Great South Run

I'd told Louise that as we were doing the Great North, we should do the Great South too this year.  And I had my spider costume to wear as I'd promised my generous sponsors that I'd wear it for both runs, raising money for the Footsteps Foundation who have helped my niece Annie enormously with physio (their key piece of equipment is known as a spider).

We've done the Great South a few times and now I've done more big scale runs, I think I've learned to appreciate it more.  Yes, it's pricey, especially as transferring numbers is a no-go.  Yes, logistics need planning and patience.  Yes, it's tricky to find your running buddies and supporters.  But it's also one of the best organised big runs - and one of the biggest running events in the deep south.  And 10 miles is a lovely distance.

Debbie and Sam

Lou, Clare W & I got there via Gosport & the ferry (much complaining from Lou's kids about how it is compulsory to sit outside on the ferry).  Arrived early enough to not have to queue for a loo - weird.  The baggage drop off sounded remarkably insecure so Clare ended up running with more of her stuff than she'd expected.  I put my spider outfit on again - it had survived the GNR remarkably well.

We were in the white wave - middle speed for mortal runners.  Spotted Lyndsay & her husband.

Jo Pavey was there to start us off - she won the event in 2012 - but sadly, no opera singer for the first time the 3 of us could remember.  Trumpets though.  Clare set off on a mission for a PB, Lou & I were going slower.  I did toy with the idea of sticking with the 1:40 pacemaker, but we were a little ahead.  My favourite bit is in mile 2 where the route goes through the Historic Dockyard, past Warrior and Victory. Lots of music - drumming and a pipe band.

We spotted Claire D and Maria - both looking very good round about mile 4 just before the first water station - unlike previous years, there were 2 water & 1 lucozade points (and very thankful it wasn't gatorade).

We ran past a Chinese restaurant where apparently Peter Sellers was born.  Great to see Lyndsay again - quality support - and Louise was chuffed when she heard one of her students cheering her.

Sam, Debbie and Lucy

I started to struggle before the halfway point.  I'd had a cold the week before and although I was OK at the gym on Friday, my chest started feeling tight and my heartrate was too high.  Louise tried to convince me that we both needed to slow down before realising that I wouldn't do so enough whilst worrying about messing up her race - so we split up and I promised Lou that I'd be sensible.  Couldn't get my heartrate to go below 180 and it felt tough!  The 1:40 pacemaker had overtaken me long ago.  Mile 7-8 through a housing estate with no music was hard.  Traditionally, it's miles 8-10 that are toughest - as you turn onto the seafront, there is always a headwind and mentally, you feel that the finish must be closer than 2 miles away...  Jelly babies were being given out (sensibly) at that point.

I finished in 1:45:35.  Ended up walking through the finishers' funnel behind a group of marine commandos, complete with drummers and green berets, which was rather cool.  Met up with Lou and Clare - so pleased that both of them had good times and that Clare had a PB.  Bit sad that I didn't find any other Sisters - but it was great catching up with everyone subsequently.  19 of us took part - most impressive!

Long walk to the ferry made shorter with a fab conversation about debating (yes, really!) with Lou's eldest.


Having said it would be my last GSR, I'm weakening already.....

Solent Running Sisters Nailed the Great South:
Bernadette: 1:55:27
Claire Deacon 1:28:58
Clare World 1:33:21
Claudia Lucas 1:55:07
Debbie Harvey 1:52:12
Dee Atyeo 1:42:03
Eileen 1:52:02
Emma Hickman 1:41:54
Gin Tidridge 1:45:33
Joanne Thomas 1:42:50
Louise Hillier-Wheal 1:39:54
Lucy 1:52:02
Maria Warwick 1:26:17
Nic Jones 1:33:46
Pauline 1:33:57
Rachel Sturdy 1:30:41
Sam Radford 1:52:04
Sophie Mackenzie 1:37:11
Tanya Marie Carter 1:49:19

Great North Run

Photo: Debbi Barnett

The Great North was the run I wanted to do before I started running.  My parents live in Corbridge - close to Newcastle, it's the UK's biggest race (56,000 runners) and my little sister Debbi has been on about it for years.  This year, I got a place in the ballot for the first time - as did Louise.  Debbi bought a charity place from Great Ormond Street.  Very glad I booked up the flights as soon as I could for Lou & I - and very grateful to Mum & Dad for agreeing to put us up.

Because it wouldn't be my first half and I wanted to raise money for the children's physio charity Footsteps Foundation who have done amazing work with my niece Annie, I decided to make it my first fancy dress race.  The key equipment that Footsteps use is a frame/harness system called a spider - so my outfit was a spider.  Black tights with bubble wrap inside for the legs, a web window decoration as a cape and a black hat with 6 eyes....

The day before the run was fab.  My parents took Louise & I to Hadrians Wall - Housesteads & Steel Rigg.  It's the bit of the wall that Robin Hood got to in less than a day after landing at Dover apparently!  Introduced Louise to Debbi & finalised web cape with help from everyone including a bemused neighbour.

We knew that logistics would be tricky so we got the bus into Newcastle very early.  Debbi found the Great North Beer Tent crew she'd hooked with on Facebook for a photo op.  Queued for the loo, walked to the baggage buses, queued for the loo, found the start.  Lou & I decided to start in Debbi's wave - she'd done loads of research on which side to be on which was helpful.

Red Arrow fly past, then we set off.  Water handed to us almost immediately. I was a bit surprised how many people were walking within the first mile - nothing wrong with that at all but not something I'd seen to that extent before.  Also unusual was running on traffic free dual carriageways - a first!  Over the Tyne Bridge - the bit I'd really looked forward to.  The level of support was amazing - supporters lining pretty much all 13.1 miles of the route.

Great North Beer Tent

Debs was finding her first ever half tough.  She'd got to 8 miles in training, but the heat was getting to her big time around mile 3.  I decided to stick with her - and impressively, given that they'd only met the day before, Louise decided to do so too. 

Photo: Louise Hillier-Wheal

Loved the karakoke man - never have I sung so much on a run!  We overtook Tony the Fridge and saw so many fabulous outfits.  Loads of water & lucozade stations - and locals with hosepipes from their gardens providing showers!  I didn't find it hot, but many others did.

The route wasn't too hilly - a couple of long slogs though.  Most picturesque bit was coming over the last hill to see the light house at South Shields.  Debs was still running - so proud of the way she dug into the run whilst finding it really tough.  Mark Knopfler's "Local Hero" seemed to be playing for most of the last bit, but we went over the finish line to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now".

Met up with Mum & Dad amongst hundreds of people at the end.  Debbi shot off to try & catch her pre booked train - but ended up queueing forever for buses (luckily train operator was kind).  Mum & Dad took me & Louise back to Corbridge - a tortuous journey that took longer than it took Phil to drive from Exeter to Eastleigh that afternoon!  The event was exceptionally well organised - but the sheer numbers meant lots of queuing and waiting.

Nice easy flight home.  It was an amazing event, but I found the support from Mum & Dad, Louise deciding to support Debs, and Debbi's tenacity in running 13.1 miles for the first time the most inspirational components.   And there's the £390 pre gift aid donated by friends, colleagues and family for Footsteps - thank you so much for your generosity.

Great South to follow - second outing for the spider outfit!