fat lad in green's page GNR 2011

Bupa Great North Run 2011 · 18 September 2011 ·
Hi everyone.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
As most of you know I have been raising funds for the NSPCC for a considerable time now with my my never ending running exploits, although running has gradually phased into an awkward looking woobly fast walk over the years!!
After running litterally thousands of miles over the years, from doing marathons, half marathons, 10k's, 5k's and a few 2 milers all over the country in all weathers, the Great North Run in 2009 when it was absolutely sweltering was no joke and Januarys 2011 Edinburgh winter run up and down Arthurs Seat in snow, ice and a temperature of minus 7 was no laughing matter either! to the joys of all year round training again in all weathers!! running 4 mile in a foot of snow on new years day 2009 is a particular favourite memory along with the comedy moment of Christmas Day 2007 when 4.5 mile into a six miler I was stopped by the police at 7:30am to ask : "are you mad?!!"
My finest moment however came during the Great North Run of 2009 and it's not a tale I often tell because for me it is something I can look back on and think to myself "yeah, I did alright there" it has nothing to do with my performance in that years run, which was terrible because of the heat! it was an act in the spirit of what the Great North Run and what running is all about, for those of you who have never taken part in the run to give you an idea of what it is all about and what a challenge and purpose it means to people the cameradery and encouragement given to everyone by each other from the start is amazing, to be stood next to people of all shapes and sizes, of all fitness levels with things like "I'm doing it for my Mam" or "for my Dad" written on their vests and t-shirts is awesome, this particular year everyone was looking out for each other more than ever because right from the start we all knew how tough and dangerous it was going to be in the heat, just as you're finishing mile 12 and the sea comes into view at South Shields there is a horrible little bank of about 30 metres you have to go down, at this point everyone was shattered, the heat had taken it's toll, people were struggling all round, my legs had no energy left and I was just on auto pilot to get to the finish, as I started to go down this bank there was a girl in her mid twentys in front of me and she was struggling to stop her self going down this bank at 12 mile, as she neared the bottom her legs had gone and she began to stumble, I quickly grabbed her as she was about to go face first into the road and picked her back up, she wanted to stop and drop out to which I told her we're on the sea front and only one mile to go, but she said she didn't care she just wanted it all over and wanted to stop, I said to her " right you've come so far and you want to chuck it now do you? is that what you want?" "who is Janey?" I asked her "what?" she replied, I said "it's written on the back of your vest, Im doing it for you Janey" "it's my sister, she died from cancer three year ago" "right" I said to her "come on, you came here to do it for her so come on and finish what you've started because you will regret it forever if you don't" she was crying her eyes out and had clearly had enough, so I linked her arm and began to run again dragging her along! after a few paces she found her footing again and very wobbly began to count the markers down, 800m to go, 600m to go, 400m to go, 200m to go!! on the last little stretch she was laughing and crying as loud as you ever seen all at once!! as she crossed the finish line she gave out the biggest "YES" in triumph!! I had a little smile to myself and thought "giddin there well done lass" during the chaos of the finish we were seperated and I didn't think much more about until about one week later when I was sent an email by my charity saying that they had been contacted by a girl called Sophie who had told them what had happened and the only thing she knew was that I was wearing a green NSPCC vest with "hunny" printed on it, they said that "we know it's you" and she had asked them to tell me that without me she could never have completed that last mile, and she couldn't thank me enough for what I had done for her and to tell me that I was right and she would've regreted it forever not finishing! things like that are what it's all about and any amount of finishers medals, t-shirts and personal bests don't come close, that will be my abiding memory and most glorious achievement of years of running.
During all these crazy situations when I have questioned my sanity the only thing that has kept me putting one foot in front of the other has been my thoughts for the fantastic charity I am proud to represent, indeed I am proud to have raised thousands of pounds over the years through all of my blood, sweat, injuries and sacrifice, however this Great North Run of 2011 will be a particularly sad and poigniant event for me as this will be my last ever run of any description!! unfortunately the miles have taken their toll and now after struggling for the last two years with constantly having at least one injury of some description or other I have eventually had to succumb to medical advice and stop before I cause myself any further permanant damage, so please help me to go out on a real high by sponsoring me to cross my very last finishing line and making another fantastic donation to the wonderful charity NSPCC.
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Please spare anything you can as it is greatly appreciated by myself and NSPCC teamgo
You can sponsor me from my JustGiving page here or by my JustTextGiving option which is free and so easy to use and has my unique text code which is linked direct to my page and charity
Text eg "huny73 £5" to 70070
please visit :
www.justgiving.com/chris-hunn
www.nspcc.org.co.uk/teamgo
JustTextGiving "huny73 and your donation" to 70070
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