During September and October 2012, Nicky Brierley set herself the challenge of completing three runs from the Great Run series: the Great North Run – 16th September; the Great Birmingham Run – 21st October; and the Great South Run – 28th October.
“This year I set myself the challenge of running 3 Great Runs – the Great North, the Great Birmingham (both half marathons) finishing with the 10 mile Great South. I choose to run for CRY as I am a nurse working within the field of cardiology.
My challenge started in September with a long trip up to Newcastle for the Great North Run. The atmosphere is amazing. I think everyone has a tear in their eye when “Abide with me” is played as you wait on the start line thinking of the reasons you are running. The Red Arrows fly past also helps to make it a truly special day. I got to high five Ellie Simmons and Mo Farah and was still smiling 13.1 miles later when I realised some Mo magic had rubbed off and I had run a personal best of 2 hours 17 minutes. The day was rounded off by a very warm welcome by the CRY team in the Charity Village.
While many of the other runners probably had a well earned rest I continued with my training and five weeks later I was again on the start line, this time in Birmingham. I found Birmingham very tough, who knew there were such big hills in Birmingham? The crowd kept me going – it is great when a total stranger shouts your name to support you and I eventually finished in 2 hours 25 minutes. Disappointment was put into perspective when the sad news was released that a runner had died shortly after finishing. It has later been announced that his family and friends have set up a fund raising page in his memory for CRY.
Just one week later I was lining up yet again to start the Great South Run feeling very apprehensive after a hard run only a week earlier. This time I had an amazing run completing the 10 mile course in 1 hour 38 minutes. I walked back to my hotel wearing my three medals with pride. Three Great Runs 2012 and over £200 raised for CRY.”
Nicky Brierley
