Great North Run 2025

September 19, 2025September 20, 2025 notbuilttorungreatnorthrun, halfmarathon, Running1 Comment

“You couldn’t run an egg and spoon race Eric.”

Jack Carter, Get Carter

Is it that time of year already?

Who doesn’t love the Great North Run eh?

Well, lot’s of people actually. I’ve mentioned before in my previous reviews that it’s a proper Marmite of a race. Some people love it, some people hate it with a passion.

I’ve also talked in past posts about my relationship with it. I fall in and out of love with it. Like a girlfriend who one minute tells you you’re the one, and the next minute has left you for their Strictly dance partner. Or was that a dream I once had.

At this point in our relationship, we’re currently loved up. I’ve enjoyed the previous two years, I’m running well at the moment, and getting my sub 1:45 in July means there is no pressure to run this fast.

I think part of the problem in the past is that I used to take this race far too seriously. Nowadays I approach it far differently. I always do this for a local charity rather than in Club colours, and that is my main motivation.

Having said that, I do have a Race Plan. This is the fifteenth time I’ve run the GNR, and I’m yet to sub 1:50 it. In July, I posted a 1:44 Half. I’m therefore fairly confident I can finally duck under 1:50 – whilst still having ‘fun.’

Wanker Weather Watch Moment (I need a sponsor for this) – it looks like it’s going to be warm and windy. Warm as in 21 degrees, windy as in a slight noticeable head wind at points.

So to the day. I’m up early, get the usual runner wankers breakfast into me (Porridge, Toast, and a Banana) before being picked up by my Mother in law, who is as the tradition now, going to dump me somewhere near the start.

Not before my wife makes me pose for a photo. Ffs.

That hostage photo aside, the day starts well. I manage to get dropped off quite near the Town Moor with no problems at all. It’s the next part I’m interested in – getting from Exhibition Park onto the Town Moor.

The last two times they’ve tried this at the start, they’ve royally fucked it up. Just go back and read my 2024 rant about it. This year though…they’ve listened. They’ve opened the gates. It’s a non-Christmas miracle.

I’m a fair man, so here goes…

Well done GNR organisers. Well done for listening to feedback. Well done for opening those gates. I apologise for calling you dip shit crayon eaters.

As a result, the atmosphere in the holding area is much better. In fact, it’s the most chilled I’ve ever known it. There are only Orange Wave runners in here at the moment – we’re the first four pens of the race – there’s loads of room and loads of toilets. Bliss.

I pop my baggage on a bus and…well…I’m sorted. Far earlier than usual. So I sit on the grass and relax for a bit. The sun is out and it’s a nice rather than too hot kind of warmth.

After a bit, I head for the Pen. This is also much better this year. They’ve made the gate onto the Central Motorway wider and it’s another minor but simple change that makes a huge difference.

In a weird bit of deja vu, I see my mate as I pass one of the front pens and chat to him through the fence. Exactly the same spot and time as last year. Spooky. We wish each other luck, and I get into my Pen.

Last year, Heart FM did the pre-run ‘atmosphere’ stuff and it was truly awful. This year, another big improvement. They only have one of the annoying DJs on duty, and he’s far less irritating on his own. Plus, he’s not on often.

Instead, they blast lots of 90s Dance, which I hugely approve of, and just go to him for short interviews with local ‘celebrities.’ Unfortunately, one of those ‘celebs’ is a guy I’ve had the misfortune to encounter in a race before.

I’m probably going to sound like a right miserable bastard here, but I can’t stand run influencers. Or runfluencers. Or bellends. Or whatever you call them. Basically, anyone running with a fucking selfie stick shouting into it. The sooner races start barring these things the better.

It wouldn’t be the GNR without at least one rant. So there you go.

Mass warm up done, gun fired, and we do the usual walk and stop to the start. I feel like this year we move towards the start a lot more, but it takes us longer to get there. Which makes no sense at all, I know.

It takes 32 minutes to get over the Start Line. And I’m classed as being at the front. See why some people hate this race? As is the tradition, I always try to high five the celebrity starter.

Being a long time Newcastle United season ticket holder, I’m blessed with having the choice of two players this year. Having already touched the magnificent Eddie Howe a couple of years back, this year I smash a huge high five on our keeper Nick Pope.

I understand that those of you who don’t know/like football are a bit lost right now, but it was a big deal for me.

Anyway, we’re off! As always, stick right and go over the Central Motorway. Some bloke was trying to persuade first timers in my pen to go left and under. Don’t listen to these people. They’re wrong. Right and over, every time. The Elite always go right, and they do this stuff full time, so who do you believe?

Mile 1 is an 8:05 anyway. Lovely, that’s what I want. Sub 8:10 miles and I’ll be happy as a pig in shit. Just before the Tyne Bridge I see my family and veer off to high five them. Not as exciting as slapping Nick Pope, but always grateful for their support.

Taking of support, because the weather is nice this year, it feels like there are shit loads of people out. For those of us who love this race, that’s what it’s all about.

Mile 2 sees me post an 8:08, whilst I hit the 3 mile mark at Gateshead Stadium with an 8:02. Beautiful. This is going well, despite the fact I don’t honestly feel like I’m 100% with it today. I think I was in the Pen too long and, as a result, don’t feel like I’ve really got going.

Miles 4 and 5 are always a bit of a slog anyway. This is the part of the course you climb a fair bit, despite lots of people claiming this is flat. It absolutely isn’t flat. Bet that left hand side choosing prick in the Pen reckons it’s flat.

I do an 8:10 and an 8:07 for Miles 4 and 5. Then, I suddenly wake up. The energy levels lift, the grogginess or whatever it was disappears. As such, my Mile 6 is a 7:56. I’m enjoying this now.

See, look, I’m loving it.

I take my only gel at 6.5 miles and instantly feel the benefits. It could be science, it could be the placebo effect, but it does its job.

After an 8 minute flat Mile 7 and an 8:04 Mile 8, the next tester arrives just after this point – the John Reid Road. I’ve spoken about this part of the course many times before, but it’s always my bench mark to whether the last 5 miles of this race are going to be sunshine and lollipops or a world of pain.

You take a hard right on the roundabout, then it’s climb time. It’s a steady but what feels like long climb here. I reckon it’s only about 0.4 of a mile, but it can feel like forever.

I attack it, as I did last year, and get up it no bother, despite there being a stinker of a head wind. I also see this as a real morale booster as well. Get over this swine, you can get round the rest of it no bother. At least, that’s what you need to tell yourself.

Mile 9, with this climb, is still a rather healthy 8:05, and I hit the golden 10 mile mark with an 8:06. It’s at this point the sponsors take your photo and let you have it for free afterwards. Should have run in a better place…

5k left now and one thing is for certain – this is going to be my fastest GNR ever. Barring alien invasions, hurricanes, or any other unforeseen interruptions.

An 8:09 Mile 11 – then a very surprising 8:02 on the notorious climb at Mile 12 – it’s time to drop onto the coast and enjoy the run along the sea front to the finish.

As soon as I plonk onto this part of the course, I can feel a decent tail wind. That’s what we like. I feel great on this last mile, and have the energy to put my foot down.

It’s a very enjoyable end to the race, the crowds are huge and noisy. This factor, plus that lovely tail wind, means I unsurprisingly post my quickest mile of the day – a 7:53.

I get those Tom Cruise arms going again as I cross the line, coming over in 1:46:20. Sub 1:50 mission accomplished. Not only my quickest GNR of all time, but also my second fastest Half Marathon ever. Canny.

I’ve never been at the end this early before, and it’s like a whole different experience. I get my medal and swag bag quickly, get out to pick up my bag from the bus even quicker, and I’m at the Charity village before I know it.

The amazing St Oswald’s volunteers at the Charity Tent give me some fantastic home made sweet and savoury, which I demolish. I’m offered a massage, but I know this will only make me more stiff. Or send me to sleep.

They do insist I have my usual finishers photo taken. I always think I look a bit shit in these. I need a new ‘I’m finished but I’m trying not to look fucked’ pose.

The Red Arrows shoot over as I head off for the Ferry. I pass the Metro queue and notice, well, there isn’t a Metro queue at all. I really am much earlier than usual.

Even more proof of this is seen when I get to the Ferry. Again, no queue, I get straight on it, and I’m on the ‘proper’ North side within minutes.

Loads of time for a Pint before I go home then! Don’t mind if I do. I pop into the Low Lights Tavern and meet up with a couple of other club members for a well deserved and refreshing Guinness.

And there you go. Another Great North Run successfully completed – my best and fastest. Can’t sniff at that.

That’s not the end of the racing this year however. I’ve still got three Grand Prix races, the North Tyneside 10k, the Coxhoe 10k Trail Run (whoops) and the fantastic Brampton to Carlisle 10 miler all before the end of December.

And, breaking news – I’ve signed up for another Marathon in 2026. More on that one in the New Years special.

Phew.

Newcastle Half Marathon

July 15, 2025 notbuilttorunhalfmarathon, Running2 Comments

“Why does this keep happening to us?”

Holly Gennaro, Die Hard 2

Running 13.1 miles, with the sole aim of hitting a PB, bang in the middle of Summer, during a heatwave. Welcome to the Newcastle Half Marathon, next race on the Notbuilttorun 2025 Grand Tour of stupidity.

To be fair, when you sign up to any race between May and September in the UK, you’re asking for trouble. Our weather here is both predictable and unpredictable. It’s pretty boring and mundane mostly, but occasionally it does something where, we as a nation, let out a collective ‘holy shit.’

This weekends ‘holy shit’ comes in the form of another mini heatwave. Thankfully, this is the North East of England, so you can always minus off 5 degrees from the rest of the country.

But we’ll come back to the weather later.

So, the Newcastle Half. I’ve done this one before, last year, its debut year. It’s not very exciting if I’m honest. A long out and back along some ordinary looking country roads. It’s in the Newcastle Post Code, but doesn’t pass any points of interest. Apart from the Airport Runway. If that kind of thing floats your boat.

However, I’m not criticising or being a dick about it. It was really well organised and, as unexciting as the course was, I knew that it was perfect for a PB attempt.

Last year, I didn’t even entertain a PB. I entered solely as a favour to someone to help pace them to a 2:10 PB (mission accomplished). This year, I had the freedom to attack it, if I fancied it.

I do have the Great North Run in September. But it’s the biggest Half Marathon in the world, which also means the most congested Half Marathon in the world. It’s a Fun Run with 50k people in it. It’s like going to Tescos for your food shop three days before Christmas. Chaos.

But far more enjoyable than going to Tescos. Obviously.

No, if I want to use my Marathon fitness to score a PB, then doing this one is a no brainer. Local to me, a straightforward course, and with a field of only 800 runners. Plenty of space to put my foot down.

I said we would come back to the weather, so let’s get it out the way. Leading up to the weekend, they are predicting another heat wave for the UK. Even us peasants in the North East won’t escape. Early forecasts indicate it could be in the low 20s at the 9am start.

That’s not good. Thankfully, the good old North East coast has other ideas. By the Friday, it’s predicting that it will drop to a much more manageable cloudy 17c. Although it will ‘feel like 20c.’

I’ll take it.

True to its word, when I get up on Sunday, it’s noticeable cooler and the sky is a thick blanket of grey cloud. I’m not falling for that one though. The Sun is definitely going to pop its head out, and it’s definitely going to get warmer.

As such, I lather myself in sun cream, have a runners breakfast (the trusted Porridge, Banana and Protein bar combo) and I’m out the door to catch my old friend The Bastard Metro.

Remarkably, as I have to catch two of these to get to the Start, it doesn’t let me down. Miracles can and do happen. I’m at the Start with about 45 minutes to spare.

The Start (which will also be the Finish) is Kingston Park Rugby Stadium. Quick confession, I’ll watch and appreciate any Sport. The only big one I do neither with is Rugby. It’s like Roller Coasters to me. Does nothing. Leaves me dead inside. Each to their own though, it’s probably just me.

Rugby slagging aside, it’s a good venue, and one of the main reasons I think this is a well organised race. Clean and plentiful toilets, loads of room to sit, warm up, or just chill beforehand. If it did rain, we also have cover.

***Kingston Park Stadium. For those who like that sort of thing.***

Baggage dumped, Banana and Gel consumed, and short warm up completed, the Start comes around in no time.

They have a good system for the Start here as well, that I remember from last time. They get Pacers to stand by the side of the Stadium with huge placards showing finishing times, and then ask you to stand in position, before leading everyone out in a procession to the Start. Clever.

It’s not completely perfect though. I stand between the 1:40 and 1:50 placards, next to two fairly loud girls who chat about how they’re hoping to get under 2:10. Which is all very commendable, don’t get me wrong – no criticism here. Except GO AND STAND IN THE SUB 2:10 PEN AS INSTRUCTED THEN. I needed to get that out, I’ve been bottling it up for days.

Time to head back for a weather check. It’s still cloudy – grey cloud – but it’s noticeable got quite humid. Something important to point out at this juncture – I’m not wearing my Club Vest. I know, outrageous. Two reasons for this.

Number one, I wanted to do this one incognito. Despite being a local race, very few of my club colleagues are interested in doing it. I think I saw two club vests. In fact, you see very few of any club vests. This very much feels like a non-club runners run.

Second reason, is the heat. I have a much more lightweight Puma vest that I wear for my summer weekend long runs that is far more airy, loose, and comfortable in the heat. As soon as there was a whiff of a heatwave, I made a decision I was going with it.

With the warmth and mugginess already being felt at 9am, it’s a good decision. The gun goes, and we’re off..

I mentioned at the start that this isn’t the sexiest of courses, and from the start we’re out onto a straight country road. I forgot to mention that there is also a 10k going on – they will all turn back at 3 mile (obviously) – so it’s difficult to gauge paces.

Having said that, the sub 1:50 pacer flies past me and moves ahead. Which is really not right, as I’ve started quite quick and am currently doing a sub 1:45 pace. He may just be a bit excited, or forgotten what he’s meant to be doing. Either way, if I was someone after a 1:50, I’d be pissed with him.

After about a mile, I pass him and never see him again. My first mile is a rather tidy 8:06. For reference, to hit my PB, I just need to come in under an 8:20 average pace. With one eye on the heat, my plan was to aim for around 8:10-8:15.

My next two miles are 7:59 and 8:00 respectively. So, I’m kind of fucking this up already. However, that’s because I’m not feeling the heat. At Mile 3 we lose the 10k runners, the field opens up, and I’ve settled into a rhythm.

At Mile 4 we take a sharp right turn, and for the next 2 miles we have a constant and steady climb. That’s reflected in my next times – an 8:05 and an 8:08. Still, nicely below my target time, and I cope with the hill with little problems. In fact, look how much I’m enjoying it.

We take another sharp right at mile 6, but we’re now going downhill for half a mile, before yet another sharp right. This is the halfway stage (good at maths me), so I take a gel.

We’ve now got a couple of miles of steady down hill, which has the opposite effect from the two we climbed, by giving me two 7:53s on mile 7 and 8.

Two quick lefts, and we’re back on the straight road that will take us to where we started. 4 miles left, but there are a couple of quick climbs to contend with in there.

Still, I seem to have really hit my stride now. Miles 9 and 10 are a 7:53 and a 7:54. I’m suddenly now very much aware that, barring any kind of disaster, I’m pretty much guaranteed a PB.

I come into civilianisation at Mile 10, the village of Dinnington, and I feel great. Aware of my time, I’m in good fettle, and the people that come out to cheer start to spur me on.

At 10.5 miles though, I feel the heat for the first time. The Sun has come out and it’s roasting. 2 and a half miles left, but I’m suddenly feeling the effort I’ve put in.

Despite this, I push on. Mile 11 turns out to be my fastest of the day – a 7:50. Mile 12, despite now feeling the heat, is a 7:55. I haven’t gone over an 8 minute mile since mile 6. At around the mile 12 mark, there is another official photographer, so I pretend to look like I’m pissing it.

We’re back in Kingston Park now, and it’s just a bit of road then into the Stadium for the finish. Mile 13 is a 7:52. More interestingly though, I clock that I’ve just hit 1:43:56. Hold the phone. I suddenly realise that sub 1:45, which I had no expectations of doing, is on.

So I put on the jets and see what I’ve got left. Surprisingly, quite a bit. I sprint finish, passing two other runners, and stop my watch on 1:44:50. Boom motherfuckers.

Well, what a turn up for the books that is. I came for a sub 1:50, I left with a sub 1:45. Whilst the weather behaved itself to a certain extent, and we didn’t get the heat a lot of the rest of the country was experiencing, it was still warm. And I’m usually shit when it’s warm.

Not today though.

I do feel knackered when I’m finished. I sit in the shade to take on fluids and eat some snacks. I then head straight off for the Metro and don’t have to wait long for either, meaning I’m back in the house before midday. Everything is coming up Milhouse.

That’s it. Every distance, from 5k to Marathon, I have set a PB in this year. I still have more races planned to see out the year, but I’m done with PB slaying. It’s fun running from now on.

Next up, I’m off on Holiday to the South of France, and my running gear will be coming with me. You wouldn’t expect anything less.

Sunderland City Half Marathon 2022: The Sequel

May 20, 2022 notbuilttorunhalfmarathon, Running, RunningBlog1 Comment

“You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious”
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: A New Hope

Before we start, a disclaimer. I ran and wrote a review of this race back in the heavy days 2019, when masks were worn only by Surgeons and people rang into work sick with the throwaway expression of ‘the Flu’, when it was literally either a cold or a hangover. In it, I explained the rivalry between my city and this one and I would therefore be littering the post with lots of derogatory comments. All with my tongue firmly in cheek. In short: Bantz! Nothing has changed. This review of my revisit to the home of the serial Play Off Bottlers (Bantz!) will be no different.

Way back in the parallel universe of 2019, I ran this in a very pleasing 1:54:19. Anything sub-2 hours is a win for me. Sub 1:55 and I’m ecstatic. It was a pretty warm day as well and I’m not great in the heat. Or the wind. Or snow to be honest. I like calm and cloudy. Anyway, I liked this run a lot and signed up straight away for the next one. So, I was therefore originally down to run this in 2020.

I’m not sure if you remember 2020, it’s the year we all stayed indoors and everything got cancelled. My place was deferred to the 2021 event instead. No bother. Then, a few weeks beforehand, they announced the plans for the run – part of which would be that there would be no baggage area. Which was a massive pain in the arse, as I was travelling on public transport on my own from the proper City with a Cathedral (Bantz!) 10 miles up the road. When I enquired about a deferral or a refund, they said too late. So, I couldn’t run it and I was a bit annoyed with them to be honest. They blamed the City Council for it (probably true tbh) so I was out of pocket and not taking part.

However, seeing as I’m not an arsehole who holds grudges and Event organisers have had a hideous 2 years, I forgave them for keeping my 30 odd quid and signed up again for 2022. Sunday May the 8th 2022, to be exact.

Firstly, the logistics. In my review of the 2019 version of this run, I bared my soul and gave myself some free therapy by letting rip on the Tyne & Wear Metro (or the ’Fucking Metro’ as I call it). Despite my misgivings, it delivered on the day and got me to and from the Run with no issues whatsoever. An absolute fucking dream it was. But it was to have it’s revenge in 2022, it wasn’t going to be bastard on at all.

So, after some tough and thorough research (Google Maps and a bottle of Peroni) I found what looked like a pretty sound place to park on an Industrial estate about 15 minutes walk from the Start/Finish. So far, so good.

Then I get up on the morning of the run and…it’s sunny and warm. Not pissed up in Benidorm warm, but warm enough to make 13.1 miles more of a ball ache than it should be. I’ve mentioned in the past I’m not great in heat. It’s my North Sea genetics. My body isn’t happy unless it’s being smashed in the face with icy winds and sleet big enough to blind you. Not a great start.

I do however get parked no problem. I tool up with weapons to fend off the locals (Bantz!) and walk to the Start. On the way, I pass this place..

I make sure I tip toe around the Perimeter whilst crossing my fingers and spraying Holy Water (Bantz!). Actually, to be nice, it’s great to see that the 3rd Division of English Football has such nice Stadiums. I’m sure the Morecambe fans have plenty of leg room (Bantz!).

Where were we? Ah yes, Half Marathon. At the start it’s exactly the same drill as the last time. DJs talking shite, random stalls, a stack of portaloos, and the oh so predictable tribal groupings of Running Clubs. Bluh. I drop my baggage off (at the Peacock Pub again, interesting) and decided to stand in the shade for the 20 mins or so until we get going. The 10k is off first at 10am, and we’re due to start at 10:25am. And it’s def going to be a warm one. Bollocks.

I get into the Pen about 20 past and it certainly feels far more crowded than the last time I did this. If you’re one of these people still worried about COVID, then events like this really are going to test how much risk you’re going to take. Me, I’ve been pissing off to the match with 52,000 people every other week for the last year so I’m past caring. However, if you’re still a bit twitchy, this would send it into overdrive.

We eventually get going. I say eventually, it feels like we go off late (Strava would later confirm that we went off 4 minutes late) but as soon as we’re out it opens up with plenty of room. This is what I liked about the run the last time, there are only about 900 taking part. That’s about 60k less than the GNR so, you know, tonnes of space.

They’ve changed the route slightly, but as you can see from my Strava below, the first 9 miles are as random as before.

There are a couple of out and backs, which I personally hate. There is nothing more demoralising than knowing you’re going to just turn around and come back the same way at some point, especially when long before that turn Speedy McSpeedfuck from Gateshead Harriers goes hurtling past you at least a couple of miles ahead.

There are a couple of very noticeable changes though. We go through a nice park, bit of scenery we didn’t get at all on the first part of the run last time. Here is me in that Park bossing it like a bastard:

There also seems to be far more climbs than the last time. I’d remembered a couple of them, but there is definitely more. The heat makes you feel them all. Still, I’ve kept my pace fairly conservative and I’m doing ok. Feeling the heat, but not suffering especially. Sub 2 hours easily on.

After 9 miles of that, we’re out of the mean streets, over the Lego Bridge (Bantz!) and onto the last 4 miles of the pretty bit. The Riverside, Beach, the Native American Burial Ground of Roker Park (Bantz!) then back over the Duplo Bridge (Bantz!) again.

And this is where it starts to unravel.

You wouldn’t think it as we hit 10 miles on the Riverside. Look at me, two thumbs up, grinning like a simpleton, not a care in the world.

I get onto the Sea Front and suddenly I feel like the heat has got to me. For the first time in a long time I feel my energy levels on a run just drop, and I’m no longer comfortable. It’s going to be a slog. And it was.

I climb into the Park I cannot name (Bantz!) and it really is hitting me now. I keep going, but I really am slowing down now. The only good news is, it feels like everyone else is struggling as well. I’m a middle of the packer currently in with other middle of the packers and we’re all feeling it. I really, really struggle on the long road back along the top of the Sea Front to the Bridge. It’s awful. Probably the worst I’ve ever felt finishing a Half. It’s come from nowhere as well, and I can only really put it down to the heat. Or possibly the fat.

Still, I activate the jets for the crowds at the Finish and come home in 1:57:42, finishing a nice middle of the packer 438th. To empahsise just how appalling my last few miles were, my last 2 mile was all over 9 min mile pace. That’s well below par for me. Last time I ran this I did it 3 and half minutes quicker. I was on for that again, until it all fell apart. Remember kids, you have to run all 13.1 miles.

So, we’ll put this one down as a ’Meh’ I think, by my standards. I struggled in the heat and fell away poorly in the last 5k, but it was still a sub 2 hour Half and yet again a well organised and enjoyable run. If it had been 10 miles.

Well done Sunderland again though. I write this the day before they’re due at Wembley in the Play Off Finals. I do wish them a sincere good luck and hopefully I’ll return next year and pass a 2nd Division Stadium. BANTZ!

Back to the drawing board, it’ll soon be GNR time…

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Sunderland City Half Marathon 2022: The Sequel