Wow we did it.   Somehow managed to finish the Great North Run!  Well to be honest, for Sue, it was probably like eating a piece of chocolate cake but for Judith it was an EPIC journey.......

Judith here:  It was great at the start (obviously as we weren't moving!) talking to everyone and listening to the commentary and music and for the first 7 miles ish (10 mins per mile - not too bad!) and then suddenly I thought oh no I don't feel too good so had to stop (arghhhhhhhh no no) and drink more water (although I had been drinking loads). We then got off again but much slower (think we maybe had been going too fast!). The last three miles were tortuous really!! When are we going to get there I moaned!! Sue was great though (mind you she had done a 4 mile 2,750 foot fell race on the Saturday and got up at 5am to drive from Yorkshire on the Sunday so she was quite happy to have a bit of a rest shuffling along next to me!). She would run on ahead to the water stations and get loads and then carry it along (think she was a bit worried I was heading for an ambulance - I must say they looked very cosy to me and there were loads of them!).

We saw the sea and I thought this is it!  And then I saw the 1 mile sign.....we ran and ran for ages and then another sign popped up - 800 metres - how far is that I shrieked (hysteria was looming) - er half a mile mate said a fellow runner! 'HALF A MILE - have they extended the course' I shouted.  I shut my eyes and kept my head down.....AND then it was there - the finish!!    

When we finished Dad, Chris, Claire and Mo and Gary etc were there (our supporters on the ground!) and they all looked at me a bit funny like (as we say ooop North) - later on they admitted that I'd gone a v strange pale grey/green colour and that all my freckles popped up against the green (so I looked very lovely for the post run photo shoot!)).

BUT after a sit down and then a pint of cider I was absolutely fine and feel fine today! - it took 2 hours 49 mins!! .....think I definitely need to do more training - good thing is that now I've started this running malarky I am defi going to keep it up!! Not sure about another half marathon yet though and definitely NOT a marathon!!! No way hose or Sue (even!!)

BUT the best thing is that our current money raising target for West Cumbria Hospice at Home is standing at £2,881 - and that's all thanks to you!  So thank you very much - your sponsorship definitely kept us going it really did. 

And for those of you who haven't got round to sponsoring us yet - please can you help us reach our target of £3,000 - that would be totally fabulous.

For those of you who are new to this site, West Cumbria Hospice at Home is based in West Cumbria (where we're from).  It is a 'hospice without walls' (they haven't got an actual premises) and what they do is provide hospice care in people's homes in West Cumbria to make it possible for people to spend the last weeks/months of their illness at home with their family and friends around them.  They only get a third of their funding from the NHS and so have to raise over £330,000 a year themselves to keep going.

West Cumbria Hospice at Home were amazingly supportive to our family when my Mum was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 so we really want to give them something back.

We want to raise as much money as possible for West Cumbria Hospice at Home in memory of our Mum Margaret Denwood who sadly died on 27 February 2000.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: West Cumbria Hospice At Home will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks for your support. 

Judith and Sue

xx