Now, I've already given the game away with the title of this post so you've probably guessed that the unexpected email was one telling me I was successful in the ballot for this years Great North Run and have a place in the race on 13th September.
How and why would someone who has managed to run a sum total of 14 miles in the last 2 years be trying to get a place in the world's biggest half marathon I hear you ask.... well it went a little something like this.
Maybe it was the over-indulgence over the Christmas period, maybe it was having some time off of work and re-charging my batteries, whatever it was I had decided to start running again and was determined that this time I was going to stick at it. I knew I had it in me, I ran a marathon in 2011 so I was obviously capable of sticking at it (I ran 741 miles in 2011 which takes some commitment!)
So on 1st January I layered up put on the running shoes and ventured out for a chilly 3 mile run. It was hard work but it felt good to be back out there. The following Sunday while having some breakfast before run number 2 of the year I came across the fact that the ballot for the first lot of places for the Great North Run had opened. I was a runner again, the GNR is one of those races that, along with the London Marathon, would be on my bucket list, if I actually had one. So no time like the present, details entered and my name in the hat. And with that I went out and did 3 more miles. The biggest challenge I thought would be whether I got myself out of the door after a day at work and that's exactly what I did on 6th January with another 3 miles in the bag. And then..... well actually I'm not sure what happened but the running shoes haven't been out since. As easily as that I had thrown away the good start and the new years resolution and gone back to being my old unmotivated self. At some point in the intervening weeks I had an email to tell me that I hadn't been successful in getting one of the first lot of ballot places. "Good job" said the little voice in my head. "You were never going to stick at that running lark again". And that was that... or so I thought.
I do recall on that initial rejection email it mentioning that my name would automatically be passed forward into the main ballot but that was really the last I thought of it until last Wednesday. I was sitting at my desk at work and my phone buzzed to signal the arrival of an email. Not expecting anything exciting I had a quick look at the subject and then stopped in my tracks. "Your general ballot results" it read. Now back when I was seriously running my name was in the ballots for the London Marathon and GNR every year and there was something about the wording of the subject that didn't seem right. It seemed to suggest that there was something worth reading inside and so, with trepidation I opened the email, and the very first word told me all I needed to know.... "Congratulations!"
So, when I least expected, or even wanted, it, there it was, a place in GNR 2015. Once the initial shock had subsided my general feeling was that this could be just what I need. There's every chance that this may be the one and only time I get the opportunity to be a part of this massive event and I certainly don't want to regret not putting in the training and making it to the start line. And if that's still not enough motivation they charge the entry fee to your card straight away so it's paid for and it looks like you pretty much need to lose a leg to even defer your entry (maybe a slight exaggeration) so I might as well get my moneys worth!!
So, what next? Well right now the 5am start this morning for work has caught up with me so I'm going to make this a two-parter. To be continued...
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