The TYNE of your life!

So that's it for another year. At least I managed to improve my time from last year (by 15 minutes) to an acceptable 2.08.23. My miles have steadily got quicker throughout the training even though I have steadily been getting older.

Today went really well. I drove up on Saturday afternoon from High Wycombe to Chester-le-Street, had a pasta meal and got my head down before Match of the Day!

6.50am the alarm goes and it's porridge, orange juice and coffee. By 8.30 I am parked up near Heworth metro and feeling relaxed. The metro journey was easy to Haymarket and everything slotted into place. The baggage buses had been moved following my 606-style-rant last year and it was so calm around the start area. By 10 I was in my Orange zone and just doing easy stretches, eating a banana and LS enery bar and sipping on my LS pouch. Did some of the 'Mr Motivator' stuff and then it was off. Great atmosphere, Tyne bridge, sunshine, oggy oggy oggy (gets boring after a while though) and a decent pace.

The red arrows made me jump as they roared overhead. I was looking forward to seeing them again in about 2 hours! Last year was a nightmare between 4 - 6 miles so I swapped on to the left side of the road so I didn't get any painful reminders.

Loved the Elvis karaoke on the route and the band on the roundabout were decent too. When I got to 10 miles I took two lucozade drinks and had a 2 minute walk while I downed then. I needed them too. Then back into the running. Except for those 2 minutes I ran all the way.

Coming down the hill and seeing the sea was great, 1 mile to go and then with 800m left I have to admit that I cranked up the Rocky theme full blast in my ears and sprinted to the line with a big grin on my face. Sad eh? I was really pleased, loved it, glad I'd come back and given it another go.

I walked backwards to the metro because I was looking at the red arrows again! Wasn't the heart stunt clever? Had to queue for a while ... but for next year - there is a sneaky back entrance to the metro at South Shields which would have cut out the 30 minutes of standing in the line. If only ... But by 2.40 I was departing Heworth and heading for the A1. Great journey home ... back in High Wycombe by 7pm! This year I didn't even have to have a 1 hour kip in the service station car park at Wetherby.

Will I be back next year? It's addictive this running lark isn't it? This was my 21st half marathon and Amsterdam in 3 weeks will be my 10th full marathon. Hey ho!

Thanks TLS for all the support - I did have the tyne of my life today!

36 hours to go!

It's time to charge the up the shuffle, sort out the kit and get ready for the drive north!

I have not trained at all this week - just no time at. However, I think I have put in the miles to see me through. I'm pleased to be quite near the front at the start - saves trying to pass all the fun runners who lied about their ETA at South Shields!

Looking forward to the Red Arrows at the finish ... and if course, a well earned pint of Lucozade!

Then, as last year, it's the long journey back south to High Wycombe and to cap it all, I have got a parents evening to stay at school for on Monday night.

Can't wait to get started ... enjoy ... and thanks TLS for giving me the chance in 2007.

X Training

The training log suggested a 7 mile run but today I thought I'd do something a bit different. So I put my two year old (Jemima) on the back of the mountain bike and we did an uphill/downhill 8 mile bike ride. She loved it and it made the training a bit more interesting.

Orange C

I managed it! I got up at 5.15am today and by 5.30 I was pounding the very dark roads around Bucks. I thought I was running quick and was eagerly looking forward to checking my watch at the end - but in the dark I'd double clicked and turned it on/off in a second! So maybe it just felt quicker because I couldn't actually see how fast I was going!

The race pack arrived today - yippee! I found that velcro chip strap rather uncomfortable on the ankle last year so I need to make sure I run with longer socks! Anyway, I am in Orange C zone number 10862. I am sure I read on a GNR blog last year that it is best to stay on the right side of the road when starting and heading off over the Tyne Bridge.

Glad they have moved the kit buses this year. Last year it was a joke walking a mile through the runner/hanger-ons/well wishers traffic. I nearly ended up having to run with the ruck sack. As it was a few of us had to 'break in' to the pen (zone area)!

I shall do another 9.5 mile run on Saturday or Sunday and then ease off next week.

Saddo footnote ... as I was just reaching the finish line at Woodstock 12 last Saturday the Rocky theme started up on the shuffle - pure fluke but it made me smile!

Early morning wins!

I am writing this at 21.20 this evening because I need to stitch myself up! If I put down in writing that I am getting up early for a run tomorrow morning then I will have to will I not? Anyway, I've just walked the dog, it's dark, no street lighting and it's raining!

Ticking over!

Seems like meetings after school are getting in the way at the moment! So I will probably end up doing a run in the dark on Wednesday - or do I go to bed earlier and get up even earlier than the 6am alarm call?!

Woodstock 12 today - Saturday 15th Sept.

It was 3 laps of undulating private roads within the picturesque grounds of Blenheim Palace. There is one main hill at 2, 6 & 10 miles. Preparation included LS drinks and gels and wearing my LS running outfit. I looked the part at least! I felt heavy legged at about 6 miles but came through with a final time of 1.59. I was determined to beat the 2hr mark and since getting home I have checked on my time from the same run last year. I'm 13 minutes faster! So the saying 'no pain no gain' really did apply today! My family were watching today - they don't ever come to the shorter runs - but it was great seeing them 3 times en route and then at the finish. My two little girls shouting 'Run Daddy run'!Only two weeks to go until the GNR - I really hope I can do a better time than last year. A couple more runs this week and I'll slot in another long one next weekend.

TLS kit arrives!

Now that I have my new LS running top and shorts I will look the part at Blenheim Palace (Woodstock 12) on Saturday afternoon! Will they make me go faster though?

Message from NZ

Where do you get your time & energy from? You are inspiring. As it is your second GNR it will have to be a PB! Enjoy, Love Neil Rosie et al xx

Sunday Morning

What goes up must come down! That's the good thing about having to run uphill. I was planning a slightly longer run but ended up doing a 9.5 one instead. Early porridge breakfast but I also included a LS fuel drink and a gel! By 8.45am I was on the road, heading uphill for the first 5 miles and then a more gradual downhill return home culminating in a time of 1.30. I was a minute faster than last time! I sipped at the Caffeine LS drink for the first half and by the time I got to the last two miles I was still feeling really energetic! A few more runs this week and then next Saturday afternoon I will be at Blenheim Palace for the Woodstock 12. This is a two lap circuit of the grounds - very pleasant but some hill climbs too!21 days time and GNR will be all over!
09 September 2007 13:43

Kent Coastal half Marathon

If only I kept up the training runs after I did the FLM! Every year (well the last 7) I say that I will keep running but unfortunately the "I'll start again next week approach" becomes all too easy. Anyway ... being a teacher I have just had 6 weeks 'off' so that means I should have been training loads. Well, I have done a fair bit but not enough! The training session at GSK got me more fired up and last Sunday (2nd Sept) I ran/jogged the Kent Coastal half marathon and did a time of 2.12 - rather disappointing but worth the effort. A very scenic loop from Cliftonville to Broadstairs and back but the use of iPods and mp3 players were banned! The beaches along the route looked too inviting. Bit more undulating than I expected but seeing as I live in a valley then the hills should not have been a problem! I was glad to get some LS refueling inside me during and afterwards though. The best bit? Eating fish and chips on Margate beach and spending the afternoon building sandcastles.This week has seen a steep hill run and Sunday will entail an 11 mile undulating run around the chilterns! 08 September 2007

Great North Run

Family: Wife Rachael, daughters Amelia (4 yrs) & Jemima (2 yrs)

Profession: Design Technology Teacher at Aylesbury High School

Started Running: 2001

Full marathons: 9 so far …(London ‘01 – ‘07, New York ‘04 and Paris ’05) … 10^th will be Amsterdam in October!

Half marathons: Various number of times doing Kingston, Wycombe, Burnham, Watford, Reading, Silverstone, Woodstock and in ’06 the Great North Run.

PB’s: 4.11 and 1.51

I am looking forward to making the Great North Run a real achievement this year as I really underperformed last year. When I run I enter my own little world – my time – my space – my pace! The need to improve my pb’s are a source of motivation. Training is usually alone, on the road around where I live and work. I always run the full marathons for charity … I feel I can only call upon the generosity of my friends once a year! I love the atmosphere at the events and the crowds are always an inspiration. I usually wear a silly hat - Tigger accompanied me around London this year!