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I'm on a superyacht, with no working treadmill. I'm currently at 94kgs and not my fittest. But when the MS Society emailed asking if I would like a place in the GNR that somebody had vacated, I said absolutely.
My posts about the GNR 2018 are archived, in 2018 I wrote
"This year will be 10 years since my Mother passed away. In 2008 I was training to be an officer in the Merchant Navy. I started that job as it gave me the opportunity to earn a lot of money, and the best possible chance I could have to provide decent care for her.
She had Multiple Sclerosis. She died during my first week back at the Marine school. I spoke to her hours before she died. She was crying on the phone telling me she loved me. I told her not to worry, I had an overnight bus (megabus) booked from Newcastle on the Friday and I would see her Saturday morning. I had dinner with my flat mate, we watched some TV and did a bit of study. I woke up the next morning, had a shower, got ready and started walking in to the college. I phoned my Mum on the way. My Father answered. He and I hadn’t spoke for years, I didn’t even know he knew where my Mother and I lived. He said “I’m sorry son, she’s gone”.
My world fell apart."
To be honest, I've never really gotten over it. I've just gotten used to it
Ken, you and I have talked about your "story" previously in the early stages of my "fitness reboot" when the idea of me running the Great North Run was mooted as part of my "journey" and you know how it affected me at the time.
It was great news to hear last week that you had been successful in getting a place to run the GNR for the MS Society.
Back in August last year we were planning to run together and then, just before my chosen charity - Bowel Cancer UK - opened up applications your schedule for 2024 changed and you told me you wouldn't be able to be with me at GNR. That did come as quite a blow as I felt I needed someone with me for what was/is going to be a big day in my life. You encoraged me to continue and on the 8th September I did sign-up and secure a place.
As we moved into 2024 you told me that you may at least be in the area during the run and so would most likely be at the finish line, waiting for me to stagger across.
And then to know you're going to be running - hopefully alongside me for - is amazing news. This will be my first time doing anything like this, and it starts exactly two months today.
It feels so right that you'll be there on a journey that you helped me start last year.
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Great North Run 2024... on 09:24 - Jul 8 with 8267 views
Long may you run...but not too long and end up like me in my one and only half marathon when I took so long that I was handed a marathon medal at the finish line. And I was so knackered that I went and gave it back in exchange for the half marathon one.
Success rests with a decent training regime I think, good luck to you both with having better discipline in that.
Time heals but I know what you mean when you say you get used to the loss of a mother rather than getting over it.
Great North Run 2024... on 08:34 - Jul 8 by MarkTWTD
Ken, you and I have talked about your "story" previously in the early stages of my "fitness reboot" when the idea of me running the Great North Run was mooted as part of my "journey" and you know how it affected me at the time.
It was great news to hear last week that you had been successful in getting a place to run the GNR for the MS Society.
Back in August last year we were planning to run together and then, just before my chosen charity - Bowel Cancer UK - opened up applications your schedule for 2024 changed and you told me you wouldn't be able to be with me at GNR. That did come as quite a blow as I felt I needed someone with me for what was/is going to be a big day in my life. You encoraged me to continue and on the 8th September I did sign-up and secure a place.
As we moved into 2024 you told me that you may at least be in the area during the run and so would most likely be at the finish line, waiting for me to stagger across.
And then to know you're going to be running - hopefully alongside me for - is amazing news. This will be my first time doing anything like this, and it starts exactly two months today.
It feels so right that you'll be there on a journey that you helped me start last year.
Mate I’ll be watching you run off into the distance.
You’ve done incredibly well and I’ll be delighted to cross the start line shoulder to shoulder with you.
Great North Run 2024... on 21:25 - Jul 9 by NewcyBlue
Mate I’ll be watching you run off into the distance.
You’ve done incredibly well and I’ll be delighted to cross the start line shoulder to shoulder with you.
It’s going to be a genuine privilege!
It will be cool to have you on one side and Matt, my Personal Trainer, on the other side at the start. I've got no idea how the run will pan out on the day. We always said that my goal would be "to finish the run" by whatever means...but, 8 weeks out, I now have a target time in my head.
In truth, I still "just want to finish"... but under a specific time
I am planning to post a bit more about my own story a bit nearer the time. I'm running in aid of Bowel Cancer UK, following my dad's diagnosis back in November 2017. He received very quick treatment, which was successful and he continues to be cancer-free to the present day.
Superyacht makes you sound like one of them Russian oligarchs!
Haha, best of luck for the run. However you go, your fundraising will make a big difference to some wonderful people in need of a lift. Massive respect to you for taking on the challenge, mate.
Keno Tom C WeWereZombies Acj Deano EdwardStone MidasTouch
I had a magnificent hike yesterday up the Rock… it really gave my legs a blast. Although it was £19 for the privilege!
I might do it again before we depart. Just for the fun of it!
Today I’m out for some brunch and have a 10 hour shift starting later this afternoon.
I’m still not enjoying this yacht life, although getting a good hike in and some decent food has done me the world of good. I’m still trying to figure out when I will go home, the money is good but I also want to get some actual runs in….
Best of luck Newcy. I had a brain fart on the donations page and meant to put I also lost my mum to a similar neurological disease (she had MND not MS). Multi-tasking was never my strong point and it's not something I find easy reading about or even want to think about. But just to say I share your pain of seeing what these types of diseases do to people and wishing you all the bet for the run. You'll smash it, I'm sure
Great North Run 2024... on 10:05 - Jul 17 by Swansea_Blue
Best of luck Newcy. I had a brain fart on the donations page and meant to put I also lost my mum to a similar neurological disease (she had MND not MS). Multi-tasking was never my strong point and it's not something I find easy reading about or even want to think about. But just to say I share your pain of seeing what these types of diseases do to people and wishing you all the bet for the run. You'll smash it, I'm sure
Massive thanks to you Swanners. Very kind of you.
I’m always here if you need to chat.
I’m not sure if smash it is the right goal, perhaps more bore it into submission!
I’ve had some time to stretch my legs in Gibraltar, refusing to take the cable car to the top. Seeing the Mediterranean Steps trail with the description “Challenging”, I thought “how hard can it be?”
Very.
I was then stalked by one of the macaques along the top of the rock, I’m still unsure if he wanted a fight or a friend. I didn’t hang about to find out.
Today I did a 10km walk around, including a visit to the 100 ton gun.
It’s been nice just to get some distance in my legs on land rather than on the boat.
Great North Run 2024... on 14:39 - Jul 17 by NewcyBlue
And thanks to Jeera for the donation.
I’ve had some time to stretch my legs in Gibraltar, refusing to take the cable car to the top. Seeing the Mediterranean Steps trail with the description “Challenging”, I thought “how hard can it be?”
Very.
I was then stalked by one of the macaques along the top of the rock, I’m still unsure if he wanted a fight or a friend. I didn’t hang about to find out.
Today I did a 10km walk around, including a visit to the 100 ton gun.
It’s been nice just to get some distance in my legs on land rather than on the boat.
Look after each other TWTD
Is there an exercise bike on the superyacht? Boring as hell, but will do wonders in terms of general fitness and strengthening the muscles around your knees.
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Great North Run 2024... on 17:27 - Jul 21 with 6011 views
I think you’re all secretly donating to enjoy my physical suffering on the day! Good lads!
We are currently on the coast of Portugal, heading North. It’s rough seas.
Plenty of crew are seasick, I walked in to two of them lying on the sofa in the dining saloon looking green. I proceeded to start eating a bit of cake (it’s carb loading honest!) and told them that this weather just makes me hungry. One of them looked like he wanted to vomit.
I’ve made the decision to go home early, so that I can try and get a month of training under my belt before I die on the GNR.
I’ve trained more for this one than I had the first one.
I’ve done one 5km run. That’s right folks, I’m underprepared and stupid.
I got home from the yacht on 6th August after resigning, telling the Captain I was fed up of him and his clown show.
I got home to a list of jobs as long as my arm, and the kids wanting to cuddle on the mornings which meant I didn’t want to leave them to go to the gym.
Now I reap what I sow.
I will be lining up alongside MarkTWTD and watching him run off into the distance, as I walk, run, and crawl along to South Shields.
Great North Run 2024... on 09:20 - Sep 2 by NewcyBlue
On Sunday I run my fifth half marathon.
I’ve trained more for this one than I had the first one.
I’ve done one 5km run. That’s right folks, I’m underprepared and stupid.
I got home from the yacht on 6th August after resigning, telling the Captain I was fed up of him and his clown show.
I got home to a list of jobs as long as my arm, and the kids wanting to cuddle on the mornings which meant I didn’t want to leave them to go to the gym.
Now I reap what I sow.
I will be lining up alongside MarkTWTD and watching him run off into the distance, as I walk, run, and crawl along to South Shields.
Great North Run 2024... on 09:20 - Sep 2 by NewcyBlue
On Sunday I run my fifth half marathon.
I’ve trained more for this one than I had the first one.
I’ve done one 5km run. That’s right folks, I’m underprepared and stupid.
I got home from the yacht on 6th August after resigning, telling the Captain I was fed up of him and his clown show.
I got home to a list of jobs as long as my arm, and the kids wanting to cuddle on the mornings which meant I didn’t want to leave them to go to the gym.
Now I reap what I sow.
I will be lining up alongside MarkTWTD and watching him run off into the distance, as I walk, run, and crawl along to South Shields.
Can't wait for it all to begin. Happy that you'll be there alongside me on the day as per the original plan.
Question is... do I sign up for GNR2025?
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Great North Run 2024... on 18:05 - Sep 7 with 2816 views
Great North Run 2024... on 18:05 - Sep 7 by NewcyBlue
Well that came quickly (you can do the That’s what she said joke)
A years worth of work has gone into tomorrow. Not for me, certainly for our MarkTWTD.
I plan on getting through tomorrow, it’s survival. I’m naive enough to start and stupid enough not to quit.
If anyone else on here is running tomorrow please let us know.
Tomorrow I’ll post up tracking information, where you’ll be able to watch continental drifts move quicker than I do!
Good luck, Newcy. Enjoy.
I too ran in 2018 and struggled. Have got a bit fitter since. Dropped by PB from about 1:53 to 1:29. I will do it next year to banish the demons of 2018.
Funny how a bad race sits on the mind as long as a good one.
Great North Run 2024... on 18:19 - Sep 7 by TractorWood
Good luck, Newcy. Enjoy.
I too ran in 2018 and struggled. Have got a bit fitter since. Dropped by PB from about 1:53 to 1:29. I will do it next year to banish the demons of 2018.
Funny how a bad race sits on the mind as long as a good one.
Good luck to any other TWTDs too.
Ah 2018, when I did that and the Great East Run the following week.
Long time ago!
Next year? Let’s see me survive this year first.
If I’m ashore next year for it I’ll either be tempted to run it or I’ll be around on the route and throw some Haribo at you!
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