After the last 18 months of difficulties the Great North Run and the largest Half Marathon in the World took place in Newcastle. The people of the North East came out and supported the athletes in their droves and the atmosphere was one of a carnival and a celebration that some normality is now returning 🙏🌈.
For us the we arrived on the Saturday and stayed in a nice hotel in Washington just South of Newcastle, we had to change our hotel from South Sheilds as the course had been switched to start and end in Newcastle. That was great as we experienced the Tyne Bridge cross over twice ❤️🇬🇧.
Obviously with any runner the joy of carb loading before a race is very important and obviously its a great excuse to indulge 😜
The Race itself and one of the most iconic races was amazing, the Great North Run is not an easy race, it’s affectionatly ‘ undulating’ 🤣🤣
When we arrived at the start at just before 8am wearing bright colours and not trying to stand out or anything 😉 a BBC reporter asked us if we wanted to do an interview live on the Breakfast show to the Nation at 820am 😳 not one to turn down a bit of publicity my arm was twisted..
So we made our way to the start of the 40th Great North Run, we had been placed in Wave 1 because we purchased a Ruby Club Membership that allowed us to to run for 3 years and start at the front.
During the race we met up with some incredible people and friends, running does create some incredible long lasting friendships. We also got to see the amazing elite runners heading back to the finishing line.
The Roar of the majestic Red Arrows over the course was incredible
We made it to the end, we told Charlotte and Bradley to push on as they were both running so well and we wanted them to get personal best times of which they did.. 🎉
When we got to the end ITV had already interviewed them and they waited 10 mins for us to arrive and they captured a middle aged bloke crying to the Nation, absolutely no shame in doing that the feelings of the last 12 months and how lucky we are to be doing these things got the better of me, the North East people are so passionate and supportive they really get behind you and I was hurting badly in the final run in, my fueling was wrong and I had no energy left, I am reverting back to Sis nutrition after this 😍
Thank you to everyone for the support, next up in under 3 weeks the Virgin London Marathon in London.
Copyright BBC, ITV & Peter Mowbray Live In Blackpool
