Great North Run 2013

Just Googled Jesmond Dene House Hotel and I don't think that's the one we went to, but I was only 8 years old so I can't be sure! Afternoon tea looks good though. Thanks Penny!

Good to see that the 2013 thread is full of white noise and lots of posts to catch up on. Congrats to XL on the new park run PB, its longer course these days so you ran a much quicker than your previous PB. Also a nice confidence boost ahead of redcar.

I had to miss the parkrun this weekend for a trip to Leigh for the Northern 6 stage. Had an ok run a week after the GNR on a very twisty course completing the 6.2k in 21:01 so good to be able to run quickly the week after the GNR.

Also decided to rest today to complete my easy week post GNR but back on it and I think my next longer term target will be the Brass Monkey half in January, so I will be keeping an eye for when the entries open for this race.

XL Man - Lol.I  thought you could pppp pick up a penguin anywhere (ok groan)

RLTW - Yes, I'm doing the Great Birmgham Run, I thought it looked like one with a great atmosphere. Are you doing it?. Are Cadburys/ Bournville sponsoring? I hope so! 

Shielsy - as someone who had ventured these forums as a newbie many years ago, but for only a short time . . (but am now again!). I can vouch how friendly and supportive you regulars are. So thank you all. 

Pengwyn - you can never shimmy badly!

CC2 - afternoon tea sounds perfect. 

Thanks all 

Jesmond Dene House is pretty new, CC2, so I don't think it can be the same place.  But it is lovely.  We have had afternoon tea there as a retirement do for some people from work before and it was very good - very "genteel".  I am sure your parents would love it.  Close House is equally nice - out in the country (about 20 minutes drive along the A69 near Heddon on the Wall). 

Envious Plodder - have you tried shimmying - we penguins don't really have shoulders!

Pengwyn - yes . ..on far too many occasions I care to admit lol. In my head I kinda look good ..  but usually there are no mirrors otherwise .. . xx

lol-I must admit you look more of a dancer than I do in your picture!

You two could make a film - Happy Feet III : Penguin Shimmies

I will need to practise!

Envious Plodder - I was just lhaving a little peep at the logistics of it, as Vixx is keen for us to join in. 

Sounds like you're sorted there, CC2 - as Pengwyn says, JDH is a lovely venue.

Thanks, Martin. I know that it is my best ever 5k run, just slightly irritating that I don't get those two magic letters in the parkrun records just yet.

Good luck withthe Brass Monkey entry. Don't places go very quickly for that one ?

I applied for Brass Monkey 3 years in succession by post sending on the day the applications opened. Didn't get in at all. Didn't bother for last year, but tempted again for this. All reports are that it is a proper good one.

Not much training for me so far after GNR. Physio said 7-10 days off running and cycling due to calf strain. Probably a good job as I'm working away this week in India, probably the most un-running friendly country I've been to. Not the people or safety, but the uneven 'pavements'. Absolute nightmare. Any other country likes / dislikes for running abroad? Holland is great. You can run on the miles and miles of cycle paths. Unless you want hills that is.

Interesting - over 10,000 views of our thread so far.  Not bad with just 471 posts and barely a week old

RLTW- I had a Garmin problem yesterday too at the Woodstock 12.  At about 4 miles it bleeped to say the lap counter was full.  I think I hit the wrong button and then had to stop to sort the problem out- deleting all but the last month. So not only was it giving me the wrong distance but the wrong time too. Still doesn't excuse the fact that I was 3 minutes slower than last year, although then I was near the end of training for the Abingdon marathon.

Envious Plodder- you get the best white noise here so do stick around! There are sometimes a few pearls of wisdom about running too, if you look hard enough...

On Saturday I managed to get out for my second run since last Sunday. Thursday had been a little 3.5mile loosener, but as we were due out the inlaws for a Birthday BBQ I took the chance of running the long route to theirs.

Set my Garmin to 10k run and set my phone. Managed a decent starting pace but dropped off in the middle before speeding up for the final 3k. Finished with respectable 43:18 which I think is my fastest 10k (yet to check)

With a better than expected performance in this yrs GNR I know I need to maintain my runing through the winter.Managed to find a 10k at the end of November and need to find something for Jan/Feb time before doing a couple of decent 10k events in April and June.

I'm a bit late with posting my post-race report but here goes! 

Fri: Long drive up from Brighton; evening at t'pub with too much beer; a late night.

Sat: Shopping in Newcastle (had left my gels in Brighton); poor night's sleep.

Sun: Woke up feeling v. tired & with a slightly dodgy stomach (nerves?).

A friend kindly gave me a lift from S.Shield to the Haymarket. Despite using the loos twice, by the time I got to the pens I needed to go again but didn't fancy the long queues. I spotted a woman making her way up to some convenient bushes so I decided to the same! How naughty is that?

I had a totally storming race. From the very start I was going quite a bit quicker than I expected so decided to just run according to how I felt during the race. I even managed to keep my pace going on the hills & those energy-zapping long slightly uphill 'drags'.

At the half way point I couldn't believe my time & knew that if I could just keeping maintain a good pace going I could be on for a PB. I was suprised at how hard I was pushing myself & my pace, occasionally expressing this out loud!

As I got to The Nook my legs were feeling tired but I kept dodging through the crowds of runners (no shoving involved!) & pushing myself onwards. Once on the coast road I somehow upped my pace & found an 'Anne sized' gap between other runners & the crowds which meant could run fast without having to do too much dodging between runners. I was breathing so hard I sounded like a steam train!!

I was over the moon when I crossed the line in 2:03:57 as this was about 7.5 minutes faster than last year's GNR and over 2.5 minutes faster than my PB . This was beyond all expectations as my previous PB was on a 95% flat course.

The only downside was none of the buses we saw at the town hall were heading in the right direction so we walked all the way back to Whiteleas! Thank goodness I didn't have to drive home on the Monday...

No doubt I will put my name in the ballot for 2013 as it's such an iconic race.

Hi everyone! Just found you - I still had the 2012 page bookmarked.  I really enjoyed GNR this year. New course PB of 1:39:06 which is 3.5 mins quicker than I've ever done it before and off the back of much less training post injury so I was very happy. Not too far off my half PB so here's hoping for a good run at Brass Monkey 2013 (assuming I get in!). I did have very bad DOMs for a couple of days post GNR - for some reason I always seem to suffer more after GNR than other halfs - I think its probably due to most of my longer training runs being off road or shorter road runs. Really enjoyed starting from Pen A - did get a bit carried away and do the first 5K way too fast but then slowed to more reasonable pace. Its the first year I haven't had to dodge anyone.  Only incident was some tall bloke who almost knocked my friend (Minni) over forcing his way past her - he just shoulder barged her out the way - we were running at sub 7 min mile pace at that point so we weren't exactly dawdling around! 

What a fantastic weekend.  Stayed at Center Parcs and got the park and ride from Carlisle.  Like most had an early start as had to get the coach at 6.15 so left CP at 5.15    Dropped us at the start just before 8 i think

had a good look round and found the pens, cup of tea and waited.  Got into the pen early and got right to the front.   the red arrows flying above the start was awesome.  Tried to get hi 5 from Mo but got pushed out of the way    then away we went

Was concerned about getting a good time from D so plan was if i felt a good time was not possible i would just enjoy the day,     we set of at 7.30 pace and was still going well 2 mile in so decided to try for a time

had to do quite a bit of weaving at times but was all good (apart from a few that just stopped running without warning are bothering to look round why do people do that?) and finished in 1.37.07 beat my Sheffield HM time by 7mins well happy. 

without a doubt the best event i have done, i thought i would do this once just for the experience but i so hope i get in again next year

Many thanks to all than ran and supported,   the support was fantastic

Fantastic running S3200H. thats a fantastic time especially with the dodging and weaving about - you should definitely be able to knock off a bit more time on a flatter/less busy course.