Whinge, whinge, moan, moan. Having had my pet lip tripping me up since my race pack arrived it’s only fair to report that Great Run have relented and bumped me up through the starting zones for the big day.
Secretly I was concerned that I’d laid it on a bit heavy in my letter of complaint and was half expecting to be moved right to the back or in a fit of “That’ll show him” find myself lurking behind Mo Farah up at the sharp end.
Secretly I was concerned that I’d laid it on a bit heavy in my letter of complaint and was half expecting to be moved right to the back or in a fit of “That’ll show him” find myself lurking behind Mo Farah up at the sharp end.
The new race number is rather endearing in that it looks like I’ve simply made it myself. I must stress that I haven’t and that they really did write me a new one in big black marker pen.
It is also around about now that the doubts set in. I’m in Zone C. It’ll be full of flinty eyed club runners clad in singlets with sinews of steel, all ready to zoom off at the start leaving only a vague smell of Deep Heat to prove they were ever there. The swines.
I’m always like this in the last couple of weeks before a race. I’ll manage to convince myself that every post run ache in the legs is the onset of runners’ knee or shin splints or that the kids will bring back some dreaded unknown lurgy from school that will rule me out on the big day.
I’m also tormenting myself by reading all the other GNR bloggers on North-East Runner. They are all doing very well. Too well in fact. Maybe I could knobble them in a Dick Dastardly style just before the start.
I’m also already stressing over what t-shirt to wear during the race. Should I go with a previous GNR shirt to prove I’m not popping my half marathon cherry or perhaps my Marathon of the North t-shirt?
That one indicates that I can run for a long time just not very fast. This could be useful given my propensity for drinking beer this year when I should have been training.
How about a triathlon t-shirt? That’ll let people know that not only am I crap at running, I also suck at swimming and cycling as well.
Race belt, compression socks, gels, iPod, arm strap, headphones, Garmin plus some rather jaunty shorts and sweatbands will complete the ensemble.
I have to draw the line at hats though. I’ve worn outfits that make people think I’m blind but at best hats make me look I’ve escaped from somewhere or at worst like a serial killer.
During the run itself, if you overtake an overweight, slightly camp man dressed like a cheerleader with a fetish for electrical goods please feel free to say “Hello".
I’m also tormenting myself by reading all the other GNR bloggers on North-East Runner. They are all doing very well. Too well in fact. Maybe I could knobble them in a Dick Dastardly style just before the start.
I’m also already stressing over what t-shirt to wear during the race. Should I go with a previous GNR shirt to prove I’m not popping my half marathon cherry or perhaps my Marathon of the North t-shirt?
That one indicates that I can run for a long time just not very fast. This could be useful given my propensity for drinking beer this year when I should have been training.
How about a triathlon t-shirt? That’ll let people know that not only am I crap at running, I also suck at swimming and cycling as well.
Race belt, compression socks, gels, iPod, arm strap, headphones, Garmin plus some rather jaunty shorts and sweatbands will complete the ensemble.
I have to draw the line at hats though. I’ve worn outfits that make people think I’m blind but at best hats make me look I’ve escaped from somewhere or at worst like a serial killer.
During the run itself, if you overtake an overweight, slightly camp man dressed like a cheerleader with a fetish for electrical goods please feel free to say “Hello".