Bupa Great North Run – Wrap report.
The Bupa Great North Run is the world’s largest half-marathon with around 52,000 men and women running for their own personal running and to raise huge amounts for charity.
As official isotonic drinks partner to the race, Lucozade Sport (LS) feels strongly about maintaining adequate hydration for elite, club and fun runners alike. As such the team has a strong presence at a number of locations before, during and after the race, these included:
• One of the busiest race-day service stations on the A1 in Durham, where we were able to talk to around 2,000 athletes as they made their way into the city.
• The Bupa Great North Run Sport and Fitness Show held in the Metro Radio Arena, housing our Lucozade Sport Performance Zone (LSPZ), where runners of all abilities could pick up a free pace band, view a map of the course with insightful comments from LSSA Performance Director John Brewer and LS running ambassador Liz Yelling. Runners could also purchase a range of LS products in preparation for the race.
• The LSPZ along with Sports Scientists at the start area, where last minute information and advice could be sought, pace bands attached and Lucozade Sport Body Fuel bottles available before the start.
• Drinks stations on course to ensure timely and suitable hydration was provided to all athletes during the race; as well as a few words of encouragement from our team.
• Immediate refreshment and replenishment to runners once they had crossed the line in South Shields.
The women’s race proved to be one of the closest and most strongly competed challenges seen on the inner-city Tyne and Wear course. Britain’s Jo Pavey finished an excellent third place – two seconds behind the winner Gete Wami – to take her place as the country's fourth fastest ever half marathoner, in a nail biting finish in the glorious autumn sunshine. Starting after the women, the men’s race was a Ethiopian one, two, with Tsegay Kebede and Gebre Gebremariam finishing ahead of the American Abdi Abdirahman – with 48 seconds separating all three athletes.
The Lucozade Sport Super Sixes put in another superb effort with PBs coming from Sue, Catherine and Jason. Once they had got their collective breathes back, they were able to share their feelings of joy and relief with the Lucozade Sport team; some even managing to think ahead to more races in the future. Read the final instalments from Catherine, Sue, Tracy, Bryan, Guy and Jason at www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=3537.
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