Author: Hannah Stewart
This whole saga began in January when contemplating the Great North Run ballot. Given my work for Cancer Research UK, we do a lot of fundraising and there is always a big group who take part in the Great North Run. However, my brother kindly pointed out – “I’m basically sponsoring you to do your hobby at this point” – so I knew I needed to do something a little different!
Inspired by the fastest gingerbread man (Ian Pickett) and the fastest book character (Alex Black, previously TBH), I wondered about the Guinness World Record for fastest scientist… and found that there was no female record. There was, however, a men’s record of 1h 29. The approval process for a Guinness World Record is long, with 12 week waits for each step unless you’re willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money to expedite the process, but forewarned is forearmed and all was going smoothly.
With a cheeky bit of arrogance, I put my predicted time just inside the men’s record, thinking it would be fun to try and be the outright fastest half marathon scientist! What I didn’t expect was Guinness to use this to give me a cut-off: 90 minutes, I really had to do this now!! (Shortly before the GNR I found out the men’s record was broken and is now an unrealistic 1h 17mins!)
The next battle was the costume. Guinness insist on vetting a photograph of your outfit and they deemed that running leggings were a no go – despite me, an actual scientist, regularly wearing them to work! But some bootleg leggings were acceptable so that ticked that box. The final challenge, other than the run itself, was the steep evidence requirements – a photo at every mile!
Onto the race, that 90-minute cut-off was feeling very stressful, especially as so many people were giving up their time to support me! After all the usual hanging around and queuing, Captain Becky set off with what would turn out to be PB running purpose ahead and Erin, having the time of her life (racing and beating a banana!) behind. Another Guinness requirement is to provide witness statements and Al Blain had very kindly agreed to pace me and provide a statement so, together, we set off.
The first half mile in the mist was bizarrely quiet, with just the pounding of feet, however, as we reached the overpasses, I have to say I did well up a little seeing so many TBH faces cheering me on! Mile 1 saw Yam and her husband, Ian, with photos and videos, hopefully not leaning too precariously over the railing above – I’m told it was more stressful than running! The bridge was quiet this year without the spectators, but a wall of noise greeted us at Gateshead, including some impressive cheering from Albie with Ria and Fleur taking the mile 2 photos.
The next few miles flew by, despite being uphill, with cold laden and soggy Joseph taking mile 3, Leoni with her world record cheering and Rob (of Louise and Rob) picking up mile 4.
As the miles flew by, my gloves were filling up, my lab coat was getting wetter and heavier, my leggings lengthening in the rain and with the glasses wet and fogged up – I really couldn’t see a lot! But trusty Al was keeping us right on the pace, or well inside the pace as it turns out! Mile 5 photos were taken by Rachel and Paul, though I didn’t manage to spot them through my fogged-up glasses. Now for the fun part, 3 downhill miles! Mile 6, Ian, from my work, who enjoyed the atmosphere so much he’s planning on entering the ballot for next year!
Zoe bravely cycled out to mile 7, enjoying a nice Tyne Tunnel route whilst Gavin ran out and somehow ended up at about mile 8.5!
The next few miles were all taken on by Ian – risking life and limb for photographic evidence, cycling against the traffic! Thankfully he made it through alive; no photos, no record. Mile 9 and 10 continued fairly smoothly with Ian popping up looking increasingly wet at each mile marker!
The 1h 25 pacer and hordes of runners went by whilst Al assured me we had a nice buffer, which I have to say I was very relieved about as we hit the hill. Mile 11 was probably the first time I started to feel tired, and the first time Al was really leading me up the hill, looking back as I mumbled “I’m still here!” Cresting the hill, the expected view of the sea was blanketed in mist, but we headed down the steep bank, catching sight of Rachael, Alanah and my mum on the corner as we turned onto the front, just one more mile to go! Jacob was at the ready, just a little further on.
As Al gradually picked up the pace on the final stretch, my legs were burning but as he kept looking back and egging me on, all I could do was keep going, spotting Ian popping up once more, and hearing Emily cheering for me. I was just focussed on looking for the finish by this point blanketed in fog as it was, 800m to go then 400m, and the final turn on to the grass.
I couldn’t have been more thrilled with my time 1h 25m 54s, all credit really must go to Al. My plan was to sneak inside 1h30 but I’m very proud to have hopefully set a time that is challenging to beat!
Not to be too soppy, but this whole experience has really highlighted what an extraordinary club TBH is. So many people gave up their time on a truly miserable day, changing where they were going to be watching or risking life and limb to support me in this slightly crazy endeavour! So thank you for making this possible! And finally, a particular thank you to Al, for giving up his own race to pace mine, grabbing me water, looking out for my photographers, and for really dragging me along in those last 2 miles! Congratulations to everyone who raced. Although it was a wet and miserable day, there were countless PBs, course records and enjoyable stories that occurred at perhaps one of the most iconic half marathons in the world, let alone the North East.
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