I mentioned in a previous post that the Great North Run was the race that had inspired me to take my running to the next level & that I had hoped one day to take part, so you can imagine my extreme delight when I managed to secure one of 50 'last chance' places offered by BUPA back in July... To say I was 'over the moon' is somewhat of an understatement!
Now we have less than 6 days to go until race day. The excitement is still very much there but for some bizarre reason, nerves are present too... I've never had pre race nerves so what is that all about?
- Is it my first Half Marathon? No
- Have I trained hard enough? Yes
So I have nothing to worry about... Right?
Well, I do have a slight knee niggle but nothing that sports massages and determination on the day won't overcome so why the sudden nerves?
Let's go back to the Great North Run not being my first half marathon... It is in fact only my second so I'm by no means experienced at this distance!
The first was the Lichfield half marathon, a spontaneous decision which meant (maybe foolishly) that it was a race for which I only had 5 weeks to train. It was on familiar 'home turf', which to date all my races have been & I was, at that time, training alone - my aim was simply to finish... To ideally get to at least 10 miles & then take it half a mile at a time - I had nothing to prove to anyone, no previous goals to beat, & no disgrace if I couldn't run the whole way.
As it turned out in the end I did rather well! I didn't slow to a 'fast walk' until 11.75 miles and then I picked it back up at 12.1 miles to run the last mile in - I was over the moon &, as is always the case with me, crossed the line to the mixed emotions of elation, nausea & the overwhelming urge to cry!
Fast forward now to the upcoming Great North Run & I think the reasons for my nerves are becoming apparent - I say 'becoming' as they are actually presenting themselves to me as I type... There's no better way to ponder and conclude than to get words down on paper (or screen as the medium now is!)
The Great North Run as I mentioned earlier is a HUGE event... 54,000 entrants of which approx 40,000 ran last year - that in itself makes for a daunting race. Couple that with the fact that it's televised... Now, I'm not shy in the slightest - point a camera at me & I smile (often to others annoyance) but if I'm captured I hope it's because I'm running well, not hobbling along injured making a show of myself!
The race is also in an area I'm not very familiar with... I've been to Newcastle a couple of times before but don't know the area well by any means & certainly don't have the 'back of my hand' knowledge which has stood me in good stead for all my previous races.
Finally, & probably the biggest point to make here, is the fact that I have been training for months, not just 5 weeks & with a very established club - Birchfield Harriers. 3 times a week every week I have worked hard, been put through my paces & pushed to raise my game, the focus has been on regulating my pace, increasing my stamina & improving my technique.
This time I feel I do have something to prove & having already completed one half marathon means I do now have a previous goal to beat... No wonder the nerves are kicking in!
This years Great North Run will see Mo Farah (world 5000m champion) start the race. He will be joined by the Red Arrows who will also fly over Tyne Bridge in the 'missing man' formation in tribute to their colleague 'Red 4' Flt Lt Jon Egging who was tragically killed last month & then perform their traditional display at the South Shields finish line.
The nerves might well be brewing but I'm kinda guessing (& hoping) that the excitement & atmosphere on the day means they won't get a look in! ;-)
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