Great North Run – TRACcies stories

On Sunday 7^th September a bunch of TRACCies had made their way up to Newcastle to take part in the GNR. The day dawned sunny with a bit of a breeze. Here is how they all got on.

Jo & Jon

Jo – GNR day had arrived and off we all went for a seamless journey to the start. Ade, Julie Jon & I all gathered in the pre start area where we dropped off bags joined long toilet queues! Soon it was time for Jon & I to head off for our start. After seeing the elites start we got into our pens. Went in the right side this year as couldn’t get across but that was fine.

Last year this was the race I’d trained so hard for so this year I wanted to take it easier and try and spot friends who I’d missed last year! Just after halfway I spotted the Kiely’s (in-laws) who with the loud cheering they were doing would have been difficult to miss! That gave me a boost as we headed up yet another long incline!! The support all the way is second to none, you can even get a beer! Eventually finished and gathered up the goodies and bumped into Chris B and Liz, great to see them. We then watched the Red Arrows before heading off to our charity tents for a bit of TLC. It’s a great day!

Jon – all I’ll say is it’s the only race where the local support is so immense that it’s possible to eat your weight in sweets, ice-pops and oranges. I probably consumed more calories than I burned – my sort of race!!! If you haven’t done the GNR you really should. It’s unlike any other half marathon.

Ade & Julie

Well after a few months of entering the big day finally arrived, The Great North Run. I was looking forward to running this with Julie, supporting her along the way as I knew she’d be emotional as it was something she remembered her dad doing, which she was very proud of.

After a Metro ride and a walk, we got to the start assembly area, the weather was perfect some sunshine and clouds making for a perfect temperature. All the distance travelled from Kent, we bumped into the Uptons, who we see at our local weekly parkrun, as well as Shelly and Oscar Tait, such a small world!

Having travelled up with Jo and Jon, they went off to their pens, they had an earlier start. After a little waiting around and a final toilet break we were ready to go. Unfortunately Julie missed the Red Arrows first flyby as she was in the Portaloo!

As we assembled into our pen we finally crossed the start line at 12:40. The crowd as usual were fantastic, I’ve never seen such an array of sweets, biscuits and fruit being offered by the spectators in my life, I must say the Geordies are a friendly lot!

I was worried how Julie was going to get on with the distance as for various reasons her training hadn’t gone to plan, but she did amazing, not stopping or walking the whole way.

Another little surprise happened the night before, when we were on the campsite with Jo and Jon, two of our friends appeared, we had no idea they were coming and this had been planned by Jon, Jo, Janine and Lou.

They told Julie that they would be at mile 10, this was great as Julie was so excited to see them in the crowd and it really spurred her on when they were stood with the TRAC flag! They gave Julie some mental energy and away we went.

All along the way the entertainment was great, drumming, steel drums, DJs, Bands etc.

We could finally see the sea, Julie was so excited to be near the end, but the finish line was another mile and a half, I kept encouraging her all the way telling her how much her Dad would be proud of her, with grit and determination she made it to the end crossing the line hand in hand, she took her Dad’s medal from her Pocket and wore it with her own, had a few tears but really enjoyed the whole day.  She beat her dad’s time!!

Chris P

The GNR did not disappoint for me, the crowds were incredible, lining the streets from the centre of Newcastle all the way to South Shields.

The final 1.5 miles is packed both sides of the road with spectators , cheering the runners along to the finish.

I started in Orange Wave, Zone B, very close to the front, my start time being 1050. The route is fairly undulating so I made the most of the declines and pushed myself on the inclines. For me personally mile 8 was the most challenging, it seemed to have the most incline and also headwinds.

I finished 927^th overall with a finish time of 1:28:05

The Browns account of GNR

In short, amazing!

Most will know that Liz and I lined up with lingering injuries, but we were determined not to let that stop us. The atmosphere was incredible, the weather, perfect, the Red Arrows flying over the bridge as we ran over it sent shivers down your spine. It was BUSY at the start and the course was undulating but the support from the locals that lined the course was on another level. At the end we were both very sore but neither of us would have missed it for the world. Great North Run 2025 will be a memory neither of us will ever forget.

The ballot for next year is open and it would be great to have even more TRACies there next year! If anyone is apprehensive or has questions, let me or Liz know and we will help in any way we can.

Russell

This was my first Great North Run; we began the long walk from the Quayside in Newcastle on a sunny Sunday morning, following the hundreds of runners making their way to the start. The sheer number of runners was incredible, something I’ve never experienced before; as we waited for the start of the men’s elite race to begin, both carriageways of the motorway were filled with runners for as far as the eye could see.

Our race started with a slow 40-minute walk to the start-line, the highlight of which was a fly pass by the Red Arrows. The race started with a downhill section to the iconic Tyne Bridge, passing under a tunnel with the obligatory Oggy Oggy Oggy chant reverberating through our ears, before undulating roads to the first long steady incline after passing Gateshead Stadium. The downhill sections cancel out the uphill sections, well that’s what people say, but my legs didn’t get the memo, and I quickly reverted to plan C, which was to finish the race with a big smile on my face. The PB attempt will have to wait.

The support was amazing; cheers, sweets, oranges and beer were all there for the tired runner, which never stopped. As we ascended the top of the last incline, the North Sea came into view; this final downhill section to the sea front and finish line at South Shields was hard on the legs before turning left to the finishing straight which seemed to go on forever.

The noise of the crowds kept me going, crossing the finishing line, tired but elated. The Great North Run was tough, I look forward to running it again.

Shelley & Oscar

I have a gift for entering ballots for runs and not getting a place so when I was rejected from the Great North Run I resigned myself to trying again next year. Oscar, my 18-year-old son, put his first entry in and what do you know got a place! This, and a desire to raise some money for Macmillan after they helped my mum through her cancer treatment last year, gave me the motivation to buy a charity place and run with him.

Here I sit a week later and I’m still buzzing. What an incredible experience. We were in the last starting group, had hours wait for a nervous wee, and another slog of a wait to cross the start line. Yet as soon as we got running, the endless encouragement of the spectators, the sweets, signs, and even a beer at mile 12, created the iconic Great North magic. We ran steady and tried not to weave about too much fearing adding distance while passing others. Watching Oscar’s enthusiasm and appreciation of the support, charities, and spectators made it so special, I fear any other races he enters now maybe a little underwhelming!

Before we knew it, the sea at South Shields came into view and that final stretch. We crossed the finish line hand in hand in a time of 2.21. Loved the medal, even more now we know they got the wrong river in the design. We visited the Macmillan tent in the charity village, and they made us the best cup of tea you can have a post run cuppa. A bit of a wait to get the metro back to Newcastle but spirits were high. Back at my desk by 7.30am the next morning it all felt like a bit of a dream and of course the entry for next year was  first on the to do list.