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  Great North Run 2010

Having not taken part in any running events for some 16 years now, I finally dug my trainers out of the cupboard at the begining of the year to start my preparation for this years Great North Run (Half Marathon). This event is special to me as it is some 16 years since I last too part and had the pleasure of running it with my sister Jenny. Jenny now lives in Melbourne Australia and is flying accross to the UK in September to take part in this year event with me. It will be a great pleasure to complete this run again with my sister by my side bringing back many special memories.

 To make this event even more special I chosen to take part in this event and raise money in aid of the Butterwick Hospice. It is a charity close to my heart and the hearts of my good friend Tanya Brakenbury and her family and my neighbour of 26 + year Pearl Johnston and family.

 The Butterwick hospice provided Tanya's Dad, Nigel Gaitsgill one day a week rest bite care for many years. Nigel suffered for Myotonic Dystrophy, a degenorate disease that cause the wasting of musles in the body. In the latter years of Nigel's life he was wheel chair bound and could not even hold a cup let a lone raise his head. The illness effected his speak and hence at time it could be very difficult to understand what he was saying. Dispite this Wendy, Anita and Tanya cared for Nigel 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Nigel had been a very active young man in his early years of his life so it was extremely sad to see the slow progression of degenorate disease.

 The services of the Butterwick hospice provided Wendy (Tanya's mum) and her family a well diserved break from caring for Nigel and at the same time provided Nigel with a careing, supportive and friendly environment to stay in. They cattered for all his medical and personal needs during his stay with them at their Hospice in Stockton-onTees. 2 - 3 times a year the Butterwick hospice also provided Nigel with week long stays allowing Wendy and her family the opportunity to have a holiday. All this care was provided for free of charge to Nigel and his family. Sadly Nigel passed away in March 2006.

 The Butterwick Hospice was also home to Stanley Johnston my neighbour of some 26 years during the last weeks of his life. A very caring and sharing neighbour who suffered for a number of years with Prostate Cancer. The Butterwick Hospice provided Stanley comfort and dignety in his last days. They also provided his family with the comfort and support required in coping with a terminally ill relative providing comfort and support too the end. Sadly Stanley passed away in June - July 2006.

 The Butterwick hospice also care for young sick children too. They provide support to their family's by offering comfort and compasion in a caring environment.

 Since its foundation in 1984 by Mary Butterwick in memory of her husband who had suffered from Cancer the Butterwick Hospice has cared for many hundreds and thousands of families. They pride themselves on raising all there own funds and prefer not to except charitable donations from the Government or similar bodies, hence why raising money to help there good work is even more important, to help families such as Tanya's and Pearl's.

Please dig deep and help support this very worthy cause.

 In memory of Nigel Gaitsgill and Stanley Johnston

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Rachel

x

 Great North Run 2010

With just over 8 weeks to go until the event I finally had the courage to attempt the full half marathon distance as a training run. I set off on Saturday morning at 7:40am on my run to Arbroath hospital from Carnoustie hoping that the cycle route I had seen driving into work each day did run the full route that I wanted to run.

I took it easy going out as I wanted to make sure I could complete the distance. An hour and 15 minutes later (15 minutes slower than my 10km distance the week before) I finally arrived at Arbroath Hospital the half way point in my run. I arrived with a big beaming smile. I didn't even think I would have managed that distance without thinking I would need to turn back and complete 10 miles instead of the 13.1miles.

 I felt quite relaxed all be it hot and a little out of breath. I drank a half litre of water and that was me off again on my return leg back to Carnoustie.

 A couple of miles into my return journey the reality hit of how far I still had to go to get back home. The pain and tiredness started to set in. With about 3 miles to go my lower back begain to ack. I think it was because I was carring my ruck sack on my back so that I had plently of water with me for my run.

 Finally I got to the end of the duel carriage way and back on to the homeway stretch back into Carnoustie. The thoughts were there to take the short cut back to the house but no I thought you have ran this far you can run the rest of the distance too.

 Finally 2 hours 42.5 minutes later I crossed the finish line!!!! My driveway. I was so chuffed with myself. I couldn't believe that I had suceeded in completing the distance 16 years since I had last done it. I was amazed as the maximum that I had run in training to date was 10km and I had just completed 21Km.

 It took some 20 minutes to get my breath back. I phoned my training partner Jaramir (a college from work) and told him the good news and thanked him for all his support. Without him I wouldn't have even managed 1km let alone 21Km (13.1 miles).

 Believe me I couldn't move for the rest of the day and cringged at the sight of my 10cm blood blisters on my feet. My worst blisters yet during training. I was so thankfull for running in the morning too when it was a little cooler than our trainng runs at dinnertime.

 Monday driving to work in drove in quite slowly trying to comprehend what I had done on the Saturday. Thinking its a very long way just driving out to the hospital (on to work) let alone letting it sink in that I had ran twice that disitance.

 I was so proud of myself.

 That evening I desided to check what distance I had definately ran using the mileometer on my car. To my asonishment I found out that I had actually ran 13.6miles (half a mile further than I needed too). I was even more shocked. This ment I had actually ran the half marathon in 2 hours 36.5 minutes!!!! Only 26.5 minutes slower than my fastest ever time for the distance and I was very fit then and 2 stone lighter too. I was so amazed and so thankful to my work college for all his support over the last 6 months.

 My only hope now is that I can manage the same distance with hills. Unfortunatly the area I am living in is very flat so finding hills to train on is very difficult. Still it didn't do Liz Macolgan any harm and she is from Carnoustie.

 Just 3 - 4 weeks now to my 10Km and 3Km races in Paisley and 7 weeks to the GNR.

 Hope to see you at the GNR event and thank you for all your support along the way. My suffering is minimal in comparision with those that I am trying to help by raising sponsership for the Butterwick Hospice.

 Many thanks for supporting me and this good cause.

 Rachel x

Great North Run 2011

Spurred on by my sucessful completion of the Great North Run 2010 with a much better time than I expected; I have signed up for the Great North Run again for 2011. My training hasn't gone quite so well this year but it is not going to deter me for trying to raise more money for the Butterwick again this year. I am running on my own this year so its going to be a tough job to push myself along but I know I can do it and I am sure the cheering along the route will help.

17th July 2011

My first 10km of the year and I have to say also my first race of the year due to the Edinburgh 10km being posponed until October due to the Royal Wedding. It was held on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead.

A flat route I thought. Nope not a chance so I found out from another racer before the start of the race. I had injured myself in training 3 days earlier by pulling a mussel in the back of my leg. Thankfully the 3 days rest had helped and my leg was ok again. I headed to the start line to take part in the group warm up. Thankfully this time I could see what to to in the warm up unlike the other races last year.

Ouch!! Oh no I have pulled my mussel again and 10km lay ahead of me what was I going to do? I had to run as this was me first and last training race before the Great North Run.

With determination that even if I had to walk the full distance I headed off running. The pain easyed but as I ran the pain kept coming and going. At the 2km mark the pain was so bad I really thought I am going to have to walk the rest of the way and I am really not even sure if I can manage that either but with shear determination I continued my running. The 2.5km point was a masive down hill stretch great but no help thats the 7.5km point of the route too but up hill. I reminded myself to take it easy to that I had the energy to climb that hill again. The route unjulated up and down all along the banks of the Tyne. My leg constantly hurting but I was determined I was going to finish I didn't care about my time (much).

Before I knew it I had reached the half way point were we turned round and ran back along most of the same route we had just run. I was exhausted by the 7km point and the big climb was still to come. Climbing the hill at the 7.5km was tough and a lovely gentleman at the top (one of the assistants) shouted thats it no more hills to climb its all flat from here. I was so relieved but not for long. No more hills who was he trying to kid. I turned the 9.5km corner to be faced with an even steeper climb. What was the race organiser thinking of putting a masive very steep hill in 0.5km from the end when we are already shattered. I got to the top and tryed in vain to pick my pace up again but the hill had vapped all my energy. 100m and that was me running in Gatehead stadium again some 21 - 23 years since I had last been there with school. Its all over!!! I crossed the finish line and to my assonisment depite not training enough in a time of 1hr 5min only 5mins slower than the same time last year on a much flater course. I was proud of myself for completing despite my pulled mussel.

3rd September 2011.

Due to my serve lack of training this year I thought it was wise to try running my 13.6mile route that I had trained on last year. Who knows if I was going to manage it but I had to try otherwise it might have been pointless attempting to running the GNR in 2 weeks time. I headed out at 7:45am. Saying morning to all the people waiting at the bus stops. I got to the duel carrageway and checked my watch. 8:05am. Help 20mins to run 1.5miles I could nearly walk it in the same time. The reality hit I wasn't going to get anywhere near the time I did for the same route last year.

Thankfully I hadn't measured out the distances too much this year using my car so I was less concuss of the distances that I had run / still had to run. I did think after a while when am I finally going to see Arbroath in the distance. It too a long while before I finally could see it. The Abbey is a great land mark on the horizon.

Ouch my feet were starting to hurt. Oh no another year of running the GNR on blisters. My hips were starting to hurt too and I hadn't even made it to the half way point.

Finally I made it to the seafront (althought you can't see the sea from it) road. A lovely flat stretch of road. Not long now to my half way point. Before I knew it I was climbing the one and only big hil on my route up to the hospital. Yes I have made it to the half way point.

I stopped for 4 mins to drink my 1/2 litre of water. My first bottle of water empty I was on my way again. Greeted by a lovely Labrador puppy on the sea front road. Chuddles over with I was on my way again.

The mental battle of completeing the whole route running began with about 4miles to go. I was hurting on my feet and hips and if its not too crude to mention my nipple too. I was getting very thursty again so a lovely bus stop acted as my next and final stop to get a drink. I downed another 1/2 litre of water. Help I hope I don't need another drink before I finish as I don't have any more water on me.

I was chuffed with myself of even managing to run this far. I cyked myself up telling myself its not much further now. Finally I saw the 1/2mile sign to the junction off the dual carriage way before the one I required. Not much further now I thought. The 1/2 mile to the junction started to drag. Oh when am I going to see the 1/2 mile sing to my junction I thought. I rounded the corner and there in the distance I could see the sign. 2.5 miles to go I thought.

I seemed to take an age to get the 1/2 mile sign post and then on to the junction. 1.5miles to go I thought to myself with a smile. I never thought I would manage to run this far without/ with minimal training. My hips hurting and feet were shouting in agony.

I climbed the hill and then played dodge with the traffic for a few 100m as there is no footpath. I turned the corner and then I had the beutiful sight of the straight slightly down hill route back into Carnoustie village. I had nearly made it.

Just a couple of 100m from my house a lovely guy on a bike cycled along side me helping me thought the last few meters. Turned out to be a neirbour along the road from me.

I had made it!!! In agony but I had made it. I am proud as at least I know I should be able to make it in 2 weeks time. 3hrs 2mins excluding 6mins of stoppage time. This makes my 1/2 marathon time 2hrs 55mins 18sec excluding stoppage time. 19mins slower than last year but I had made it.

It took about 20 - 30mins to get my breath back. A long hot soak and I am feeling a little less stiff but definately saw. I am proud of my determination. I just hope and pray I can do it again in 2 weeks time.

I am pleased to add I managed to loss 2lb during my run today and have managed to drink 4 - 5 breakers of water on my return.

Hope to see you at the GNR event and thank you for all your support along the way. My suffering is minimal in comparision with those that I am trying to help by raising sponsership for the Butterwick Hospice.

 Many thanks for supporting me and this good cause.

 Rachel x

Well what can I say? I made it!!! Yes I completed the 2011 Great North Run in a time of 2:32:22 despite my lack of training this year. I am reasonably happy with my time too but anoyed at myself for not training enough to beat last years time. Learn learnt for next year. More training required. Great Race. Great Atmosphere and great place.!!! See you next year Newcastle!!!

 Great North Run 2012

26-06-2012  Well that is me now signed up to run the Great North Run 2012 in aid of the Butterwick Hospice. As some of you are aware I am currently off work with work related stress and have been for some almost 7 months now. I am running this year as part of my theopy to get myself fully fit and well again to be able to return to work. I hope that you will sponser me in my bid to help this worthy cause.

 Over the past couple of months I have been gradually building up my walking distance having been absolutely pretriffied to leave the house for some 3 - 5 month when I first went off work with work related stress. I have sucessfully walked some 22 - 25 miles (Approx 8 hours) now on 3 occations but have now opted for 12 - 13 mile walks (approx 4 hours) but doing these walks more frequently.

 My first training run for this event is in about 3 -4 weeks time. I am running the Gateshead 10km again like last year (22-07-2012). Yes I have remember this year that the Gateshead run is not flat so I am going to have to ensure that my training runs are longer in lenght to compensate for this drastic lack of hills in the area I stay. I hope to get out training for my run in the next day or two and will keep you posted as to how I get on.

Great North Run 2014

I haven't a clue where this year has gone but suddenly I am only 2 days away from doing this years Great North Run. My training has been abysmal this year and I expect to be in great pain at the finish line but still I ma sure that the crowds will help me bite through those pain barriers. I have managed a half respectable finish time earlier this year at the Olympic Park Anniversary Run in London in sawing humid temperatures so it and not quite so concerned despite having acking legs for the next 2 - 3 days. I have been out walking a number of times so hopefully this will make up for the lack of running training. Despite this I plan on enjoying the Great North Run this year and taking in more of the carnival atmosphere as I pass so many support's of this great run. Dispite knowing I ma going to be in pain again this year I know my pain will only a fraction of the pain that so many people that the Butterwick Hospice cares for each year goes through. I wish to continue my support of this charity by running for them again this year. I wish all the other people running for this Butterwick this year the very best of luck.  See you all at the finish line.