The Great North Run – Read all about it !!

 

 

 

 

If there was a theme tune to the Great North Run 2024 it would have to be a song by Wet Wet Wet!

To be part of the biggest half marathon in the world (60 thousand runners) was pretty special.  Spirits weren’t dampened but everything else was!  The race started on a motorway which runs through central Newcastle and ran down to the sea in South Sheilds.  The word ‘down’ is a little misleading though as there was a lot of ‘up’ as well as down! 

 

The race was started by a local boy Kieran Reilly, Olympic silver medallist.   He was showing off his medal and high fiving us on as we ran past him. The race showed off Newcastle and the friendliness of the North East really well. 

 

Seven Traccies ran. Alex Dugard, Robbie Day, Chris Pascoe, Jo Holl, Jon Holl, Ade Neaves and Martin Broadbent.

 

Its difficult to tell you who we’re most proud of…

 

Alex Dugard with his 1.15 half marathon PB, taking 24 minutes off his previous personal best must be first!  The course was far from ideal, with water running across roads, deep puddles and congestion at a number of pinch points.  However, Alex showed us he’s a cracking athlete!

Alex said; “I never thought I would be able to run a time like that.  When I started running properly, two years ago I did a half marathon time trial and despite pushing it, I only managed 1.39. I was delighted with that at the time.  I guess it shows you should never set limits for yourself. If you stay dedicated, have the desire and the circumstances, there are no limits to what you can achieve.”

 

 

 

 

Robbie Day started running with us in January this year as a Couch to 5K runner.  He’d never run before and wanted to do something different to the gym.  To go from walking and jogging for 60 seconds in January to running the biggest half marathon in the world 9 months later in 1hr 38 minutes really is impressive. Robbie said “It was amazing.  I felt like I was flying as I ran the course, with all the encouragement from the locals.  TRAC has given me huge encouragement and the confidence to believe in myself.  I’m grateful to Chris Pascoe for pacing and encouraging me.  He helped me achieve something I thought I could never do. So many kids high fiving us as we ran.  I loved it!”

It shows what you can achieve when you put your mind to is and listen to advice from those around you.  Well done Robbie!

 

Jo Holl had always wanted to run the GNR and this was her year.  She smashed her previous half marathon PB, taking 2.5 minutes off her previous PB, finishing in 1.35.38, 4th in her late 50s age group, out of 60 thousand runners!  Success doesn’t just happen.  Jo has been training hard and is coached by Andy Stevens.    

 

 

 

Chris Pascoe has put in better run times!  On this occasion he put a fellow Traccie first, supporting and encouraging Robbie in his journey to a fantastic new PB.  Chris says he doesn’t do cold and rain and didn’t enjoy the hour in starting pens before the race started.  He even started looking around at the discarded clothes from runners who had already started and found himself sizing up a Primark jacket, which he rather fancied!  You have to be desperate to admire discarded clothes on the ground!  He says the northern warmth was what he will take away from the race. 

 

 

Ade Neaves and Jon Holl ran together and described the race as ‘running tourism’, all be it in the pouring rain!  Ade ran for Blood Cancer UK and hoped to raise £300.  Thanks to the generosity of friends and members he raised a whopping £810!  Ade said “I was quite emotional when I finished, because Julie’s dad ran it in 2000 and was diagnosed that year with myeloma.  He was a lovely guy, and I thought of him as I finished.”

 

 

Martin Broadbent is a GNR veteran.  We didn’t catch up with him but congratulate him on his run. 

Julie Neaves and Tess (the dog) led Team Trac support team and has been inspired to enter next year.  Eight Traccies have entered already!  Entries are open NOW.  Go on… you don’t pay unless you are successful in the ballot!

 

 

Alex Dugard – 1.15.15 – 146th place overall and 78th place in class.

Jo Holl – 1.35.38 – 4th place in class.

Robbie Day – 1.38.31

Chris Pascoe – 1.38.32

Ade Neaves – 1.56.34

Jon Holl – 1.56.34

Martin Broadbent – 2.06.46