GREAT NORTH RUN 2005
My mate Tim asks if I would enter The Great North Run with him to raise money for The Down's Society. Their fourth child Robbie is a Down's child and of course I say yes. How hard can it be I thought, a half marathon is only a few miles more than I'm running nearly every weekend...
This is my first large scale race and a steep learning curve in terms of knowledge, preparation and race execution.
There are about 50,000 runners. All the hotels are sold out. Tim and I end up sharing a single bed (he is a seventeen stone rugby player) in his old friend's flat. The restaurants are all full and we end up standing outside a fish and chip shop, not my favourite food by any means as chips in commercial oil usually give me a stomach ache.
The next morning I find myself standing in the huge starting pen with a headache, upset stomach and desperate for the loo. Off we go and the race atmosphere takes over. Tim shoots away weaving through the crowds and I do at least have the sense to say that we are going too fast. This year it's going to be quite hot later on and about 70% humidity. We pass a collapsed runner and there's just a pair of motionless legs sticking out from a group of marshals and ambulance staff, it gives me a premonition of something very serious as it just looks so wrong.
After about eight miles the pace starts to tell and Tim tells me to go on ahead. I'm running quite strongly but it starts to bite. I end up going slower and slower and the final hill is a real battle. Some experienced runner passes me and gives some words of encouragement, well he tells me to toughen up. I'm quite dehydrated by the end and I slump on the grass just beyond the finish desperately drinking some water. My time is a very modest 2.08.35. Tim makes it in and we meet up with his wife Lilian and Robbie, eat some of the finish line food and set off back to London.
We find out that four people have died during the race. It's very unusual and maybe a result of the hot and humid conditions. About 20% of the field don't finish.
I only have one picture from the race, a classic sack of potatoes look approaching the finish line in pieces. I hope my running form improves or there is no hope.