The Big Day

Where do I start? Well I guess it has to be the GNR expo (or Health and Fitness Show) because that's where I got to on my last blog and it's where our GNR journey really kicked off. Thursday was set up day and Phoebe and Kay led the troops. I am surprised I am not yet muscle woman after the amount of LS product we lugged.

I always struggle to tell how things are going to look from the plans so it was awesome to see our stand finally come together for real. It looked great - especially the diary room where we captured loads of insights from runners over the following two days. My favourite diary room moments had to be meeting Blind Dave and hearing his phemonenal story and an 86 year old runner who was about to embark on his 21st GNR. His story was like Forrest Gump - he just 'kept on running!'

The Friday was quiet but it allowed us all the time to warm up for a manic Saturday. The day before the race, people started flooding in the moment the show opened and we were swamped with nervous and excited runners after all the support they could get. From pace bands to product, we didn't stop.

John Brewer pulled in the crowds for his pasta party speech where he gave last minute tips and advice to some very receptive runners including Team Lucozade Sport! And by the end of the day we were all absolutely shattered. I couldn't believe I still had the race to run...

After an early(ish) night I woke up on race day feeling pretty good. We headed to the start at about 8:30 which gave us plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and check out the Lucozade Sport Performance Zone. It was absolutely heaving with people picking up products and asking our sports scientists for very last minute advice. I was unusually nervous and I couldn't work out why but I think it was probably down to the fact that I knew my training hadn't been good enough because of my shin splints and the fact that JB and I got to start right up at the front next to the elites which is daunting in itself!


After a couple of the usual toilet stops I made my way to the start and we were underway pretty quickly. I've never been so close to the line when the gun went off and it made me jump. The first part of the race is a gentle downhill and this coupled with the elite start made me run faster than we should have. When I passed the first mile marker at 6mins 30 i knew I was going too fast and slowed down just ahead of my 1.40 pace band.

Things felt ok for the first 3 mile but by mile 4 I started to get into trouble. My legs felt unusually happy and my tummy was NOT happy. Without going into too many gory details I was in a portaloo by mile 6. The 5 min stop meant that I lost my 2 min lead on my pace band and from hereon I never got back to a comfortable place. I felt the body i was running in just wasn't mine. It wouldn't give me anything more. I found myself in the loo again at 11 miles and for the first time I thought i might not make it round. The last two miles were a bit of a blur. i was in a lot of pain and even the view of the sea and the cheering crowds from mile 12 didn't lift me.

I crossed the finish line in 1.45 and struggled to muster a smile. I felt broken (and I must have looked it because one of the paramedics asked if I needed help!)

But once I got over the initial pain (helped by a nice warm meal in hospitality and seeing more smiling faces crossing the line including some of our TLS crew) the colour started to return to my cheeks and I was able to be a bit more philosophical about things. It just wasn't my day and I also didn't deserve to run a PB because i hadn't been able to put in the hours of training required. And it also wasn't just about me. Seeing so many of our runners cross the line for the first time, achieving their individual goals and getting hooked by the running bug was fantastic. Celebratory drinks in the Pitcher and Piano with TLS that night was a great way of reminding myself just how many battles had been fought (and won) out on the streets of Newcastle that day. And I felt inspired even though my race wasn't so good.

Another high from the day had to be when one of the elites crossed the line and put his PB down to our pace bands. Awesome.

So with an aching body (and a bit of a sore head from some PB celebrations the night before) I headed back from Newcastle with Abi, Phoebe, Kay and Harriette. Needlesstosay, I was in bed by 9pm and slept like a baby. I am now relearning how to walk after finding muscles I didn't know I had. Scarily, we have a work 'sports day' this afternoon and last i heard i was down for 400m and the egg and spoon. I don't fancy my chances...