Dear All,

And what a race it was…Such a thoroughly positive experience.  Even though the GNR is technically a race – and there were most certainly people out there who were endeavouring to compete and break records – from where we started the run at the back of a mile long starting line – the mood was decidedly 99% festive and less than1% competitive.  It seemed as though every one was doing it for charity.  And so many costumes – so many superheroes – so many comedy wigs – so much face/body paint – Emily and I felt underdressed for this peculiar athleto-carnivale.  I suppose that since this was our first big run of any kind, we didn’t know what to expect. 

I guess I also didn’t expect the organization of this event to be so impressive in almost everyway – from the amount of water and lucozade on offer to the finishers’ bags at the end – complete with little refreshments, the obligatory t-shirt and, best of all, the pseudo-Olympic medal – which I am still wearing – shamelessly, like a 7 year old who’s just won the sack race at the county fair.  Yes – I will have to eventually take it off – but when?...How long is too long?...How many other of the 52,000 runners are still wearing theirs?

What is a little hard to describe is the sense of camaraderie felt on such a gloriously sunny day.  You couldn’t blame it on the weather.  There was a palpable feeling of gracious solidarity – true charity – seemingly capable of anything: from the unspecific whiff of the hope of harmony to the specific collective will of 100,000 footfalls and tyre treads over theTyneBridge.  Like we were all nameless, numberless blood cells coursing through one common vein towards the same goal.  A feeling capable of dissolving the cloud of petty jealousies and paranoia that separate us into class and clan – that keeps us from enjoying and celebrating the achievement of others – into an atmosphere of shared accomplishment and possibilities; a certainty that we all want to put our best selves forward.

This is, I think, one of the aims of Streetwise Opera.  That we should and could put our best selves forward no matter which neighbourhood we come from or how we vote or what our particular appetites may be or whatever it is we’ve done in the past.  It is sort of a progressive feeling.

Do you feel progressive?

If so, I invite you to have a look at what Streetwise Opera is all about and to sponsor us…it isn’t too late:

www.streetwiseopera.org  

Many many thanks