so i really struggled with the heat. I must have gone through about 6 bottles of water during the run, and the water showers were hugely appreciated.

It just blew my mind though, the amount of people that came out onto the streets to cheer you on, and to have people sat outside their houses giving out oranges, bananas, ice pops, water and other things to help the runners, really did help you get through the run.

From about the 5 mile point, it really started to get tough for me, and i started to feel it, mainly down to the heat, and i just kept thinking, i’m never doing this again, but all the time i just kept of thinking how it would feel to cross the finishing line and thats what kept me going.

My aim for the run was to not stop and walk at any point and i’m glad i managed to achieve that. In the end, i finished the run in 2hrs 15 minutes, which is about 10.5 minutes per mile which is a bit slower to what i had been doing in training where i had been doing between 8.5 and 9 minute miles, but like i mentioned earlier, i had never run in really warm temperatures, plus the course has quite a few hills in it which made it quite tricky. But in the end, i was happy with my time, and it gives me something to aim for and beat next year, but in the end i was just happy to finish.

That feeling of crossing the finishing line will stay with me forever. I instantly went from never wanting to do this again, to wanting to know when the applications for the 2010 Great North Run were opening.