KAREN WILSON and VICKY ROBSON catch up with the fancy dress runners featured in last Thursday’s feature
DAD-of-four Tony Phoenix-Morrison from Hebburn was the first person to complete the Great North Run with a six-stone fridge on his back, achieving two hours 51 minutes despite media interviews adding 20 minutes to his time.
Tony, 47, who runs a marketing company, says the day was “an emotional rollercoaster”.
“Being at the start line and meeting Mo Farah was fantastic,” he said. “I’ve been super confident in my ability to run it and trained extremely hard but the moment I stepped over the line I was overcome with nerves. I suddenly began to think 'what if I don’t make it?'
“But from about the third mile, egged on by the runners and the crowd, I started to get into the occasion. By half way I was flying high, buzzed up by the relentless chants and positivity from wellwishers.
“At mile 11 cramps slowed me down and the surface was so slippy because of the excessive weight on my back, but the last couple of miles I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
Nursery nurse Alison Chan from Whitley Bay ran dressed as her favourite singer Tina Turner. She raised around £550 in sponsorship for St Oswald’s Hospice, Gosforth, in memory of her mum.
Alison, 43, of Whitley Bay, said: “It was great. I really enjoyed it. I had my Tina music on at the start, although you couldn’t hear it very much then because there were so many people around. I followed the people wearing the Hospice vests and tried to keep up with them. It just goes so quickly. It was such a great atmosphere. I did it in two hours and 14 minutes, but I’d like to get under two hours if I do it again next year.”
Engineers Alex Lowther, Ashley Dale and Jonny Murrells are proud to have completed their first ever Great North Run all dressed in identical Brunel the Bear costumes, inspired by the Victorian civil engineer, a mascot for the Institute of Chartered Engineers.
“Dressed from head to foot in thick furry bear costumes you can imagine our delight as we massed behind the start line and the sun broke through the clouds!” laughed Alex, 25, from Gateshead. “Crossing the line to the cries of ‘come on those lions’ from Alan Robson really set the tone for the next three hours!”
Despite the heat all three bears finished within minutes of their projected two hours 30 minutes target time. Said Alex: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish, physically challenging but with the fantastic support along the route it was a real pleasure to be running.”
Bus driver Stephen Roberts, AKA Robocop, finished in two hours, 23 minutes and 10 seconds – knocking a whopping six seconds off his personal best!
The 42-year-old from Sacriston, County Durham, had strained his right shoulder a week before and couldn’t carry his usual donation bucket so he’s only managed to collect £50 for the British Heart Foundation so far. Said Stephen: “I started right at the back so it took over 40 minutes for me to cross the start line but I finished 25,195th, meaning I overtook around 29,000 slowcoaches!”
Fun runner Stuart Logan completed this year’s race dressed as a donkey in a sombrero.
The 38-year-old, from Blyth, finished in two hours and 37 minutes and raised around £150 for national charity Marfan’s Association UK.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and have already signed up for the reminder to enter again next year and I’m already planning my costume for next year.
“It actually took me about 45 minutes just to get across the starting line because there were so many people. It was a great atmosphere as usual and I was talking to lots of runners on the way.
“I’m just glad I finished and raised some money for charity. That’s the main thing.”