Great North Run Accommodation

Finding accommodation for the Great North Run is getting harder by the year! The first year we used Nirvana because we booked late and were put in a nice B&B in Morpeth. It was convenient for the bus transfer, but it took ages to get back there after the race. The following year we saw the prices had gone up, so we did our own thing.

So we then used Active Hotels a few times. These were great - one year we tried to book directly with the hotel and they asked for far more then Active Hotels asked for. Best of all, you don't pay a penny when you book - just when you checkout. And the hotels we've booked through them can be cancelled until the day before arrival. So if you are thinking of running the Great North Run, save yourself the hassle of finding accommodation for the race in February when the results of the ballot are announced and book with Active Hotels now. Check the T&C of the hotel and if you don't get a ballot place then you can cancel the booking without charge. But looking for Great North Run accommodation once the ballot opens is always hard work. Once the results are announced...

The problem with Active Hotels is that we haven't found how to book a triple room. It meant having to go direct to the hotel - and loosing those great discounts. So the last couple of years, since our daughter & other relatives have been coming with us, we've started to look elsewhere. So last year we started using at Hoseasons and Cottages4You.

Now these last 2 might seem a bit daft, but to be honest, we are finding them an excellent alternative. Last year the caravan site was a hive of activity on the morning of the Great North Run - obviously we weren't the only runners to have thought of that idea. And the fact that the nearer sites were booked up early shows that's true.

The thing is with a cottage / caravan etc is that you can do a short break. It's not hard to find one that costs less for a short break than a hotel does for a night (we paid less than £100 for our 3 night stay in a caravan last year - most Great North Run hotels seem to charge £130+ per night). You then arrive Friday after work, have a leisurely day Saturday and after the race you can go back, get showered and changed and either head home or spend another night there. We really enjoyed that. Just a pity the place we stayed in is fully booked up.

So we're left in the hunt for Great North Run Accommodation. Only December and everywhere is filling up already. What will it be like when the ballot opens???

Great North Run

Well we are both entered for next year's Greatn North Run, with guaranteed entries for the following 2 years as well. Not cheap, but it allows us to get accommodation (especially for the following years) early, before all of the cheaper rooms are taken. Also get some sort of technical t-shirt - still to be seen!

This Running Isn't Meant To Be...

Would you believe that hte guy here to fix the boiler locked himself out of his van for 2 hours this morning??? Now I'm behind on work and it looks like today's run is out of the window. And I'd hoped to start daily running this week. Failed miserably there!

Next week. Must start next week (before Christmas).

Helsby - 42 days and counting

Just 42 days until the Helsby half - 4 weeks of training, less taper time. I really must get back into the training but listening to the gale outside it just isn't appealing. Work load is getting in the way of my being keen to get out - I've just looked at the list of emails in ready for tomorrow. And I've not done a long run for ages - and it wasn't long enough.

I'll have to decide in the next week or two (definitely by Christmas) whether I am marathoning next year and then build up a decent race schedule one way or the other. Not heard yet from the Great North Run people yet, so don't know what the situation is with entries there and whether they are repeating the Great Run club. So might not even be running there next year.

Not easy to get inspired... Roll on the warmer weather, some 10k races and inspiration.

Helsby - I'll Be There

Was getting quite worried about my Helsby half marathon entry. My name hadn't appeared on the list of entrants and the closing date had passed. But overnight by fears have been put to rest and I'm there. Last year I was one of the earliest entries, this year I'm just about the last to enter!

Suppose that means that now I have to get the shoes on and actually start some decent training. Must only be 7, maybe 8, weeks away...

It's Official

It's official - as you will see from the picture I'm not in the marathon.

Interesting to see though that the entry system is going totally online next year and opens in April. Will it still close in October or will the closing date also be brought forward a few months? It must make the work involved a lot easier for the organisers, but it will spoil our fun of watching for cheques being cashed!

An entry form for Edinburgh was also included. Tempting, just not sure on the whether for the race. Plus there is a favourite race that is probably the week before. Not sure whether that would be too much.

Could it be Blackpool

Just found out that another person in the running club hasn't got into London - that's 2 "no" and 1 "yes" so far out of 4. It's likely the 4th guy, never having ran London before, will also get a "no" but be given the club place. Especially as he's a good friend of the guy who's in.

The other "no" is talking about running the Blackpool Marathon, so it looks like the pressure will be on to enter that one. Will wait and see what happens regards club place etc first!