The Great North Run walk

Yes, it's that time of year again.  The verges of the Felling bypass have been manicured, the Tyne Bridge is advertising BUPA and the equivalent of the population of a small town will be running from Newcastle to South Shields dressed in improbable and often impractical costumes and one even carrying a fridge (hope his wife knows about this).  Why anyone should want to do this is frankly beyond me, although I applaud them for their dedication and the amount of money they raise for charity.  Running has never held any appeal for me, but walking I do enjoy and so, marooned in Shields as I was, I set out towards the finish line to cheer on the troops.

I headed down Westoe Road and Fowler Street to King Street which looked busier than on a Saturday!  Despite the rain, crowds were heading down Ocean Road to the seafront, passing the spruced-up statue of Kirkpatrick of Gallipoli.  There are so many new curry houses on Ocean Road!  Time to visit again, methinks!  On I went following the crowd into the South Marine Park and along past the Bents Park (given over to camping) and past an incredible number of buses stuffed with the runners' gear.  By the time I got to the New Crown, runners wrapped in tinfoil blankets were walking towards me, having finished the course.  How can people still stand after running that distance?

I continued up the Broadway and crossed onto the Leas where a small township seemed to have sprung up - tents, burger vans, TV cameras, candyfloss - and where the largest crowd and most vocal spectators were.  The runners were streaming in, and the award ceremony for the elite competitors was taking place.  It was a bit of a ruck round by the Bamburgh but I got through, still amazed by the constant stream of runners.  It really is a party atmosphere round here on this day, and what a glorious finish on the cliff tops overlooking the sea!

I left the Leas, and headed over the Blackberry hills towards Horsley Hill.  By now I was really enjoying the walk, wondering as usual why I don't do this more often.  I was briefly confused by the new-look houses in Lincoln Road (they were pebbledash the last time I was there!), but then it was on up Centenary Avenue to the Nook and guess what - yet more runners!  I paused here to smile encouragingly at those who were struggling a bit, and also to get a good view of the Red Arrows as they swooped by.  Then it was back down King George Road and home.  Not the buzz of reaching the finishing line with your time up in lights above you, but I felt a quiet satisfaction that my ankle was fine to walk on now, and that walking was fun.