Yet again the Great North Run lived up to its reputation of being the greatest half marathon in the world. From the organisation of the event by the ‘Great Run’ team to the great north weather, the day was a complete success in every sense.

The day started for me a little franticly with traffic jams on all routes trying to get close to the start. Even last year the traffic the same time in the morning was nowhere near as bad. I was cutting it a bit fine for time as I had to drop off baggage before the baggage busses left for the finish, so I decided to jump out the car (from my lift) and take a 2 mile jog to the start area.

I made it with plenty of time to get my kit sorted and onto the baggage bus. By this time though, the place was heaving with people. Never mind the estimated 52,000 participants, there must have been in excess of 150,000 people (including runners) milling about the start area. The place was absolutely rammed with people, young, old, tall, short, slim and chubby. They were all there to achieve their own goals.

The portable toilets always pose a problem at mass participation events like these. No matter how many there are there’s never enough. The nearby tree lines and enclosed garden areas seemed to cater for the overspill of people.

Anyway, back to the start line. I took my place in zone B. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to the start line in this event, probably about 50m from the elite zone. The mass warm up was now well under way and there was no chance of leaving and re-entering your designated zone. Fifteen minutes to the gun and I could feel my bladder filling up as I nervously sipped on sports drink and water. Then bang, we’re off. As soon as I started running the fact that I needed to pee seemed to start playing on my mind and before long I was tucked behind some bush on route.

I managed to rejoin the main race but the stop had knocked my 1st mile down to 8:41. I had to work quite hard to get back on my schedule of an average pace of at least 7:30 per mile. After a couple of quicker miles I was through 5k in 22:41. I could now settle down into my running as I was back on track. 5 to 10k seemed to fly past. The warmer weather seemed to bring out thousands of spectators along the route, a welcomed boost when the long drags kicked in.

Through 10k in 46:42, just finished off my Lucozade pouch and feeling comfortable. For me, miles 6 – 9 were a bit of a mental battle. Not due to fatigue, simply because I started to get bored. After I passed the Nike+ music bus things started to pick up. A blast of music for 500m seemed to do the trick and the pace lifted. I was still on schedule for my sub 1hr 40 minute finish as I was still under the magic 7:30 average pace.

Miles 10 – 12 seemed like a gradual drag, not sure on the actual elevation throughout that section of the course but it felt like I was working twice as hard to maintain my schedule. For those who have ran this course before you’ll know how mad mile 11 – 12 is. The locals line the road on both sides handing out all sorts of stuff. There’s every thing from orange segments, apricots, biscuits, juice and even beer?!?! It’s a real carnival atmosphere and seems to lift the runners towards the 12 mile marker.

Just before the 12 mile marker there’s a short steep downhill section which really saps the strength out of the quads. I’m still well ahead of schedule at this point and from past experience the last mile is always the quickest so now I was wondering how much under 1hr 40min I could get. After I tentatively tackled the downhill and turned the corner I could hear my family shouting out my name which gave me a great boost down the final mile.

The last mile still seemed to go on forever though. You can see the finish from the marker but it never seems to get any closer. Once past the 800m marker the pace goes up, not too crazy but enough so that the last 400m can be my best effort. The crowds lining the road on the last mile are just amazing; it feels as if the crowds are cheering just for you.

I turned the final corner and through the finish in 1hr 38min 13 sec. My total running time (minus the toilet stop in mile one) was actually 1hr 37 min 18 secs. I was very happy with the time although if I hadn’t been out of action for 3 months during the summer would I have covered the course any quicker?

Who knows, however next year my wife intends to run the course for the first time so either way I’ll definitely be on the start line!

A big thank you to the Great Run organisers for a truly fantastic event and a great family day out.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

One of my favourite events of the year is nearly upon us again. The 28th edition of the Great North Run gets under way this Sunday morning and if you’re not participating you can watch the event unfold on BBC television, with coverage starting from 09:30.

The Great North Run is the world’s biggest half marathon boasting some 50,000+ entrants. For those of you who have participated in this event before you’ll know what I mean when I say the start area is just manic. With so many people buzzing about the area, whether meeting up with other runners, dropping bags off on the baggage buses, or just trying to get to a toilet, the place goes absolutely crazy with people.

The atmosphere is second to none. For me, this is my 6th time participating since 1998 (albeit sometimes under different names!!) and every year the atmosphere throughout the entire event, from start line to finish seems to get better and better. If it’s not the warm up on the start line from some celebrity fitness person, it’s the bands playing on just about every roundabout of the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields.

It really is an amazing experience, especially when you’re running over the Tyne Bridge and the Red Arrows go flying over head. I always feel that ‘moment of pride’ feeling, you know the one where you think ‘this is what it’s all about’, brilliant!!

I’m starting in Zone B, race number 1826, which is directly behind the ‘elite’ runners, there’s no pressure to perform there then!! The start area goes back a staggering 1Km, from zones A to K. This year Triple Olympic cycling gold medallist from Beijing, Chris Hoy, will be joined by double swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and arguably the greatest distance runner in history, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia. Paralympics heroine, Ellie Simmons, winner of two swimming golds, will also be on hand to set us all off on our way.

There’s also a whole host of other events taking place over the weekend. On Saturday there’s the Mini & Junior Great North Run’s, as well as some elite events over 1 & 3 miles around Newcastle Quayside area, not to mention the massive ‘Fitness Expo’ in the nearby ‘Metro Arena’. The full listings of events can be found here.

My daughter and two nephews are taking part in the kids races on Saturday so it’ll be a fun packed Great North Run weekend all round.

Good luck to the kids and all those taking part in greatest half marathon ever. Hopefully the gods will be kind and grace us with reasonable ‘North East’ running weather.

See you at the start line!!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

Olympic silver medallist Vanessa Fernandes headlines the elite competition at tomorrows ITU Duathlon World Championships in Rimini, Italy. One of the most accomplished athletes in ITU history and known as one of the two greatest runners in triathlon today, Fernandes is perhaps less known as one of the strongest cyclists in the world.

Last year Fernandes won her first elite Duathlon world championship in Gyor, Hungary and will defend her title this weekend in Rimini against a field that includes Duathlon star Catriona Morrison. Her resume includes a silver medal in 2005, gold medal in 2006, last year’s European Duathlon championship and the last two Long Distance Duathlon World Championships. Last year in Gyor she finished a disappointing ninth place but this year will likely challenge Fernandes for the top spot.

On the men’s side, two-time Duathlon world champion Paul Amey of Great Britain defends the world title he won last year in Hungary. Most recently Amey took silver at the ETU Long Distance Triathlon European Championships earlier this month in Gerardmer, France. This weekend he’ll face still competition from Belgium and Portugal to repeat as champion.

Good luck to all those GBR age-group competitors taking part in the event.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

England’s longest natural lake, Windermere, will provide a watery stage for the inaugural Great North Swim, the first mass participation open water swim event of its kind in the UK.

Over 1000 swimmers of all abilities are expected to grace its stunning shores at Low Wood on Saturday 13th September, to take up the challenge of a specially designed one-mile course – wetsuit optional!

The event has already caught the attention of some of the biggest names in swimming, with Great Britain’s Kerry-Anne Payne and the UK’s most decorated male swimmer and eight times World Record Holder, Mark Foster, signing up for their places in the open water swim.

Mark said: “Being a sprint swimmer, it has been a while since I have actually swam a mile, so when I heard about the Great North Swim, I thought it’s about time I gave it a go!

“The real beauty of this event is that I will be hitting the shore line at the same time as people who are taking to the open water for the first time. This is going to make for a fantastic atmosphere and something I am proud to support.”

Inspired by the BUPA Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon, the team behind it have translated the formula to the water. The Great North Swim is designed to suit people of all abilities, from club or competitive participants, to fun and charity swimmers.

The Great North Swim is the latest event to be launched as part of the Great Activity Campaign – a national activity programme designed to fight spiralling inactivity and obesity rates and raise huge amounts of money for charity in the process.

Entry for the event is open to people aged 15 and over. All swimmers must have completed a one-mile swim in training before the event to qualify. Wetsuits are optional but are recommended.

Click here to enter the event and find out more information.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed

The important element of the ‘Tour’ as far as we triathletes are concerned must be the individual time trial stages. Each year I look forward to these particular stages more so than the spectacular mountain finishes as I watch in ore as the top riders throughout the world rip up the tarmac on the french roads. The sheer determination, speed and absolute power these guys produce makes these stages a must view.

This years individual time trial stage dates are;

Stage 4 - Tuesday 8th July - 29.5Km circuit around Cholet.

Stage 20 - Saturday 20th July - 53Km ride from Cérilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed

Welcome to Trispace, the very latest triathlon blog from the fastest growing sport of the moment. As a competitive triathlete & duathlete, fitness coach and sports therapist I hope to bring you a diverse, interesting and informative range of topics associated with the world of multi-sport and in particular triathlon.

Topics incorporated within this blog include;
Triathlon News
Triathlon Events
Triathlon Training
Sports Specific Exercise
Sports Nutrition
Injury Prevention & Rehab
General Nutrition
General Views
General Multi-sport News

I’ve been involved in sport and in particular running since my early teenage years, competing at county level on the track and cross country. A career in the Army also allowed me to develop as an athlete in the field of running. After years running I decided that I needed a different challenge, but something that would still involve my beloved asics runners! So I entered the world of multi sport, not quite sure what to expect but never the less 100% committed. I hooked up with my local triathlon club ‘Sunderland City’ and started to ride out with the guys on a Sunday morning. Having been a keen mountain biker and to a certain degree road cyclist, the world of cycling was not something new, but much more enjoyable being out with a group. Like most triathletes who come from a running background the swim was, and still is, my weakest discipline. I still find it a real struggle to swim up and down a pool staring at the mosaic tiles!

I have completed numerous aquathons, duathlons and triathlons over the last couple of seasons and have to say that between the three, I actually prefer duathlons. Probably more so because of the added intensity of aerobic activity with the additional run.

Regardless whether it’s triathlon or duathlon, I just love the feeling of pushing my body to it’s physical limits, the nervous build up to the gun and the overwhelming feeling of success upon completion of an event.

My commitment and love of the sport in general has lead me here, my latest creation, Trispace. I hope to provide the multi-sport world with a diverse, interesting and informative range of topics associated with the world of multi-sport and in particular triathlon & duathlon.