Great South Run

I was originally entered to run the Great South Run in 2022, along with the GNR too but that was the year I experienced my first running injury.

 

It was to my right knee and something to do with the patella. All I know is it b! (really) hurt and I couldn’t even get in and out of my car at first so walking or running was an unrealistic expectation, I’d managed to arrange another charity half race for the institute of cancer research but I had to forfeit this race. I knew it was a popular one amongst certain Massey members so when some friends suggested it, at least they were at that time, I thought yes why not.

2026 has been my worst competitive running year since 2016 owing to loss of confidence to get out of the door in order to train because of an unpleasant situation at work and the sheer boilingness of the weather! I’d even pulled up in a Massey handicap race due to heat which has never happened before so let’s say I wasn’t the best prepared. I had managed one nine mile race, a slow Hilly 100 (where I narrowly missed being ploughed down by a motorbike) and a couple of 9 mile training runs.

A group of Massey’s were running this race for the first time. 2 of us staying with siblings and the others in an Airbnb. They’d all met at parkrun on the Saturday but I didn’t join as I decided not to re run that one. I was supposed to be popping in for cake that afternoon but parking restrictions prevented this.

Thus we met at the memorial on Southsea common early on the morning of the race where it was decidedly chilly. We spent the usual hours before the race queueing for portaloos, eating and drinking, plus some time in our respective cars sitting down . Eventually it was time to say goodbye to our supporters and get into the starting funnel. It was still chilly at this point. However in typical luck for me this year it warmed up significantly just as I crossed the start line.

The route took us past the historic docks and the cutty sark and a royal naval vessel where the air erupted with shouts of encouragement.

Unlike Daniel’s race report there are no poo incidents to report nor wee ones for that matter either but I do have two experiences worth writing about. The first involves my complete lack of ability to open a water bottle while running. This has happened to me many times now but at the first water stop a kind fellow runner came to my aid. At the second I asked a volunteer to open it for me. The water was mainly to pour on my neck and splash my face with as by now it was really warm. I envied the young women running in only strappy sports bras. It’s fair to say that our Massey vest is quite material heavy.

The second situation was one which I’ve also experienced before in a race this year. I heard this noise behind me, a kind of grumbling sound. The next thing a man ran into me and started complaining as he ran past. My repose was to say you ran into me mate, but maybe not quite so politely. I narrowly missed colliding with a woman who cut up my racing line in a race earlier in the year. She also blamed it on me.

Anyway drama done. I settled down to complete the last 5 miles after waving madly, for me, at our supporters out on the course.

I can honestly say that I’ve never heard my name called out so much during a race, it was a really lovely experience. A race that I’d thoroughly recommend.