Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: My Great North Run

Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: My Great North Run: Sunday 16 th   September Distance: 13:1miles Time:3:01:16 Avg Speed: 4.34mph Avg Pace:13.82min/mile Calories burned:1130 The Grea...

My Great North Run

Sunday 16^th  September

Distance: 13:1miles

Time:3:01:16
Avg Speed: 4.34mph
Avg Pace:13.82min/mile
Calories burned:1130
The Great North Run

Well! All those months ago when in a moment of drunken weakness I suggested that Jonny entered the Great North Run -ultimately he didn’t but I did. Since January I have been trotting out every Saturday morning at 6.30am and covering varying distances from an early faltering stop start 2 miles up to my most recent 9.7mile Otley runs.

Finally after 9 months of training the week of the run arrived. I had been to the Paralympics at the weekend previous and watched these amazing humans who did not let the fact that they had no legs prevent them from running, or being armless as a bar to swimming, or blindness prevent playing football, in short I knew that there was no reason why I should not trot along through 13.1 miles of the North East.

As the date drew nigh I was unable to do any running during the last 2 weeks before the big day due to complexities of life, working, and general unwillingness to go out. I won’t say I was running scared but there was a certain element of pre-race collywobbles. These only served to grow as the final week went on. I spent the week carb loading as I knew I was going to have to call on my energy reserves. My mind set was not so much low but anxious I suppose it was fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of letting everyone down. Fear itself.

My Raison D’etre, son and heir and myself travelled up to Durham where we met up with the son and heir’s long suffering girlfriend who had just flown back from Spain. We were booked to stop overnight at a training college. The room was cheap and clean with very basic amenities yet all I needed was a bed and the chance to sleep, or at least that was the plan!!!

“To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;” Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1. Could I sleep? Could I jiggery?

We had been out for something to eat and due to appalling service it was after 9pm before we ate. Too late, the words of my wise old mum came to mind “Never eat after 7pm it will keep you awake” that was factor 1 in the list of reasons why on the night before a half marathon I didn’t see a wink of sleep until 3.30am!

·         Factor 2 twin beds. Me and my Raison d’etre are snugglers and I need the proximity of him to soothe me. We eventually solved this factor by pushing the beds together.

·         Factor 3 pillows. I had taken my foam support pillow with me which I generally use under a softer pillow. The one provided here was dead to say the least.

 

·         Factor 4 the drains. The shower in the en suite had an aroma to say the least. Now one thing I do have is a hyper sensitive nose and if I get a bad smell up my nose then it can have a powerful effect on me. Cue me stuffing moisturiser up my nose and covering my face with my towel that smelt of my own washing, all to no avail. I could still smell it.

·         Factor 5 my brain was buzzing and all sorts of endorphins and adrenalin were coursing through my body. I counted sheep, I counted runners, I counted counting. Still no sleep.

·         Factor 6 because I was so restless I was keeping my Raison D’etre awake and because I was keeping him a wake my guilt at doing so played with my brain and kept me awake = vicious circle.

·         Factor 7 the more I tried to sleep the more I stayed awake. Cue a variety of sure fire tried and tested nodding off schemes. I had finished my book earlier in the evening, so that was out (with hindsight I should have just started it again). I plugged my ipod in and listened to my smooth songs that normally have me in the land of nod by track 6. By track 8 I was singing along in my head and waiting for the next song! Next ploy was to tune the ipod into Classic FM I figured that classical music would smooth my twitching brain. It did initially but then as each track came to an end the voice of the presenter caused me to spark up and listen to who composed it, why, where, when and who was playing it. A couple of other sure fire methods also failed.

·         Factor 8 the dawn chorus started. Man those blackbirds are noisy little buggers!

·         Factor 9 my bladder went into hyper drive sending me to the loo every 20 minutes or so.

Cue the scene of me sitting on the bed crying. “I won’t be able to do it (sob) my legs will be too tired (sob) how can I run 13.1 miles on no sleep (sob) I won’t be able to do it (sob) all those months of training (sob) all those people who have sponsored me sob, sob, sob.” At this point I think my Raison D’etre was exhausted with both the situation and me. He gently told me I had to try and settle and get some rest. So we swapped beds and I set myself down. I remember 3.30 but think that I was asleep –if fractious- but asleep soon after. I was then awake again at 6am with all my systems pumping and ready to go. I don’t think I was tired but I was nervous.

So the day that I had been working towards for so long was finally here. The college provided a runner’s breakfast, I picked at yoghurt and nibbled a banana but I did not really want to eat. At 8am I bade a fond farewell to my Raison D’etre and the son and heir’s long suffering girlfriend, both of whom I and my son and heir would not see again till the end of the race. Me and my boy boarded the college mini bus which was full of chatty runners, we two were both less than chatty as he like me had had trouble sleeping for him it was factors 3 and 4 that affected his visit to the biblical place known as Nod. So we sat together and tried to zone out the bus banter. Although I was amazed to hear one woman say she had done no running just that she walked to work and rode a bike sometimes! Ah ha I thought I won’t be last! The bus delivered us to the metro station where we opted to catch the bus. Once on, the bus then drove us to a drop off place where we simply joined the crowds and made our way lemming like to the start line.

We walked for what seemed like ages to get to the start line I had a 40 minute queue for the portaloo! The run is so very well organised that you find the bus with your code number and leave your bags on it the only trouble with this is that you are then exposed to the elements in nothing but your running T shirt. More seasoned runners go in old hoodies etc and discard them as they cross the start line thus keeping their body heat in. As novice I didn’t have this insight and consequently I had a 90 minute wait to get going , a wait that was not only chilly but wet due to the drizzling rain. My son and heir and I had parted company at the start gates as he was designated to be in a different gate due to his race time prediction. He had predicted 2- 2.5 hours I had predicted post 3 hours so I was in the last pen. However you know me I had no intention of being in the last pen. I watched as the marshals turned away people from the wrong gates so I waited for the opportunity as they were distracted and walked in behind another group and hey-ho no longer in the last pen!

I waited for an eternity before I eventually shuffled forward towards the start line. It took me over an hour to pass the start. I tried to avoid getting into chummy chats with other runners, not normal for me I know I would normally chat to anyone but my sleep deprived state and nerves made me anti-social. I wanted to focus, not make running buddies. By the time I got going the elite runners had all finished I did manage to hi-five Greg Rutherford and Nicola Adams at the start post and I spotted myself doing it on the TV coverage later in the day.

Eventually I got going. 40,000+ runners and me, all trundling upwards through the North East. I repeat UPWARDS! I had been warned that the course was hilly. HILLY, HILLY! It was absolutely relentless. I no sooner got to the crest of a hill only to be greeted by the view of yet another one looming. There seemed to be no point where I was going downhill. I kept thinking ‘OK! At the top of this hill I will be able to make up some time and go down a bit.’ Ha! How wrong was I? My poor, little. old legs. They kept going, they kept carrying me onwards ever upwards. At about the 4 mile mark I needed the toilet again. I always need a wee after about 3-4 miles today was no different I looked at the queue for the portaloos and decided that I did not want to waste that amount of time so I ran on a bit and spotted a cabin behind one of the music tents, there was a short queue of 4 people however the one in the cabin was taking an eternity and as I looked towards the road all I could see was runners passing. So I did what any self-respecting distance runner does and I popped into the bushes!

The weather was cool, breezy and showery, yet we all kept going. We are all issued with a race number that is pinned to the front and you also get one for your back, upon which there is room to say why you are running. I was struck by just how many charities were represented particularly cancer ones. However there were countless other ones I lost count of how many but they included, Shelter, Christian aid, Oxfam, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone, Guide Dogs, NSPCC, RNIB, RNLI to name but a few. I passed other MD runners like myself, there were 130 of us. Along the way the charities have cheer points were supporters can gather and generally make a noise. This cheers you along; there are also music points where bands play all adding to the atmosphere which is so supportive. The crowds are fabulous they read your name from your bib and cheer you on; others stand there with oranges, sweets, biscuits and hold them out to you. One lady was stood with a loo roll and at that point my nose was running and I was very grateful for it. The children stand by the road with their hands held out waiting for the hi-fives from the runners, St John Ambulance are in position at first aid points and also by the road with tubs of Vaseline for those runners blistering or chaffing. I was surprised by how many people were wearing new trainers, not a wise move consequently there was a lot of folk in the first aid tents applying plasters.

The most amazing thing was the variety of human types taking part. All ages from 18+, one man was in his 80’s and doing his 30^th run, there were little old ladies, even older than me, people in fancy dress which for some folk must have been unbearably hot, some people were pushing wheelchairs up those hills, blind runners with guides, heart patients with support runners, some very large folk who had to be admired for putting themselves through such a traumatic day and every one wearing their hearts on their backs. ‘I am doing this for my mum…my nanna… my dad….my son… my daughter…. Every so often I read one that brought the tears, ‘I am doing this for my daughter who would have been 20 today’

The bibs you wear identify you not only to the crowd but to the cameras too and along the way they take your photos and video your progress which you can purchase after the race, this along with the computer tag you attach to your shoes all serve to monitor your progress. I was checking my own progress on my tracker but due to the rain at the start it was not working properly. At one point I looked at my watch and thought I was already at 3 hours and felt deflated that I was so far off target. I checked my watch again a little later and realised that I was at 2 hours not 3 a quick calculation had me realise that I was on track to do about 3 hours which was 30 minutes better that I had originally predicted. Once I had worked out that I was in good time my legs found new enthusiasm. At the 9 mile marker I knew I was almost there and I knew I would finish my legs felt good, my feet were strong, no aches or pains. I could see other runners struggling but I knew I was strong enough to finish.
 

I ran on and I ran on. I finally reached the point where I could see the coast line of South Sheilds a very welcome sight as this was the first time I actually felt I was running downhill and it felt good. I was now trotting along the coast line and in the distance I could see the 12mile marker and I knew what that meant. 12 miles was the point where the MDC had their cheer point so my heart lifted knowing that I may see familiar faces. Sure enough as I approached I spotted my neighbour and her 7 year old son who had very generously travelled to support ‘Team Lewis’ which along with myself and my Son and Heir also included our two neighbours, both excellent runners. The sight of a familiar face was wonderful and I felt myself filling up. We had hugs and I went on then I heard a little voice call ‘Bun!!’ I turned to see my Raison D’etre up on the bank. I had nearly missed him how could I? We had a huge hug and I felt his huge release at seeing me. My neighbour later informed me that he had been fretting and worrying and had watched out anxiously for every orange T shirt. His relief at seeing me was emotional and for me the reason I had got this far was standing there hugging me and telling me how proud he was. Invigorated I ran on in the distance I could see the blue BUPA finishing gates. All of a sudden I spotted my Son and Heir’s Long Suffering Girlfriend shouting my name and cheering me on then I was scoped up into the arms of my Son and Heir who was by now wearing his finisher’s medal (time of 2:05:40) but had come back onto the track to wait for me. He took me by the hand and held onto it tightly as he dragged me to the finish line. By now I was a blubbing wreck wrought with the emotion of the whole event. In his usual brusque manner that he reserves for my emotional outbreaks I was told in no uncertain manner to “stop crying mother they are taking your photograph” So sans tears and clutching my baby boy’s hand I managed a grimacing smile through tear stained eyes and crossed the finish line in a time that I was more than surprised with at 3:01:16. I have mussed since that had I not stopped to wee I would have finished in sub 3 hours. Today though that was not to be, 3 hours 1 minute and 16 second was my recorded time and one that I am hugely proud of.

Once past the finish post I was presented with my finishing pack containing my medal, T-shirt, body rubs, sweets, nuts and tinfoil cape. I and my boy headed to the Charity Village where all the charities had tents. I was greeted by the sight of the MDC tent full of food, drink and the massage table (of which I waited my turn for a much welcomed rub down). Shortly after the sight of my Raison D’etre, the Long Suffering Girlfriend, my neighbour and her son walking towards the tent was a sight that warmed my heart, our own personal support team. Sometime later we were joined by the neighbours who had finished in very respectable times of 1:43:58 and 2:09:00 however once past the post they had headed off and found the nearest pub fitting to the last!

We travelled home wrapped in blankets tired but buzzing. It had been a day I shall not forget. Will I do it again? Well yes I probably will I would like to enjoy the pleasure of finishing sub 3 hours. For now though I have the task of collecting in all my sponsor money. People have been so hugely generous I have over £500 pledged on line and £900+ on my sponsor forms along with the others of team Lewis we have raised about £2500+.4 Money has come from all parts of the world, from friends and family alike and also most generously from people I do not know but who are friends of my online friends. I am eternally grateful to you all. To anyone who still has not sponsored me… you know who you are!!!! The online account is still live for a few more weeks so please if you can do it, do it. I and the MDC will be extremely grateful. Let’s help raise money for the charity that works so tirelessly to raise awareness, to raise funds, to sponsor research, to support sufferers, to be there for people like my Raison D’etre. Just log on to www.muscular-dystrophy.org and see why I am did this. If you feel you want to support me with a donation then please log onto my ‘Just Giving’ account and give as much as you can.  www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thank you to all of you who have donated already and to those of you who have not sponsored me yet …. WHY NOT???? Come on guys I –we-they need your support.

Thank you for your support