This is a somewhat belated post about the Great South Run.  I’m lazy, what can I say?  But you already knew that.  The Great South is now in its 21^st year and has grown from humble beginnings in Southampton to being Europe’s most popular 10 mile race that now takes place in Portsmouth.  Blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda.  If you want to know about that sort of stuff I suggest you go to the “Race History” section on greatrun.org.  I have run the 10 mile race three times and every time it’s been pretty hard going in spite of the fact that it’s a flat course because I never do quite enough training.  In fact unless I get off my bum and do some interval training at some point in my life I’m never going to be especially quick either.  Ah well.  Thinking about it, I’ve never done the race 2 years in a row either.  I first ran it in 2004 (and nearly passed out), then in 2005 I was arrested so didn’t really feel like it as the possibility of a prison sentence was hanging over my head and I was stocking up on alcohol in case of enforced teetotal…er…ism. In 2006 I was in prison.  Good job I stocked up on alcohol.  In 2007 I ran it with my lovely husband shortly before we got married (and nearly passed out).  In 2008 I had a baby.  In 2009 I ran it with my lovely husband again (and nearly passed out).  And this year I had ANOTHER baby.  I’ve no idea what my lovely husband’s excuse for not running it this year is, but I can assure you I did all the hard work with regard to actually bringing said baby into the world.  Pfft.

Believe it or not this post isn’t actually about me.  Although thus far I’ve rather selfishly only talked about me.  It’s not even really about the main race but the junior one, as my eldest son ran it this year (number 2 son Josh declined the opportunity).  The mini and junior races take place the day before the 10 mile jobbie and just like that one they’re growing every year. Jake really likes running and is far better built for it than I am with his very long legs, skinny frame and go faster moustache (every 13 year old should have one).  This year he chose to run for the main charity, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (the Banana Army) and I set him up with a justgiving page with an initial target of £50.  The generosity of virtual strangers never ceases to amaze me and within days we’d upped the target to £200 thanks mostly to my wonderful twitter friends, most of whom I’ve never met.  And so, sporting his bright yellow Banana Army running top and my running shoes (because his bloody feet keep growing) he managed to log a time of 9 minutes 16 seconds on the 2.5km course, 8 seconds better than last year.  He’s chuffed with that because he hadn’t done any specific running training.

Go, Jakey go!

So next year we are all planning to take part, Adam and I in the main run, both my sons in the junior run and even Poppy in the mini run.  Hattie can watch.  We fully intend to train properly this time and I really hope that we mean it.  And fingers crossed for weather as glorious as there was this year, as every other time I’ve run it it seems there’s been howling wind and driving rain and that’s really not funny when you round that bend at about the 8 mile mark onto the seafront.

I really should congratulate those that did take part in the big race this year, Dan Germain, Sarah Jane Walker and Joanna Reed to name but a few.  Well done you lot, especially SJW who broke her ankle earlier in the year when trying to chase a thief in platform shoes.  I know.  Next year the slowest buys the cakes, OK?  Or the pints.  Or both.

And as for young Jake, I’m extremely proud of him especially as he made his £200 target.  But, you know, that doesn’t mean you can’t still donate.  Go on! www.justgiving.com/jake-mcmullan