The road surface is a bit slippy, but it remains dry in the sky. The atmosphere is electric everyone is excited to be under way. As the masses jiggle for position, we settle in for the run ahead, all I can see in front of me are bobbing heads. We go into the Tyne tunnel to the resounding noise of "Oggy Oggy Oggy" with the replies echoing around and bouncing off the walls. To my amazement the Tyne Bridge appeared in front of me, I cannot believe that I am about to run across the Tyne Bridge actually running the Great North Run. As I pass through the concrete pillars of the bridge the rain turned to hailstones slamming across the bridge, making everything very wet indeed the strong gusts and wind chill are making me struggle all I can do is hope that this stops. It does stop but the damage is done, my feet are sodden but the 4 mile marker board is there. The last 4 miles have gone really quickly, the mass pack has spread out a little bit, I am trying to follow people who I feel I can keep pace with over the next miles. We reach the marker post for halfway in no time at all, my thigh and Achilles feel good, to be honest it felt easier than I expected. But a problem I have never had before is creeping up on me..blisters. The blisters were on the arch of my right foot, so to try and avoid the pain of running on them I tried to run on the outside of my right foot. This led to the obvious happening rubbing on the outside of my foot, well I couldn't run any other way now, so it was time to put up with the pain. I could feel the pain of a blister right underneath my toes on my left foot too, I couldn't alter running style on this one so I had to just put up with it. Miles 8,9 and 10 passed by and the amounts of people stood at the side of the road began to swell. Outside a Sue Ryder shop at the 10 mile point I saw a familiar face stood cheering us on, shaking her tambourine Charlotte from Sue Ryder Wheatfields, it was a real welcome boost at this point. Pushing on towards mile 11 means "The Hill", now I had heard so many things about this Hill some saying it was "like hell", others saying "its nothing just feels a long way". Having never done this course before I could only make my mind up once I was there, but so far the whole run felt uphill so how bad could it be ???. About halfway up the hill my blisters were screaming at me, my hips were now very sore because of the running style I had to now use due to the pain of the blisters. With the amount of runners in front of me it was still difficult to gauge just how steep the Hill was all I could see were the back of peoples heads. I knew it must be getting worse because there were more walkers than ever, I don't have a problem with anyone taking a breather but why do they stay in the middle of the road ?. People at the side of the road were handing out ice pops, sausage rolls, sweets, which at this point was really appreciated. Finally it seemed that the Hill leveled out now I can see the North Sea, now comes the tricky bit for me personally...downhill. My knees don't walk down hill very well let alone run down one after 12 miles. As we came off the bend of the roundabout and began our descent on to the sea front people at the side of the road were shouting encouragement, cheering and clapping. Relatives suddenly seeing their loved ones at this point waving their homemade banners, little ones still wanting high fives, the pain is unbelievable the hill is steep trying to slow down so you don't fall. As I rounded the bottom of the hill the Red Arrows swept along the sea front, it was an amazing feeling to be 1 mile away, the noise from the crowd swelled with the Arrows in the air. The sea front was completely full of people, the Arrows doing their thing out at sea, passing two guys dressed as Iceman and Viper, 800m to go the pain is now taking over me. Has somebody moved the 400m board ? it seems to have taken an age so maybe there isn't one. The sea front has a slight incline, as you hit the top of it the charity tents come into view, in the distance is the 400m board, more importantly the bright blue signs of the finish. The down hill to the finish is awash with people both on the course and supporters, as I approach the countdown boards my thoughts move away from the pain, keep moving don't stop.
I know my Hubby is at the finish...somewhere, as I come down to the ropes for the finish I see him, I cant believe it, I am in real need of a cuddle, but I have to finish, waving frantically and telling him I love him I get to the finish. As I come through the finish I get a phone call its my Hubby, I am trying to hold back my emotions because I don't want him to worry. We agree a meet up point back at the finish as I need to go retrieve my back pack from the baggage bus, of course I need to grab my runpack, medal and tshirt in hand I cant believe it. Now its time to try and keep warm against the gale force winds and driving rain on with the tin foil.
I realize with a horrible clang that the baggage buses are very small in the distance, who thought that after running 13.1 miles it was a good idea to put the buses a mile away DOWNHILL. I thought as I arrived at the buses that the front buses made lines, but nooooooo, I had to walk up and down the buses to find my baggage bus. Eventually I found my bus, at last dry warm clothes, dry socks and trainers. I work my way up back to where we had arranged to meet. My phone in the meantime had turned itself off due to the lack of battery. Unbeknown to me Marks phone has also run out of battery, we are now in amongst crowds of people and have no idea where each of us are. As I stand and wait for Mark I watch more runners coming over the finish line. One lady breaks down completely she is a survivor of cancer who has just finished the Great North Run. Seeing her made me wish.....I began to feel the emotions that I had kept inside me during the run, come to the surface, once again a meltdown was upon me. I kneel down to compose myself, when a hand touches my back, a marshal asking if I am okay, he helped me to my feet, I told him about the lady I had just seen, he told me that he had cried so many times at the bravery of so many with incredible stories of why they were there. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and pointed at the medal around my neck and said "you are one of them, well done". He turned and went on to see many more finishers. I stood and waited in the pouring rain, and gale force winds wanting now more than ever those arms around me. Eventually I was so cold and wet again that I decided to head for the charity tent, hoping that Mark would eventually meet me there. As I rounded the corner of the tents luckily the Sue Ryder tent was in front of me, as the curtain opened on the tent, who is sat having coffee and biscuits ? In the blink of an eye I am really cross, I have run 13.1 miles walked what felt like the same, got very wet twice, seriously cold and very hungry. But almost immediately I am overcome with sheer happiness that we are re-united, I am handed my coffee and begin to thaw out.
We walk to the car which is on the sea front, the skies are now blue with lovely warm sunshine, I change for a 3rd time into my final set of dry clothes. I also spy conveniently positioned close by a 'buttie van' this will be my next port of call. Many have entered the pub behind us for a refreshing beer or three, but my only focus is coffee and hot food. Before we eat Mark takes a photo of me with my medal and t-shirt, at this point Mark and me have our first hug, I breakdown for the umpteenth time. Mark understands so I can let go completely, everything I had trained for, it was finished, so was that to be the end of my grieving, my complete and utter sadness ? As I composed myself and apologised to Mark...again, the sun was burning my back I felt the heat and it warmed me and I knew I still wasn't alone.
Sausage,chips and curry sauce is my food of choice, I suppose I really ought to be heading for the sensible option of the noodle van further down the village, but I feel I can let go at this moment. Fully loaded up with our supplies we sit watching the sea in the comfort of the car. A few more tears follow as I receive messages from friends and family. As the traffic subsides we move from our cosy little spot overlooking the sea, it is a feeling I will always hold dear. We leave South Shields, going on roads that only a couple of hours ago I was running in the opposite direction, there are no clues to see that we were even there.
We are heading home after an amazing weekend, full of many laughs, many tears, good company, with my best friend right beside me.
The support from my family and friends has been amazing, putting up with my picky food ways, and no alcohol nights out. Supporting early mornings and early nights, bad moods caused through bad weather and injuries/illness. To the support network at Wheatfields who have been a constant through this journey. To you all I cannot say a big enough thank you that covers how grateful to you all I am. The sponsorship was down to you, I did the thing I love to do. I will run the Great North Run in 2014 for Sue Ryder Wheatfields with the same determination that I did this one, with my Sister right behind me pushing me up the last mile.
This blog is dedicated in loving memory of Anne Eileen Fawcett, Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Partner and Friend. I love and miss you more everyday, but I know you never left me. xx
5/5/55 - 13/10/12
