Saturday 18th September

So here goes, a write up for the first day of the Great North Run weekend. Loads to write, but will try to keep it as short as I can. Enjoy..

So, long journeys aren’t exactly fun, but they’re especially not fun when they involve leaving at 5AM.. but it’s all good when it’s for a great weekend of running and athletics. After a few motorway stops, arrived in Newcastle just before 11, and after crossing from the Newcastle to Gateshead side, was ready for an afternoon of athletics at the Great City Games and getting ready at the Great North Run expo.

 The Great City Games were great, got to meet a whole host of athletics from Teams GB and USA, including Andy Turner (left), so ran in the 110m hurdles against Will Sharman, David Oliver and World Champion Jason Richardson, Bernard Lagat (right), who ran in the 1 Mile race against Brits Luke Gunn and Andrew Osagie. Other competitors included new World Champion Carmelita Jeter (who won the 100m), Mo Farah (who won the 2 Mile race) and Hannah England (who won the 1 Mile Race).

It was also nice to be able to thank the athletes and BBC commentators that had RTed this blog on twitter in person (including Phil Jones, who said he was more than happy to help). Team USA won overall (7-3), but was great fun to watch a unique street event.

After the athletics got to experience my first running Expo.. have always wondered what it’s like, there was a great atmosphere, especially at the Pasta Party, where every runner got a free bowl of pasta, with live music from White Van Man, led by Tony Audenshaw from Emmerdale (below).

Also in the Expo were some of Team USA (Jeff Porter, Jason Richardson and Dwight Philips), Dwight was kind enough to give me his Team USA training top (similar to what Bernard is wearing in the photo above), which was really kind of him, a pretty unique item!

After the expo/athletics left Gateshead for our hotel, which was much nicer than I had been expecting (Novotel Newcastle Airport if you’re interested). A nice sized room, a free PC in the reception area, a swimming pool (nice for the night before a run!) and polite staff. Headed for dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant (there’s not much variation in Kingston Park), the food was lovely and well priced, would certainly recommend it. Back at the hotel had a small swim to relax, followed by an early night.

A write up for race day (Sunday) will follow soon, keep an eye out!

I successfully finished the Great North Run in a time of 2h18. I had targeted a time of 2h30, so I am very happy and proud. I’ll upload a detailed report of the race weekend, as well as lots of photos later in the week (from the hotel I can’t upload anything like that because it’s a shared PC).

More to follow soon!

I’ve got loads and loads to say, but no time to say it. So here goes – today’s the day! It’s finally here after 9 months of waiting and training. 516 raised so far (this keyboard has no pound sign, ridiculous!), am more than happy running with that. Had a great day yesterday at the expo, will do a full write up tonight or tomorrow, time pending.

If you’d like to sponsor me today, the day I run, visit http://justgiving.com/jamesrunsthegnr or text JGNR99 and the amount to 70070.

Thanks, and wish me luck!!

Less than 48 Hours Until I Run!!

 Well, the Great North Run weekend is finally here. Tomorrow in the early hours I’ll be leaving for Newcastle and for my first (but hopefully not my last) half marathon. I’m feeling good about it, despite the rubbish weather forecast. This may well be my last post before I run, as I don’t think I will have access to WordPress whilst up North.

My fundraising total is still rising, and currently stands at £458, with 4 donations since my last post on here. Yesterday evening I was happy to notice that my fundraising total over the last two years (Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2010 and Leonard Cheshire Disability in 2011) had hit £1000. Something I’m rather proud of.

However, it would be great if I could raise that little bit more before running. If you would like to sponsor me for this great cause, please click here, which will take you straight to my Justgiving page. Alternatively you can text JGNR99 £2 to 70070 to sponsor me £2. Thanks to everyone that has sponsored me so far, it really is appreciated.

Can’t think of any other bits of news, I might get a quick update tonight / very early tomorrow morning, if not, wish me luck for Sunday!!

72 Hours Until The Great North Run

 One step closer to the start line. 48 hours time I’ll be in Newcastle, 72 hours time I’ll hopefully have finished my first ever half marathon. The weather forecast is slightly better than it was yesterday (the BBC now says it’ll be light rain rather than heavy), but hopefully the rain will pass until the race is over.

This morning another £20 was added to my justgiving page, bringing my running total (get it?) to £434. I’m really happy with this, it’s much more than I expected to raise, I’m starting to wonder whether £500 is possible.. it’d be absolutely awesome to be able to raise that much (incidentally, my running total for 2010 and 2011 now stands at £986.50, so I’m only £13.50 away from raising £1000 over 2 years, which would be amazing). If you would like to sponsor me, please visit http://justgiving.com/jamesrunsthegnr, it’s quick, simple and secure. Alternatively you can sponsor me by text. Text JGNR99 £5 to 70070. The money goes straight to Leonard Cheshire Disability, and the actual text is free to send (through JustTextGiving).

I’m also looking forward to watching the Great City Games on the Saturday. Being a big athletics fan, it’ll be good to see the likes of Andy Turner, David Oliver, Bernard Lagat, Mo Farah and Dawn Harper in action. Many of the athletes competing have given me running advice previously on twitter and in person, so will be good to see them compete close up. But of course the run on Sunday is my priority, and what I’m looking forward to most.

Will post a couple more updates before I leave for Newcastle, and if I can get WiFi, will try and post whilst I’m there.

Less than 100 hours until the Great North Run!

 It’s getting closer and closer! I’m getting more and more excited (and nervous at the same time) for the Great North Run on Sunday. It marks the end of my fundraising campaign for Leonard Cheshire Disability during 2011, and I’m really looking forward to going out with a bang!

The weather forecast isn’t great (Heavy Rain Sowers according to the BBC), but that shouldn’t have an effect on the atmosphere! The main point of running is to boost my fundraising total, which is rising each day. Yesterday saw another £10 donated on my justgiving page, and £10 pledged to me. Total now stands at £414, which is fantastic! I’m pleased with how my fundraising has gone so far, but hopefully I can raise a bit more before I run!

If you’d like to sponsor me (any amount is appreciated), please visit http://justgiving.com/jamesrunsthegnr (it’s quick and secure), or text “JGNR99 £5” to 70070 (sending the actual text is free).

Keep an eye out for more updates soon!

It’s Getting Closer!

 The Great North Run is getting closer and closer.. in 4 days time I’ll be on the M1 on my way for a weekend of running, fundraising and athletics. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere of the GNR, something I’ve only ever seen on TV before, but at the same time am rather sad that it is nearly over. Undoubtedly I’ll be applying for a place next year, but my fundraising will be changing direction next year (all to be revealed in due course).

So much planning is going into this weekend, from what I’ll wear, to how I’ll get to the start and back to the hotel, to what to eat.. I’m looking forward to all aspects of it!

Fundraising is going well (I’ve typed this up really early then published it, so the figure might’ve changed), I’ve so far raised £404, which is amazing. I can’t thank people that have sponsored me enough, I really appreciate it. Hopefully I’ll be able to raise a little bit more before race day, so please do sponsor me, even 50p would be great.

To sponsor me please visit http://justgiving.com/jamesrunsthegnr, or text “JGNR99 £2” to 70070. Thank you!

5 days to go!!

that is all

Less Than 1 Week Until The Great North Run!

 Who can believe it? 9 months since I announced my fundraising plans, it’s less than a week until it is all over! Two runs done, am looking forward to the third and final one of 2011!

Fundraising is going well, but I’m sure it is possible to raise a bit more.. currently standing at £404, and with a few people promising to sponsor me, hopefully I can raise to a bit more.

if you’d like to support me and my efforts it would be appreciated! Visit http://justgiving.com/jamesrunsthegnr or text “JGNR99 £2” to 70070 to sponsor me £2. All the money I raise goes straight to Leonard Cheshire Disability, who help disabled people around the UK to live full and independent lives.

Thanks for everyone’s support, from those that have sponsored me, to people that have RTed this blog on twitter, to people that have shared this on Facebook – it’s appreciated. Keep an eye out for more updates in the coming days, and hopefully over the GNR weekend as well!

That is all