Great North Run

I recently fulfilled another ambition of mine - to take part in the Great North Run. I completed it in 1hr 33mins (93 minutes), beating my own personal best in a half-marathon.

I ran for Children With Cancer, one of a number of charities that I admire. They asked me if I would be interested in running for them, and without really thinking it through properly, I said "yes!" I was initially concerned about being able to raise enough money, since I had only completed the London Marathon a couple of months before signing up for this one, and was worried that nobody would want to spend even more money on sponsoring me.

I did not have to worry too much as I was able to meet the £500 target and in fact exceeded it, raising a total of £680 - thanks to some very generous sponsors.

The Great North Run was interesting but not necessarily because of the run itself. I had to sort out the logistics of getting to Newcastle in the first place, finding somewhere to stay overnight, familiarising myself with the city, and doing all of this on my own.

I drove up there the evening before, checked into my hotel room and got myself prepared. On the morning of the run itself, I woke up early and made my way to the start line, helped by a crowd of friendly people who I got chatting to. 

Eventually the race began and the weather conditions were just perfect for me. Warm, but not too warm. I wanted to do my very best, but not tire myself out completely, so I hoped to take it easy and take in the sights of Tyne and Wear. I didn't really take it easy, as I ran like the proverbial clappers but I still got a chance to see some of the views. 

At one point, about ten miles in, I was handed a bottle of water by a lady who looked a lot like Tanni Grey-Thompson and said to me "well done Martin, keep going." But it might just have been a random woman in a wheelchair. Apparently she was there handing out drinks so perhaps it was her after all, and I wasn't hallucinating due to tiredness and dehydration!

Eventually I finished, spurred on by the crowd, even though I had nobody that I knew cheering me on. It was nice anyway just to hear my name being called out.

I finally met the nice people who work at Children With Cancer, got some food and drink down me, made my way back to my hotel room, showered, got changed and then drove back to Manchester. I think the drive from Newcastle to Manchester took twice as long as it took me to do the Great North Run. I certainly found it more tiring....

There's a photo of me, below. 

Before anybody asks, yes, my nipples were bleeding, as you can see. It's not a Gorbachev-style birthmark on the child's head in the charity's logo....

Me after completing the Great North Run

I have now begun my training for 2015's London Marathon. I know, it never ends...