And so it had arrived. The biggest day in the North East running calendar. The race that for so many people is their equivalent of the Olympic Games. So much training, so many nerves, so much fundraising, and seemingly endless banter on social media websites. Everything that goes before the Great North Run makes the build-up to the event just as special as the actual day itself. It is such a momentous occasion for so many people, for so many different reasons, and just walking around the start area beforehand leaves you in no doubt as to the enormity of the whole event.
People are rushing around here, there and everywhere trying to find their start pen or the nearest portaloo. Spectators line the banks at the side of the central motorway in anticipation of the start gun firing. The music is pumping, the celebrity starters are gathering, and the helicopters hover overhead relaying television pictures to millions around the world. It really is unique to the North East, and even nationally is only rivalled by the London Marathon.
But look a little deeper into the GNR and for runners and spectators alike it can only be described as a circus - a very special and memorable circus admittedly, but a circus nonetheless. The traffic congestion getting into Newcastle city centre beforehand is manic, trying to find a parking space even more so. As for queuing for toilets, the less said about that the better. Thankfully I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a yellow starting number in recent years which takes much of the hassle out of the occasion and means that I’ve been able to treat the GNR as just another race. Not having to worry about getting into a start pen ridiculously early to be close enough to the front for a decent start has certainly taken much of the stress of the GNR away for elite athletes and fast-paced club runners, and this allows them to warm up properly without having to worry whether they’ll get stuck behind a load of fancy dressers for the first few miles. Personally I tend to wander around the start area about an hour before the race starts so that I can soak up the atmosphere and chat to a few familiar faces, but then I like to escape into a world of peace and tranquility by disappearing off into nearby Leazes Park for a 15 minute warm-up. Running around the lake in Leazes Park, in the shadow of St James’ Park (I still refuse to call it by its new name) and with only fishermen for company, it is hard to believe that less than half a mile away 55,000 people are gathering for the biggest half marathon in the world. Yet here you can run easily and relaxed, use the park toilets without having to wait impatiently in long queues, and generally prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the 13 miles of running ahead. About 15 minutes before the off I then return to the start area, do a few quick strides, then line-up waiting for the start gun to go.
At this point I’d normally be like a coiled spring ready to charge off down the central motorway towards the Tyne Bridge. But this year was going to be different. As anyone who regularly reads my blogs will know, I’m currently training for the Frankfurt Marathon on 28th October and the GNR, coming six weeks out from my “A” race and right in the middle of a three month long block of high mileage, wasn’t ideally placed for me to be able to race flat out. I was going into the GNR off the back of eight consecutive weeks of 90+ miles, and in the knowledge that the following morning was the start of four consecutive 100+ mile weeks. My intention therefore had always been to run the GNR at my intended marathon pace, not only to start getting the body used to the pace that I am expecting it to run for 26 miles in six weeks time, but also so that I wasn’t burying myself and having to take several days to recover from it.
But look a little deeper into the GNR and for runners and spectators alike it can only be described as a circus - a very special and memorable circus admittedly, but a circus nonetheless. The traffic congestion getting into Newcastle city centre beforehand is manic, trying to find a parking space even more so. As for queuing for toilets, the less said about that the better. Thankfully I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a yellow starting number in recent years which takes much of the hassle out of the occasion and means that I’ve been able to treat the GNR as just another race. Not having to worry about getting into a start pen ridiculously early to be close enough to the front for a decent start has certainly taken much of the stress of the GNR away for elite athletes and fast-paced club runners, and this allows them to warm up properly without having to worry whether they’ll get stuck behind a load of fancy dressers for the first few miles. Personally I tend to wander around the start area about an hour before the race starts so that I can soak up the atmosphere and chat to a few familiar faces, but then I like to escape into a world of peace and tranquility by disappearing off into nearby Leazes Park for a 15 minute warm-up. Running around the lake in Leazes Park, in the shadow of St James’ Park (I still refuse to call it by its new name) and with only fishermen for company, it is hard to believe that less than half a mile away 55,000 people are gathering for the biggest half marathon in the world. Yet here you can run easily and relaxed, use the park toilets without having to wait impatiently in long queues, and generally prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the 13 miles of running ahead. About 15 minutes before the off I then return to the start area, do a few quick strides, then line-up waiting for the start gun to go.
At this point I’d normally be like a coiled spring ready to charge off down the central motorway towards the Tyne Bridge. But this year was going to be different. As anyone who regularly reads my blogs will know, I’m currently training for the Frankfurt Marathon on 28th October and the GNR, coming six weeks out from my “A” race and right in the middle of a three month long block of high mileage, wasn’t ideally placed for me to be able to race flat out. I was going into the GNR off the back of eight consecutive weeks of 90+ miles, and in the knowledge that the following morning was the start of four consecutive 100+ mile weeks. My intention therefore had always been to run the GNR at my intended marathon pace, not only to start getting the body used to the pace that I am expecting it to run for 26 miles in six weeks time, but also so that I wasn’t burying myself and having to take several days to recover from it.
Naturally I set off quite quickly and certainly quicker than marathon pace. The thing I’ve found with the GNR is that you get sucked through the first few miles by the crowds and this year was no different, through 5k in 17:45. After passing Gateshead Stadium I managed to settle down into my marathon rhythm, passing 10k in 37:12 then simply keeping that pace going until the end. At no point did I feel uncomfortable or in danger of blowing up and, after crossing the finish line in 1:20, can safely say that I could have ran at that speed for a lot longer. People came past me who maybe wouldn’t normally come past me in a race but, rather than being agitated by that, I stuck to my task and enjoyed offering words of encouragement to them and having a chat with a few guys as we ran alongside each other.
So what did I learn from my GNR outing? I’d say the most important thing is that my marathon training seems to be going perfectly to plan. As I’ve already said above, running at 1:20 pace felt very comfortable indeed and I could have easily continued running at that speed for much longer. In that respect my target of running a pb in Frankfurt under 2:45 looks very manageable at this moment in time. Perhaps more significantly however is my noticeable growing maturity as a marathon runner. It’s not easy to line up at the start of a race knowing that you are not actually going to race. I know a lot of people would probably question that and would struggle to understand the whole concept of using a race such as the GNR as a good solid training run. But in my opinion, to be able to run well at the marathon distance, you have to sacrifice everything else, train consistently over a long period of time and focus solely on the one goal. At times it messes with your pride and I’ll not deny that the temptation to start running hard mid-race once people come flowing past is difficult to resist. I could have ran a quicker time at the GNR and buried myself, but then I wouldn’t have been able to train hard the following week which, with six weeks to go until the marathon, would have been far from ideal. Instead I had a very decent workout at the GNR and was still able to run 105 miles in training during the week that followed without compromising on the quality of that training. The GNR showed that I am exactly where I need to be in terms of my marathon training at the moment and I don’t need any more confidence than that.
Next for me are three more weeks of big mileage then the taper will begin. Rather than racing the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k as I’d originally intended I’ll now be running the Great Cumbrian Half Marathon on Sunday 7th October for a final marathon paced effort. Frankfurt is getting close now, but there’s still much work to be done between now and then.
Until next time …… happy running everyone!
So what did I learn from my GNR outing? I’d say the most important thing is that my marathon training seems to be going perfectly to plan. As I’ve already said above, running at 1:20 pace felt very comfortable indeed and I could have easily continued running at that speed for much longer. In that respect my target of running a pb in Frankfurt under 2:45 looks very manageable at this moment in time. Perhaps more significantly however is my noticeable growing maturity as a marathon runner. It’s not easy to line up at the start of a race knowing that you are not actually going to race. I know a lot of people would probably question that and would struggle to understand the whole concept of using a race such as the GNR as a good solid training run. But in my opinion, to be able to run well at the marathon distance, you have to sacrifice everything else, train consistently over a long period of time and focus solely on the one goal. At times it messes with your pride and I’ll not deny that the temptation to start running hard mid-race once people come flowing past is difficult to resist. I could have ran a quicker time at the GNR and buried myself, but then I wouldn’t have been able to train hard the following week which, with six weeks to go until the marathon, would have been far from ideal. Instead I had a very decent workout at the GNR and was still able to run 105 miles in training during the week that followed without compromising on the quality of that training. The GNR showed that I am exactly where I need to be in terms of my marathon training at the moment and I don’t need any more confidence than that.
Next for me are three more weeks of big mileage then the taper will begin. Rather than racing the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k as I’d originally intended I’ll now be running the Great Cumbrian Half Marathon on Sunday 7th October for a final marathon paced effort. Frankfurt is getting close now, but there’s still much work to be done between now and then.
Until next time …… happy running everyone!