First of all, I don't do runs on a regular basis, but I am into fitness, and did train for the Great North Run. Yesterday, I wish I had done a bit more! After 11 miles, I just wanted the race to end. I couldn't care less about my time, I just wanted it to finish. I have taken part in a number of races, but yesterday was the worst for conditions. There are a couple of points regarding the race, and the tragic deaths of 4 runners. 1) Runners had to be at the start by 9.30 as the baggage buses taking the bags to South Shields left at 9.35. That meant we had to wait over an hour for the race to start. Many runners were there well before that time. This meant the muscles were tightening up in the cold, because at that time it was very cold. The organised warm-up was a joke. How can you move around when you are cramped together like sardines? The race started at 10.40. Because of the number of runners, I actually passed under the start gate at 11.10. 2) The temperature fluctuated wildly. It was very cold at the beginning, but when the sun broke through, temperatures shot up. It caught everyone by surprise. 3) It was obvious that some of the runners were going to struggle from the start. I passed people walking before we hit the Tyne bridge, and runners suffering well before the mile marker. Although this race is presented as a big fun event [which make no mistake, it usually is], it is still a 13 mile run, not a 10 minute jog. You cannot just enter a race of this type without adequate preparation, especially if you have done no exercise for a while. And this refers to young people as well as us older ones. I saw at least half a dozen people collapsed on the road side being attended to by the St John's Ambulance, and Red Cross, and they were of all ages. Even walking 13 miles in the temperatures yesterday would have been taxing. 4) Too many runners? Possibly. The Great North Run is a fantastic event. The camaraderie of the runners and the friendliness of the Geordie spectators has to be experienced to be believed. On a good day, it is a pleasure to run. Yesterday, it was a nightmare. But I must have run an extra mile trying to get round the competitors who had to walk. In a normal race, the field thins out, and you may see 10 to 20 people in front of you. I remember looking up at one point about 7 miles in, and it was just a sea of people on the dual-carriageway for about a mile ahead. 50,000+ people took part. Was it too many? I was driving back when I heard about the deaths. It is sobering to think that someone I saw suffering on the side of the road, or someone I may have been talking to before the race, did not survive. That's not what events like this are about.
According to the Northumbrian police, deaths occur every year http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4259174.stm A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "I can confirm four male participants in the race have died, which is more than the usual one or two - but every year more people are taking part."
RE: According to the Northumbrian police, deaths occur every year According to the Northumbria Ambulance, on average, they expect one death every 2 years. That was on Radio 5 this morning.
I took part in the race too and agree with you on some points. However, the time taken to cross the start line is normal for this event as is the time taken before the race for logistics (having taken part in previous years). I too struggled with people ahead who had started walking before they had reached one mile (despite setting off from the 8 minute mile marker). The weather was tough this year as well. The paramedics, ambulance staff and volunteers deserve a lot of thanks as I'm sure many more people would have suffered without them. It is safer to take part in this race rather than go for a run by yourself on a weekend because of the medical arrangements in place. I would not assume that people died because of lack of fitness or training - although this may have been the case - as perfectly healthy people who have trained have died during the Great North Run in previous years. These events cannot totally be planned for.
Agree with you on a lot of those points, especially about the paramedics, first aiders and event staff. They did a fantastic job and they had to work in the hot conditions as well. We will have to wait for the inquests to find out the reasons for the deaths. But I believe that some of those who took part didn't train properly, and were caught out by the hot weather. I trained for it, and suffered in the last couple of miles. And you are right about it being safer to run in an organised event than alone. It is always better to train with a partner, or better still, to join a running club. Glad to see you made it round okay.
You too. It was a great day and a lot of money was raised for charity. Personally I'm not sure they will publicise the inquest verdicts but as there were four deaths they may comment on it. The atmosphere at the event was fantastic as always and made it easier to keep going (even though my legs didn't want to). Just one question, did you get any of the water which was supposed to have been distributed at the start? Didn't see any so didn't get anything to drink 'til 4.25 miles.
The water was right at the top end of the dual carriageway, near the Baggage buses. It was on the opposite side of the carriageway to them on an artic trailer. You weren't alone in wondering where it was. I was walking to the start with a bottle, and a number of people were asking where it was. If you put your bags on the higher numbered buses, you wouldn't have seen it. I raised about £150 for the Barnsley Special Care Baby Unit. My grandson was in there after being born 9 weeks premature, so I thought I'd try and get something for them.
I live in Newcastle so didn't need baggage buses. Family met me at finish with my stuff. Managed to raise money for Traidcraft, not sure how much yet but definitely over £100. Ran with Will from Chris Moyles' Show for a while although my sister who wasn't running got to meet Dermot O'Leary and Chris Eccleston - so she enjoyed it.
Well done on the fund raising. There were t-shirts for charities I'd never heard of yesterday. I hope your sister managed to get autographs from the celebs. Chris Eccleston is one of my favourite actors on TV. Pity he had to finish as Doctor Who after one series.
Without Barnsley Special Care Baby Unit my sister wouldn't be here. Some of the charities were a bit obscure - like the people in Asda t-shirts! Asda supports cancer research apparently, what's wrong with the other Cancer Research Charities which aren't supermarket related? Chris Eccleston is a great actor and a really fast runner. Mum said there was no-one around him when he finished, he was just shouting "come on" to the crowd!
I think the Asda T shirts people work for Asda. Its advertising for the company, as well as the charity. The SCBU really does a good job. My daughter is now on about trying the London Marathon to get some funds for it, so I suppose "Dad" might have to give it a go as well. I don't think I could have shouted anything at the end! I was all on putting one foot in front of the other. I found that last couple of miles really hard. Respect to Mr Eccleston for having the wind-power to shout!
Will definitely do it again (or a similar event). I opted for the sprint finish but had walked a lot of it. I found it more difficult at the beginning - about 5 or 6 miles uphill. I felt better in the last two miles becuase I knew it was nearly over. 800-400 metres seemed to last forever though.
The thing about the course is it all seems uphill! I don't know if Newcastle is below sea level, but as you run the course, for every dip there seems to be 2 or 3 hills. Silly I know, but that is the feeling you get. And that gradient just before you see the sea at South Shields is a killer. It just seems to go on forever. Are you in a running club? They can give you advice, and entry to races is cheaper.
I heard that the half marathon record set yesterday will not stand because the finish line is so much lower than the start! If that's right how come we seemed to run uphill for 13.1 miles? Not in a running club I'm afraid. Nearest ones meet on Tuesday evening when I'm at work. Did consider it after a run I did earlier this year and am inspired to look around again - once my toe returns to its normal colour.
