I'm a creature of habit and every Sunday I do the same run. I find it quite difficult to vary my runs too much as I don't drive, I live on a long street in Heworth so my first and last mile tend to be the same every run.
On a Sunday I venture out a bit and do my long 15 miler. I've been running for a few years now and find it a great way to unwind and keep the weight down, I'm not getting any younger and the running helps me stay healthy and keeps the weight off.
On a Sunday I venture out a bit and do my long 15 miler. I've been running for a few years now and find it a great way to unwind and keep the weight down, I'm not getting any younger and the running helps me stay healthy and keeps the weight off.
Starting point
I love my Sunday run! I break my routine and walk down to Heworth roundabout and start by the Maiden Over pub and down the long Victoria Road. It's up and down and tough to find your rhythm but it settles down and after about 2 and a half miles I'm into Hebburn, over by the metro and into what I call 'the industrial zone'. I keep heading east towards the Pedestrian Tunnel and even after all these years I'm still never quite sure of how far it is as the roads look exactly the same! At about 4 and a half miles the fun begins! I go down the escalators at the Pedestrian Tunnel, run fast through the tunnel then hang on like mad going up the escalators on the other side. In more than 20 years I've NEVER stopped up the escalators, even when they aren't working (which is more often or not!) and that's something I'm really proud of. Don't get me wrong, it's tough and my groans and cries echo around the tunnel as my thighs burn, I'm knackered at the end but I always get this huge sense of achievement when I come out of the other side. I've even been known to punch the air when I reach the top.
Nearly home
It's then through Wallsend where I follow the Coast to Coast cycle path all the way into Newcastle. It's really quiet and some of the views along the Tyne are fantastic. The peace stops as I get to Newcastle though and hit the Quayside market. On a nice day I'll dodge in and out of the shoppers and traders but most times I go up the hill by the law courts to the Tyne Bridge.
There is something quite rewarding about going over the Tyne Bridge, I feel like I've done the hard work and I'm heading home. I get more inspiration as I head along the Felling Bypass and passed Gateshead Stadium, the place where I used to go and cheer on Brendan Foster in the 1970s. Into the last couple of miles up, the hill towards Heworth I pretend I'm in the Great North Run (which I've done 17 times I'm pleased to say) and try to imagine that I've just ran 3 miles and the crowds are cheering me on.
The last mile is always tough but I think that's because I've mentally switched off. I make sure I finish in the same place as I started - The Maiden Over (which feels like 'Thank goodness its Over'').
In more than 20 years I've never done the run in the other direction, not sure why, like I said, I'm a creature of habit.
The run goes through lots of different places and is one of those that you could do even f you lived in places like Jarrow, Newcastle, Heaton, Howdon, Gateshead. I would love to think that someone else would try it. Make sure you don't stop up those escalators though!
I mapped my route out, click here to see it.
There is something quite rewarding about going over the Tyne Bridge, I feel like I've done the hard work and I'm heading home. I get more inspiration as I head along the Felling Bypass and passed Gateshead Stadium, the place where I used to go and cheer on Brendan Foster in the 1970s. Into the last couple of miles up, the hill towards Heworth I pretend I'm in the Great North Run (which I've done 17 times I'm pleased to say) and try to imagine that I've just ran 3 miles and the crowds are cheering me on.
The last mile is always tough but I think that's because I've mentally switched off. I make sure I finish in the same place as I started - The Maiden Over (which feels like 'Thank goodness its Over'').
In more than 20 years I've never done the run in the other direction, not sure why, like I said, I'm a creature of habit.
The run goes through lots of different places and is one of those that you could do even f you lived in places like Jarrow, Newcastle, Heaton, Howdon, Gateshead. I would love to think that someone else would try it. Make sure you don't stop up those escalators though!
I mapped my route out, click here to see it.