Great North Run 2009

hey all, I had a fab time, Im still on  cloud nine and cant wait for next year, it was my first GNR and the atmosphere was amazing, I was suprised a people walking at the first tunnel (OGGY OGGY OGGY!) that set off before me, but hey ho!

Got home and was bathed ready to watch the highlights on the TV at 5pm, then got a massive curry and had a 'few' 'recovery' 'drinks' (cobra beer is amazing......)

We only got snarled in the traffic along the coast to sunderland, once we hit the 690 to the a1 it was fine, myslef and a mate were doing it, he got a 1.32 . and I was 1;04 behind him,(2.37), my other half dropped us both at the start, then parked and wiaied for us at the finish, I was bundled into the back of the van, with warm clothes, food, lucozade and a beer, while he pulled the van out into the traffic (thanks to everyone who helped push the white VW transporter out of the mud!), by the time I was changed and settled, we were in sunderland, and away! (live in darlington), thanks to people for being so patient when I held them up, and I was offering jelly babies to a few tired looking peeps at around 8-10 miles, shame I forgot about them at 10.5 when I got tired!

Real good day, made better by compeed and hillys twin skins!

.......(I can only go down stairs on my ar$e today though......!!)

Did anyone else have difficulty getting into their zone at the start?  I got to the gate D of the orange zone with 7 minutes to go.  I thought that was about perfect - don't recall seeing a cut off time to get into your zones in the paperwork.  The people on the gate wouldn't let me through and told me that I had to go right to the back.  Nightmare!  Lots of people were trying to jump over the fence or go under it, so it had clearly surprised many.  After two attempts at wriggling under the fence, and being dragged back by my feet by one marshall, I managed to get through a small hole a bit further back than where I should have started. 

 I probably did leave it a bit late, but shouldn't they make the cut off clear.   It was a pretty upsetting start to what was a fabulous race. 

Found You!

Had a great day yesterday, saw the beer, would never fancy one of those on a run ever! But I too had an Ice Pop which was heaven! Took 38 secs off PB and 12 mins off last years time so very pleased.

MICK - I have a FLM ballot place and have never done a marathon before, but few years back would never have thought I could do a half, so with that in mind I am going to give it my best and only shot, it's a daunting thought at the end of a half that it would mean running all the way back, but give it a go, you'll kick yourself if you don't, especially while you are still buzzing from GNR!

My first time at GNR...and certainly not my last!!!

I have only been running properly for about 9 months after watching last years race inspired me to get off my fat arse and go for it....

what an experience!!! i thought my head was going to explode a few times when all the cheering started...i never expected anything like that at all..

i predicted 2hrs 20.....and did 2hrs 16....so am very happy with that

...i also so far have raised over £600 for Alzeimer's society

and lost a few pounds along the way.... have a look at my before and after pics

before and after pics

Some great race reports here folks

Hannah - was just about to post my list and was checking your zone - there were two Hannah Smiths in your zone - so your report came at a timely moment

Here it goes anyways - these are from your chip times going off the numbers posted on the predictions list.  if it's missing or in any way wrong it's cause your number wasn't listed correctly on the original list.

A
Andy Sly - 01:22:01

B
craig_d60 – 01:57:38
Vicki: GW - 01:42:06
jovirunner - 01:55:41
spesh -
CC2 Speedygoth - 01:35:23
Tino - 01:25:25
flabby - 01:33:34

C
Scottish Mike - 01:44:25
Blithburysloth - 01:55:56
Running Beard - 01:48:53
Kenny - 01:50:20
Captain Haddock - 01:33:54
Andy Morton - 01:48:31
Keith L -
Mum on the Run! - 02:22:02
David Wallace -

D
Paul Cooper -
Mick the Mackem - 01:47:07
ymh - 01:41:35
Zed -

E
Mandie R - 01:58:44
Just Another Mile -
Slow n Steady - 02:13:53
mr sj - 01:51:57
Ang12 - 01:56:00
dog runner - 01:49:38
Mr K. - 01:57:19

F
Blister Sister -
Steve (mandies brother) -
vixx76 - 02:37:51
paul o'reilly -
WTS - Deferred
Yeti -
Penkhull Puffer (Dave) - 02:14:50

G
shielsy - 02:03:17
shielsys friend - 01:58:40
mick string - 02:24:39
Russell Nimbus -
Roslyn - 02:09:28
Stoxy - 02:17:03
SlowlyButShirley -


H
Raring to go -
johnc - 02:19:28
Liverbird - Deferred
jaylo - 02:19:12
RunLikeTheWind - 02:45:19

I
motherhood - 38662 - Deferred
hannah smith 13 - 02:00:48
James1986 - 02:33:11
Yeti's Friend -
Megs Mum - 02:22:46

J
Michelle Sly - 02:57:01
Hayley Moore - 02:57:01

K

Afternoon all

Am home now....

Shielsy - am sorry you are not feeling well. Hope you feel better soon

Mother Hood - pleased to meet you

Hello to all - and well done for yesterday. It seems like there was some good racing going on

Feel free to give me a prod or slap and I'll correct any mistakes

Alan - great before & after pics! 

Vicki...thanks

where is the predictions thingy??  sorry newbie alert!!! 

Ive added my time in.

 A
Andy Sly - 01:22:01

B
craig_d60 – 01:57:38
Vicki: GW - 01:42:06
jovirunner - 01:55:41
spesh - 01:28:28
CC2 Speedygoth - 01:35:23
Tino - 01:25:25
flabby - 01:33:34

C
Scottish Mike - 01:44:25
Blithburysloth - 01:55:56
Running Beard - 01:48:53
Kenny - 01:50:20
Captain Haddock - 01:33:54
Andy Morton - 01:48:31
Keith L -
Mum on the Run! - 02:22:02
David Wallace -

D
Paul Cooper -
Mick the Mackem - 01:47:07
ymh - 01:41:35
Zed -

E
Mandie R - 01:58:44
Just Another Mile -
Slow n Steady - 02:13:53
mr sj - 01:51:57
Ang12 - 01:56:00
dog runner - 01:49:38
Mr K. - 01:57:19

F
Blister Sister -
Steve (mandies brother) -
vixx76 - 02:37:51
paul o'reilly -
WTS - Deferred
Yeti -
Penkhull Puffer (Dave) - 02:14:50

G
shielsy - 02:03:17
shielsys friend - 01:58:40
mick string - 02:24:39
Russell Nimbus -
Roslyn - 02:09:28
Stoxy - 02:17:03
SlowlyButShirley -


H
Raring to go -
johnc - 02:19:28
Liverbird - Deferred
jaylo - 02:19:12
RunLikeTheWind - 02:45:19

I
motherhood - 38662 - Deferred
hannah smith 13 - 02:00:48
James1986 - 02:33:11
Yeti's Friend -
Megs Mum - 02:22:46

J
Michelle Sly - 02:57:01
Hayley Moore - 02:57:01

K

Heya Vixx - good to see you got home ok - sorry I couldnt chat mouch this morning - my text speak is pretty slow, and I was at work

Alan - we had a predicted times list on the previous thread, which had names, zone, race number etc - I just pulled the data off the gnr results pages using the race numbers  

What's going on with this thread?

First Shielsy confesses to doing strange things with bananas, now Vicki asking to be slapped

ah...but XL you know I like that sorta thing

I got back, and it took me an hour to read thru all the GNR 2008 pages I'd missed, and then move onto this one and read all the new stuff - will have to get a laptop.....

I am going to get my hip checked out. Stupidly, I am still trying to think about Dublin.....

I feel that I didn't do my best yesterday, but after doing Berlin only last week, I knew I shouldn't expect miracles. I was only 4 minutes or so outside of my half mara PB that I set in Berlin, and considering I had to run-walk from 3.5 miles, I shouldn't see it badly, but I do