Final time was 3 hours 05 minutes 57 seconds, a little disappointing  (I was 26 minutes quicker in '07)  but it was a warm day, and leaves me an easier marker to beat in 2010! Almost 2,000 finished behind me, and I beat a couple of amazing guys running as a push-pull double act - see the photograph.

Many, many thanks to all my generous sponsors - and if you're reading this and haven't sponsored me yet - please see "Donate now" button at the foot of this page!
 
Another year, another challenge, and a different charity - and Abbey will match all donations up to £700!  I ran in the Sheffield 10k as well, just 2 weeks before the GNR - must be mad - but this is the main sponsorship page for both*.

I was Treasurer of the charity  for 9 years (then called the CHRIS Fund - short for Children's Hospital Research In Sheffield) and know how much it helps research and the needs of the hospital, it's patients, and their families - see;

http://www.sheffieldchildrenshospital.org.uk/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=410

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

On top of this, the Abbey Charitable Foundation will match all donations made up to a maximum of £700 - so as that target's now been met, their £700 has been assumed in the offline total!

My training has been to run the 8.1 miles to Carbrook once a week  - although I still need practice on hills. This year I'd love to get down to 2 hours 30 minutes and be in first 30,000, but under 2:45 would be great - I don't want to be as near 3 hours as in 2008!

Best time for my training run was 100 on 4th April. I need to get under 95 minutes to achieve target - some way to go for that. Since April I haven't got below 104!

The more names I see here, the more incentive I'll have to train - and actually run! Watch out for green No 34564, towards the back - BBC1, live 20th September, all morning!

30.12.2009 update. With very many thanks  once again for the encouragement and support of so many.

If anyone has looked in to donate for 2009 - sorry, it's now too late for the Children's Hospital - BUT my RNIB page remains open until 31st January 2010, see link below.

From 1st February a new page should appear for the 2010 event..........

Chris

Over 2006-8 RNIB  received £5,348.58 resulting from sponsorship given by friends and colleagues - including matched giving by the Abbey Charitable Foundation. My previous fund raising pages are still online.

If anyone would prefer their sponsorship to go to RNIB this year, I've set up a separate page at the bottom of this list;

2006 at; http://www.justgiving.com/GreatNorthRun-RNIB-ChrisMorgan

2007 at: http://www.justgiving.com/GreatNorthRun2007-ChrisMorgan

2008 at; http://www.justgiving.com/greatnorthrun2008-chrismorgan

*2009 at; http://www.justgiving.com/greatnorthrun2009-chrismorgan-rnib