The Great North Walk
Well the Great North Run has been and gone, and I have proven that I am no long distance runner.
Admittedly I was stricken by injury prior to the race, I couldn't even walk for a while, so the preparation wasn't ideal.
You see, about a month before the race, the tendon on my left knee decided it didn't want to run, or do any other kind of training for that matter. No doubt you're all skeptical, and I would be too but I can assure you that it killed.
Nevertheless that Sunday morning came and I strapped it up as best I could and caught the 5am train upto Newcastle. When I finally arrived at the start of the race, it was quite incredible
the amount of people that were there. 65 thousand people and it was at least a mile's worth of people waiting at the start line - it took me 20 minutes to get there.
I started off running with my friend Sue, and almost immediately I felt a twinge in my knee. I managed to keep a good pace for about three miles, and then my body told me in no uncertain terms that it wasn't enjoying the experience. I was forced to limp the consequent 10 miles, popping quite a few ibruporfen on the way to ease my suffering.
I can honestly say that it was really was one of the most painful experiences I have ever known. But I completed it, admittedly it took me twice as long as i'd have liked but I still came in under 3 hours, beating Sir Jimmy Saville on the home stretch. I still think was all worthwhile, if only for the fact that I managed to raise £200 for charity; that's the only thing that kept me going.
A Man In Pain
