After Mo Farah won the Great North Run for a record third time, Sun writer Natasha Harding shares her family’s thoughts
The 41-year-old managed to complete the half-marathon and details her most gruelling achievement to date
MO FARAH won the Great North Run for a record third time in a row on Saturday, joined by 3,000 Sun readers after our entry ticket giveaway.
Among them were our two families Natasha Harding, 41, her partner Paul Hope, 47, and son Zak Hope, ten, from Sevenoaks, Kent, and Scott and Charley Annear, both 32, and kids Kyle, 13, and Grace, ten, from Feltham, Middlesex.
We followed them as the adults prepared to run the 13.1-mile race from Newcastle to South Shields for the first time, and the kids trained for their 4k junior race.
Here, NATASHA HARDING, who completed it in three hours and ten minutes, shares her thoughts on her most gruelling achievement to date.
"It was nine months ago that we madly agreed to this challenge and I couldn’t believe the weekend had finally arrived.
"Zak ran his 4k junior race on Saturday and romped home in a mere 20 minutes. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
We had VIP passes which meant we travelled with the elite athletes – no extra pressure there, then!
"It also meant we began right at the beginning of the race with celebrities such as TV presenter Nell McAndrew, impressionist Jon Culshaw and Emmerdale actress Eden Taylor-Draper.
"But my lead lasted for all of 0.1 seconds after the starting gun sounded, before virtually all of Newcastle overtook me.
"The speed of some of the people was incredible, you could tell so many runners were determined to achieve a great time.
My goal, however, simply was to finish.
RELATED STORIES
"The first few miles went well. I felt in control and, although I was going slowly, I knew I could do it.
"Along the route, the atmosphere was electric.
"The sense of support and community was incredible.
"People were offering jelly beans, jelly babies, sliced oranges and ice pops along the way.
"Kids were squirting the crowds with water and yelling words of encouragement. It was awesome.
"Once I got to seven miles my legs were feeling it and it was just sheer determination that kept me going.
"I was so relieved when I finally crossed the finishing line. It was great to see Paul on the other side – he ran in three hours and six minutes.
"Scott and Charley ran together and finished in two hours and 58 seconds.
"Overall, the sense of achievement is amazing but am I glad I’ve done it?
"Well, I’m glad it’s all over and at the age of 41 I’m chuffed to bits that I did something I didn’t ever think I’d do.
"I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t finish under the three-hour mark.
"But my aim was to finish and I did . . . just about."
Scott added: “The whole experience has helped us bond.
“We’ve discovered that Kyle has a natural aptitude for running. He completed his 4k in 17minutes.
“And it’s been great for Grace, who was quite exercise-averse before she started training in January, then managed to finish the junior race in 33minutes.”