Reaching a Life Goal

By Emma Mckeown

I have always wanted to take part in the Great North Run for as long as I can remember. I have really fond memories from childhood of watching the runners go past my grandmas house and helping to hand out drinks and ice lollies. It always seemed like an amazing experience and the people taking part seemed so excited. I thought it would be great to be part of something like that.

Growing up I ran for the county, continuing to do so until my late teens. During my 20s I didn’t really run as much and my interest in running faded. It was in the past few years I have thought about it again and had friends that have taken part year after year but to be honest I don’t think my confidence and my ability to run was too great and that held me back. 

It was in January this year I had an email from the charity coordinator at work asking for people to participate in the Great North Run for the Sunshine Fund. I really couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by so I put my name forward. I hadn’t run for a while and had since had two children so I was very out of practice. I looked on the Great North page and they had some training plans so I started out with a couch to 5k. 

My first run was absolute torture, I barely made it out of the street but with perseverance it became easier and within 6 weeks I was running 3 miles and felt I had already achieved so much. I’ve had some downfalls along the way with a knee sprain and ligament injury to my feet. However, with rest these got better and I’ve been able to keep to my plan. I’m now running to 7 miles and hoping to push forward to 10 before the day. 

Training is getting harder now as I’m due to get married and all my time is taken up with that. We are due to go to France on honeymoon so I’ll have to pack my training gear and make sure I get some runs in. I’m really lucky that my partner has completed the run before so he can give me some great tips. 

Looking forward to the day I’m feeling nervous but excited and when I’m at the finish line I’m hoping to feel like I’ve reached a life goal and you never know, I may go on to run a marathon.