Great North Run 2016

Intro 

The Great North Run is the greatest half marathon in the world.

Following my unsuccessful ballot entry in the London Marathon 2016, I found out from my research about the Great North Run in Newcastle Upon Tyne in September and thought I'd give it a try.

To my great surprise, I received an email notification back in March that my ballot entry for 2016 GNR was successful. I couldn't be more excited to run in this event which is known generally as everyone's favorite half marathon.

The Great North Run was first staged in 1981 as a local run with 12,000 participants. By 2011, the number of participants had risen to 54,000. This year the number of participants was a staggering 57,000! Furthermore, the GNR went global in this edition with aim of having participants from every country in the United Nations. I think the organisers were slightly short of the 193 representatives from each and every country, but nonetheless GNR has stamped its mark on the world running events as a truly global race that attracts runners from all over the world (including yours truly from Malaysia).

Training

As I had trained hard for my first full marathon last month, I just continued with the training only this time I ran shorter distances on my long, slow distance runs. I also bought a new pair of shoes (a size bigger) to avoid aggravating the toe-nail injury which I sustained in the marathon. The black toe nail is a foreboding reminder of how things may go wrong when you wear ill-fitting shoes for long distance runs. (Read about my first marathon attempt here)

Overseas Filming for 2016 Great North Run

On Aug 4, I received an email from the organiser asking if I would be interested to take part in their filming project for a chance to be featured on BBC Television on race day. I thought why not? What have I got to lose? After all, I've been blogging about my runs and sharing my running journey with my readers. So I shot a selfie of me running in front of Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on one of my training days.

Race Day

So I ran in the Great North Run last Sunday, 11 September.

I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere throughout the entire route of the race. Form the Red Arrows show above as I crossed the Tyne Bridge, to the live band performances - 13 of them in total that provided entertainment at set locations of the course - I was captivated from the start. The atmosphere was simply electrifying and I soaked it all in! The streets were lined with supporters - young and old - kids enjoying themselves giving high-fives to the runners. The local residents came out in droves with the women folk offering water, sweets, orange slices, lollipop, and other goodies to us runners. I helped myself to some sweets and thanked the lady who was holding a tray with those sweet treats.  I also took an orange slice from another lady in a black dress.  The generosity of the people and perhaps the tiny orange slice were a  great source of energy and there was no need for me to rip open my energy gels.

In this race, I realised the uplifting experience of running to the cheers of the various charity teams who were beneficiaries of funds raised by the thousands of runners on that day. To give an idea of what I mean by a large cheering team: they can fit into a bus. Those open top buses at the cheering points were fascinating and I was spellbound by the parade-like atmosphere. What a sight to behold! I would have liked to stop and take a picture of those cheerleaders but there were runners everywhere around me and you just have to keep moving in a situation like this...

There were six drink stations which were efficiently managed by volunteers who handed out bottled Aqua Pura water ceaselessly. Runners were asked to move along after receiving their water to avoid crowding of the water stations. I had no excuse to stop at the stations since it was not possible to do The weather was beautiful that day with temperatures around 16 degree Celsius. I didn't feel overheated or dehydrated at all and I felt good to run with a bottle in my hand and take sips of the Aqua Pura when I needed it. There were two Lucozade Sports stations. Again, bottles here handed out to the runners. Hydration was definitely adequate for me in this race (yes I peed, just don't ask me where and checked the color of my urine - it was clear). Another interesting feature about the course was the availability of run through showers to cool down the runners. There were a three of them in the course. I had a go at one and enjoyed it a little too much because I slowed down to almost a complete stop. Oh well.. running is supposed to be fun and I was proof!

Along the pavement from start to finish, there were excited supporters willing on the runners, cheering and encouraging them. As I went along the course, the number of supporters increased. Balloons and placards bearing the names of the runners they were supporting were spotted at roundabouts and the road dividers where the runners would not miss seeing them.

I felt good throughout the run as the lively atmosphere had lighted a fire in my soul. I ran without stopping and was doing sub-6 min/km pace all along the way except for kilometer 6 where there was an elevation. On the last mile along Prince Edward Road, the cheers got even louder. I responded to the cheers by  upping my pace and made a sprint to the finishing gantry.

I crossed the finish line feeling on top of the world!

Registered participants signing on the billboard in front of the expo

Tyne Bridge all set for the big day (taken on 10 Sep)

Great City Games were held a day before the GNR

Free pasta for all registered participants on pre-race day

This information points has a sack full of safety pins

Runners making their way to their starting pens 

That's where I'm heading - White bib in Gate G, about a mile from the start line!

Selfie time

Many runners in fancy dress were spotted.  Marge Simpson was in the same start pen

Bottled Aqua Pura Water after crossing the finish line

Finishers had to keep moving to make way for other runners

I did it... What a beautiful day it is!

Feeling awesome in finishing tee

Photo spots for happy runners

I couldn't stop smiling after the run

I ran in the same race as Mo Farah. It''s unbelievable! 

I'm on BBC1 live
While waiting for the race to kickoff.,  participants were entertained by feeds on a huge screen above the starting gantry.
And there it was... a video clip of me training in Putrajaya!
What? Me? On BBC? Watched by millions around the world!
Thanks Great North Run and BBC. I'm famous now!

 
Video courtesy of http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Stats:


I achieved a new PB for half marathon in this race. I couldn't have asked for a better run!
Thank you to the Great Run company, the BBC, the volunteers, the people of Newcastle for the support (you guys rock), the cheerleaders, the entertainers, fellow runners and my relatives in the UK for helping me realise this dream..It's surreal to me.