Great North Run

Seven members of Grantham Running Club made the journey to Tyneside on Sunday 8th September to take part in the iconic Simplyhealth Great North Run. 

Starting on the edge of Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, 57,000 runners headed down the motorway section, around the eastern side of the city centre, crossing the symbolic Tyne Bridge into Gateshead and on towards South Shields, where they ran the last mile of the race along the seafront road to the finishing line. Runners enjoyed beautiful race conditions and a sizzling atmosphere, despite the absence of the famous Red Arrows fly-by over the Tyne Bridge.

"emotional run" for Stefan

The warm conditions and gradual gradients were reflected in the times of participating athletes with few of the GRC runners achieving personal bests. Running for the charity Clic Sargent in memory of family friend Adam Parker, who sadly lost his battle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphona in 2014, team mates Ian McBain and Stefan Latter enjoyed an emotional run, crossing the line together in a time of 01:40:32. Stefan achieved the only PB of the day, knocking 1 minute and 18 seconds from his previous half marathon time.

Stefan commented; 

“This race was for Adam. It was an emotional run, topped with a PB thanks to my pacing mate Ian. We raised over £750 in total and I’m staggered by the generosity shown by those who sponsored me.”

After a difficult race and a year plagued by a persistent Achilles injury, Holly Durham returned to her favourite race of the season as first GRC member home in a time 01:37:52. In his debut half marathon for GRC, newcomer Aaron Smith showed potential for a future sub 1:50 half, finishing in a time of 01:52:52, followed over the line just under two minutes later by Christopher Moore in a time of 01:54:45. Christopher was delighted to have finished the race after having time off running to concentrate on other things. A jubilant Stuart Baty crossed the line in a time of 02:04:05 running for Versus Arthritis, and was later followed by John Nevard in 02:07:07. Runners enjoyed a well-deserved celebratory drink in the pub afterwards, joined by their support crew.

Sir Mo Farah won the men's elite race for a record sixth time straight in 59:06, while Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei ran the fastest ever half marathon by a female to win the women’s race in 1:04:28, although the course isn’t recognised for official world record purposes as the point to point course sees the overall decrease in elevation exceed the permissible allowance of one meter per kilometre.