I’m not doing it for fun

Tomorrow is the big day. 55,000 of us will be running the 13 miles of the Great North Run. I have to admit that I am not feeling great about this at the moment.

I got my pack through about a month ago and having opened it and seen what it was my immediate reaction was to go ‘I’ll just look at that later…’ and then put it in a pending pile. I don’t actually have a pending pile. It’s just a pile where I put things that I just hope will go away.

Turns out it didn’t go away. I was finally forced to read it last night. Turns out it includes things that you should do from a month prior in the run up to the event. None of these were to drink wine or eat cake otherwise I would have been onto a winner.

To be fair, I have actually been training – I’ve got up to about 11.5 miles, so I may actually manage to finish, but it has become incredibly obvious that this is a serious race for serious runners – the pack had a number in it and everything. It also had an invitation to a Pasta Party taking place today. My initial thoughts were that this was an opportunity to go to a party dressed as spaghetti, but actually its about eating pasta and ‘carb loading’ whatever that means. Like I said – it’s all a bit serious. You need to put medical info on the back of your number. There is a sweeper bus and if you fall behind it you are out of the race. Drop out points are from 8.5 miles onwards for those who can’t continue. You have to put a microchip on your shoes. I’m not starting from the back of the pack, but in the middle-ish – how the heck did that happen?

Among others I know who are doing it there is much talk of motivational playlists. I’m a bit worried about this one as well as I had anticipated getting through on the podcasts I’m currently listening too – The Knitmore Girls, The H2O Show and The Knit Wits. There’s nothing like hearing about how someone’s jumpers going to cheer you up. But now I’m thinking I should be lining up something more motivational as everyone has told me this won’t be enough – maybe I should see if I can find a really hardcore podcast – one where they bring up the sheep, spin its wool, knit a jumper and then wear it in a really reckless way. Like near a fire or something. Or maybe wash it with no reference to the washing instructions.

When it comes to what to wear, we are of course at the mercy of the flighty North East weather – but at least I have some proper kit now – who knew trainers wore out? And the RNLI have helpfully provided a ‘subtle’ bright yellow top.

I can’t lie – I am terrified and feed a bit sick every time I think about it.

And I still hate running.

6 comments

Good luck! Just remember – no negative thoughts and find a song you can sing out loud when the going gets tough! My mantra ‘I hate running, I hate running’ is not a good one to copy.

Of course you’re not doing it for fun. You are doing it because you like pain. The same reason that people sail Lasers.

I find that singing “Wheels on the Bus” at the top of your voice for all 13 miles helps to cope with the pain. As well as making all the runners around you think that you are totally insane.