I manage to successfully gain entry to the Great North Run in January when I entered a competition in The Guardian newspaper. After finding out that I was in the race, I contacted the tourist information in Newcastle to get accommodation for the weekend. Unfortunately there were only two hotels in the entire Newcastle area which had rooms available on that date and these were priced at £160 per room per night. So a wee caravan site on the edge of Berwick upon Tweed, for four days and the full family coming along to cheer me on was what I did!!

On the morning of the race, we all left at 8.00am to head for a Metro Park and Ride facility on the northern edge of Newcastle. At the Metro Station, the platform was crowded with jittery runners and tired looking relatives/supporters. It took three attempts to get on a train and therefore by the time I managed to squeeze into a carriage at my third attempt it was getting close to 9.30am. As everyone got out at Haymarket Station in the centre of Newcastle, there was a surge of people going in one direction, to the start line.

I got to the start line around 10.15am, just in time to hear Bobby Robson (ex England and Newcastle Football Manager) start the race. Managed to see a bit of that on the big screen which is positioned close to the start of the race. Getting into the assembly area was a battle and I ended up at the back of the group. Anyway I was in position and ready to go. I then realised that I was one of thousands in the middle of a duel carriageway in the centre of Newcastle. The atmosphere was electric, there was a great sense of anticipation mixed in with nerves and excitement. Then, the crowd in front of me started to move forward and we were off!! Well not exactly running, but walking very slowly forward towards the start line. It took around 20 minutes to get from the initial assembly area to the start line. The cheer as we all went through the start line was incredible and we all had to smile for the camera.

For the first mile or so there are four lanes of runners jockeying for positions. There were the usual runners who were in a hurry and others who had stopped already to catch their breath. As the route flowed up and down through Newcastle City Centre and towards the Tyne Bridge there was a group song and chanting, everyone was in such high spirits. Approaching the Tyne Bridge gave me goose pimples, as normally I am watching the race on the TV wishing that I could be in the race and more to the point wishing that I was fit enough to take part in such a race. And there I was running over the bridge with the eyes of the BBC on me.

After the Tyne Bridge, nearly two miles into the run, I decided to try and apply my race plan, which was to try and stick to nine minute miles for at least the first 6 miles. The three mile marker was Gateshead Stadium and I was beginning to settle in to a rhythm and a quick look at my watch told me I was at 27 minutes. Great I was on target!!!

Between the 4 mile marker and the 6 mile marker, the crowds at the side of the road began to thin down but the crowds of people that were running the race was incredible. There was very little room to manoeuvre and when you see one person making a break through the crowds of runners, many people tried to follow. I found two reasonable runners to tag along with and kept following them through the crowds. It was a wee game of cat and mouse, but it kept my pace up and I was concentrating on either following them or keeping in front of them.

At the half way marker, a reggae band was playing, there was a drinks stop and a big clock telling you what your time was. I was doing well 58 minutes gone and half way to the finish. There is a slight incline between the 7 mile marker and the 10 mile marker, but just before 8 miles the music blasting out of a bank of speakers was, ‘Can’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time!!’ Yes it was Queen blasting out for all to hear.

Climbing up to the 12 mile marker was the point at which my legs were tiring, my time was getting worse, I was running out of water and feeling quite sorry for myself. However at the top of the incline, with massive crowds of support, the sight of a pub and then a steep downwards section, I was off again. After the 12 mile marker, you see the sea and you know you are nearly there. The last mile did feel like two or three miles because of the tired legs, but this section is very flat and the roars from the crowds allow you to keep moving. The finish line is a wee bit complicated there are different lanes which you are ushered into and your time is recorded. After the finish line it is chaos, there are so many people and the family reunion area is massive. Just as I got the reunion area, the Red Arrows flew over the finishing area, it was a great end to a great race.

The important thing for me was that I enjoyed the race, the atmosphere and the occasion and I also took 2 minutes off my Glasgow Half Marathon time.

My rating for runners running in the Great North Run 10 out of 10. My rating for those trying to get to the finish line to see you complete the run 1 out of 10. My advice is ensure that those who are supporting you head straight for the finish line around 10.00am and then after the race enjoy South Shields taking in a few hostelries as you have a long wait trying to get back to Newcastle.

At last! The day had finally arrived! Sunday 9th September 2007 - and my first 10K! Although i had only been training for the past 3 months, it felt like I had been waiting for ever to have a go! Would all the training all be in vain, would this result in a public humiliation? Would I crawl back to the safety of my couch defeated? - today I would find out!

The training had been good fun. 3 months ago following an article in the Cumbernauld News I ventured along to my first training session at Chryston - alone - Billy No Mates. I didn’t need to worry, every one was very welcoming and i settled in quickly. Such was my enthusiasm that I told everyone about my new pursuit, and shortly afterwards I was accompanied by Jackie (my daughter), Bruce (her boyfriend) and Kevin (a friend). Everyone at Chryston encouraged each other, towards our one goal - the 10K. At home my wife Liz made it quite clear there was no giving up - after all I just spent our hard earned cash on brand new running shoes!

The run was due to start at 10am, so we arrived at Broadwood Stadium at 9.30 in preparation. The usual Sunday breakfast of Bacon Rolls had been banished and I had consumed the obligatory banana instead! Quickly we met up with some of the others from Chryston, and all chatted about the run - everyone agreed time didn’t matter, just finishing is what matters! The morning was dry and overcast, so probably ideal for what we were doing. Some of us were familiar with the route as we had completed a practice run over the course several weeks before. This really helped and although I didn’t tell the others, I was determined to beat my previous time of 62 minutes!

Before setting off i had a quick look around and noticed there was the full range of runners, from complete beginners to obviously some professionals - almost 400 runners in total.

Just after 10am, the run set off initially skirting the edge of Broadwood Loch, quite scenic but lets concentrate on the matter in hand! I linked up with one of the other runners from Chryston and as is my reputation chatted non stop for the first 20 minutes or so. This probably annoys the hell out of others, but it takes my mind off the running! After the loch we ploughed up several gradual inclines (not hills apparently!) and seemed to be making good time. I kept going and deliberately pushed myself a bit faster than i was used to and after about 40 minutes arrived back at the loch. The route then concluded with a 3KM run round the edge of the loch which was a bit disconcerting as it meant running away from the stadium and finishing line rather than towards it. By now my legs were feeling quite weary and it was a case of gritting teeth for the last stretch - the crowd and stewards were great in their encouragement. The final run up to the finishing line was great as the larger crowds cheered us in. - 54 minutes! I was delighted!

At the finish line

Everyone did really well and there was great relief as we all collected our mementos, took photographs and relayed our stories. It really did feel like a great achievement, and I think we all felt quite proud!

We had all achieved our goal, now we can chuck this madness in and relax,…. but hold on, didn’t somebody mention a 10K coming up at Strathclyde Park - Oh! No! have we got the bug?!

Andy Locke

(All Cumbernauld 10k results can be found here)

My first half marathon and the nerves had set in the week before the race when I received my race pack through the post. I don’t know why, I had done all the training beforehand, rigidly stuck to my 12 week training plan, well apart from the bit about drinking less alcohol! Anyway for all the nerves and anxiety seven days in the lead up to the race, on the start line, I felt fine and ready to go.

Jimmy Savile waved us all off at 10.10am and the runners snaked through Glasgow City centre streets. My tactic for the race was as normal, take it easy at the start, don’t let the occasion get the better of me and run comfortably for the first few miles, hoping to do 10 minute miles. The first mile was really slow, at walking pace going over the Kingston Bridge in parts. However it was good to settle the nerves and get the right tunes on my i-pod. The next three miles went by in a flash and believe it or not I was really enjoying the race.

Heading back down towards the Clyde and Paisley Road West, the streets were getting busy with vehicles, pedestrians and of course runners. Paisley Road West is quite a long road which stretches out as far as the eye can see. All I could see were thousands of bobbing heads. The support along the road was great as shopkeepers and residents came out to cheer us on.

Between 4 and 8 miles, the route snakes around Bellahouston Park and then into Pollok Park, all too familiar route if you participate in the ladies 10K run in May. However, the quiet tree lined paths around the parks were welcomed at this point in the race. The trees provided much needed shade from the sunshine and the paths meandering through the green space were reasonably quiet apart from a few thousand runners puffing their way to the finish. The slight incline (not hills) in the park also separated the men from the boys and there were a few who decided it was time to walk. At the end of Pollock Park it is back out on to the bustling Glasgow streets and a welcome cheer from many supporters who lined the streets at this section. Having looked at the map in the race pack before hand I knew if I got to this point then that would be nearly 9 miles, it was a great psychological boost. The tired legs and negative thoughts which were creeping in completely disappeared and the head was down and the march to the finish was on.

From 9 miles to 12 miles it was a carnival atmosphere, supporters at the roadside, the stewards controlling the traffic and giving out water were giving us great support, people giving out oranges, soaking us with water, local radio stations blasting out music, it was great.

Pollockshaws Road is another long street, where again runners stretch out in front of you and at this point I could feel the legs tiring. However I got a welcome boost when I bumped into a few familiar faces from jogscotland and then saw the 12 mile marker, only one mile to go, how hard can it be!

The last mile was horrible, I could hear the cheers from the finish line but it made no difference, the legs were tired, lots of runners had stopped or started to walk. Just when I thought about stopping, a jogscotland member flew past and gave me some encouragement and I was away again. I didn’t catch her but she did help me find some rhythm again and I managed a sprint finish. My watch stopped at 2 hours, 7 minutes and 41 seconds, not bad. Now the countdown and all of the preparation starts again for my next race, The Great North Run!!!

Sharon Marklow

This was the first time that this race had taken place and was advertised as a fun run, aimed especially at new runners and ‘race novices’, offering a friendly atmosphere and a relatively gentle course around Broadwood Loch in Cumbernauld. So with this in mind, a few of us thought we would swap our usual Thursday jogscotland session for a run around the loch and surrounding area. Gordon, Greg, Carol, Lindsey, Kirsty, Bruce, Andy, Kev and I were all there – numbers pinned, laces tied and water in hand.

As we arrived we gathered together discussing the route and how many ‘undulations’ there was likely to be. Watching the ‘professionals’ warming up, some of our group began to feel a little nervous and intimidated.

Eventually we were called to the start and were off! Before long we were disappearing up the hill towards Westfield and in next to no time after turning the corner we were plunging back down towards the loch. Around the loch was a relatively flat run and very scenic. All in all it was a very pleasant route and a good evenings running.

In high spirits, our medals sitting proudly around our necks, clutching our goody bags, we left exultant planning our next excursion into the world of road running.

Val McDonald

Congratulations to all of our runners

The weather looked bright enough when I woke up but would it last? The forecast had not been good! Gordon and I started off reasonably early to get to North Queensferry – we wanted to be sure that we were able to get parked at the community centre which is hidden behind a housing estate. When these houses were built, nobody had anticipated the sheer number of vehicles that would need to be parked by the residents of this estate – hence the congestion!

When we arrived I hurried towards the centre for my first of several visits to the loo! We got ourselves ready – trainers on, numbers pinned, skip cap on to shield my glasses from the imminent rain. Black clouds were looming on the horizon. Only twenty minutes to go now and definitely looking much brighter; the sun was beginning to break through. I wonder, should I ditch the hat?

I started to warm up, a gentle jog along a narrow path, busy with many other joggers/runners doing exactly the same. I could see the bridge sitting menacingly on the horizon. If you have driven over this bridge you may be under the impression that it is reasonably flat. I can assure you that you are completely mistaken.

At 10.30am the race started. The first 3 to 4k gets you from the community centre to the bridge. It starts off downhill and round the corner and then it starts uphill passing North Queensferry railway station. After a while you are rewarded with another longish downhill before you start to approach the bridge and then it’s uphill for quite a long way. As I got towards the top of the bridge I was getting very hot and thinking it would soon be much easier. But no! As I hit the top, so the wind started to gust, blowing straight into my face. Working hard I aimed for the turning point where you turn off the bridge, take the road under and then run back up the other side. And this, all in the name of FUN AND ENJOYMENT!!!! As I began running back up the other side I was greeted with words of encouragement from a friendly marshal, “You’re nearly there. It’s a downhill finish.”

Yes, it was a downhill finish but there was still another 2k uphill to do first! And to top it all, the wind I was expecting to help me on my way was still in my face even though I was now travelling in the opposite direction. Strange!

Would I do this race again? Definitely! Last year’s race was acclaimed as being one of the most scenic and memorable in the Road Running calendar and this year the race was at full capacity several weeks earlier. All in all, it was a very well organised event, with lovely scenery and a friendly atmosphere. Oh and I nearly forgot to say about the magnificent array of food back at the community centre. I’ll be back next year.

Val McDonald