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Reporter begins charity challenge
ON September 19 this year 54,000 runners will be pounding the streets of the North East in the 2010 Great North Run.
And one of those is me.
I found out last week I had a place, and as the excitement kicked in within a few hours I was out on a run for the first time in, well, ever.
I've been a member of a gym and played on the school sports teams, but never before have I committed myself to such a physical challenge.
So knowing the window cleaner was coming on Thursday night I laced up my trainers and ran to the cash point and back.
The total distance was just over a mile, it took me about 20 minutes and I had a face like a beetroot when I got back. But I did it. My first training session over.
At that rate it will take me four and a half hours to complete and I am determined to do it in a faster time than that.
So in the weeks and months to come I am going to be attempting to up my game and improve, and my training progress will be updated on this web page.
Fingers crossed by the time September comes I'll be ready and raring to go.
As well as completing a personal challenge I hope to raise money for a local charity in Whitley Bay, Sara's Hope Foundation.
The charity was set up in memory of Sara Hoburn, a 16-year-old young girl who died of an adult form of colon cancer.
Her parents Ged and Julie have set up the charity in her memory and are raising funds to build a holiday retreat in Crete for children who have been diagnosed with cancer to go and visit with their families.
The charity is not about finding a cure or treatment, but about creating special memories for families in this situation.
Once the plot of land is built in Crete, Sara's Hope Foundation will fly families over from the North East the the retreat and provide 24 hour care for the family.
More information can be found at www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk
I've created a playlist for my i-pod with upbeat songs to motivate me when I am out, but if anyone has any suggestions feel free to get in touch.
And any experts out there who have some training advice or know of any good training routes feel free to comment so it will benefit myself and other runners.
Hopefully this page will be a light hearted look at what it takes for a beginner to complete a half marathon, and a bit of fun. Which primarily is what the Great North Run has been all about the past 29 years.
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Weather for Whitley Bay
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
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