Great North Run

18th September 2011

1:29:22

So after a year of injury and then a summer on a stuttering comeback trail I lined up once again on Newcastle's Central Motorway for my 13th Great North Run. Setting a target had been difficult. A PB was obviously way out of the question but I wanted something to motivate me. I toyed with the idea of aiming for sub 1:30 but didn't want to push too hard and end up lame and struggling up the John Reid Road. I settled for 7 minute mile pace and around 1:32. Common sense had prevailed over optimistic ambition. I must be getting old.

After the usual GNR traditions and razzmatazz - mass aerobics warm up, red arrow flyover and celebrity starter - I settled straight into my running and hit the first mile marker in exactly the pace I wanted. Christ, I really must be getting old and sensible with it. Slightly faster for miles 2 & 3 before slowing down up the hill to record a 7:04 for mile 4. I must've nodded off during the next mile, I mean its still uphill but there was no excuse for the 7:14 split. 'Concentrate' I told myself and managed to sort myself out for the fastest section of the course. Miles 6, 7, 8 - 6:40, 6:46, 6:46.

To be honest, at this point I was happy just ticking over. I knew I was inside my target but not really paying attention to what finishing time I might achieve. There was still those damn hills to come and I didn't want to overdo it. Except of course that little voice in the back of my head who will never grow up, never be sensible, always wants to push on. To be fair, he was being reasonably quiet but just nudging me every know and again - "Don't take it easy. 1:29 is very possible today.".

The hills came and went causing me fewer problems than most previous years and I was chasing down and passing several other runners. Miles 9, 10, 11 - 6:54, 6:43, 6:45. By now not only was the voice getting louder, my legs were starting to respond and pick up the pace. I refused to do any serious calculations but I sort of knew a 1:29 was on the cards.

Hills all done with and feeling good I pushed on again. Mile 12 was my fastest so far (6:30) and when I saw the watch say 1h 22m it was finally confirmed - a sub 1:30 was there to be had. The injury pains had already started to rear the heads but to hell with them. Push on, its only a mile and it turned out to be my fastest mile of the day a 6:20. Sprinted the last 192 yards and clocked 1:29:22.