Monday, September 21st, 2009
2 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds. It was boiling, it was busy and it was brilliant. I have one tiny blister and a sunburned face. It was meant to be cloudy! I’m off up to Scotland now (wearing my medal!) x
Saturday, September 19th, 2009
The Big Day
Finally! It’s almost here! It’s Great North Run Eve! I’ve barely slept this past week but have had quite a jolly time eating lots and lots of CARBS!!
Laura and I went up to Gateshead today to join in some of the pre-race events, including the Pasta Party: free pasta for runners, and a very loud band. The Ashes urn (and big ol’ crystal trophy) were there, too!
After our pasta, we crossed the Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne to Newcastle. The bridge was busy as there were quite a few people there supporting the Junior and Mini Great North Runs. The GNR team have clearly been very busy getting the route and the city ready for tomorrow. I snapped this quick picture of Newcastle Quayside, with all its blue banners. (I don’t know the people in the foreground of this picture. Hopefully they don’t mind having their likenesses reproduced on the world wide web!):
We’ve all got our kit together, because we have an early start in the morning. We have to drive to the finish line before they close the roads, then bus in to Newcastle to the start line. We’ll have around 3 hours to wait at the start line before we actually go. My bag is full of Mars Bars and water!
Just over a week ago, my sister Helen made me lots and lots of cupcakes (iced in Bupa blue, of course) cookies, brownies and blondies, to hand out at work in exchange for a small donation. This, along with the kind generosity of friends (both online and offline) has helped me to raise just over £350 for my chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society:
I’m really not hard-sell with my fundraising. I hate asking people for money for these things! However, I’m just going to give it a quick mention! If you’d like to sponsor me for the world’s biggest half marathon, the Bupa Great North Run (13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields) please pop along to my Just Giving page. Any amount, no matter how small, will benefit the research being caried out by the Alzheimer’s Society.
Hopefully I’ll manage to post a little update tomorrow, just to let you know I survived. Neil and I are escaping for a little holiday early on Monday morning, so I should be a happy clam no matter how tired I am. I’ll try to snap a few pictures, too!
