Everyone should give GNR a go – it’s never too late

Head of News Peter Tennick on taking on the Great North Run for the first time at the age of 51

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THE Great North Run was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life and now I've completed it, for all of the pain and mental endurance it took, I feel like it’s been a massive achievement for me and for all the 60,000 people who were by my side.

Having experienced it, the biggest achievement is the creation of this amazing North East institution which can be considered as the best half marathon in the world. Now having done it, there can’t be any better feeling anywhere than taking part in this North East icon.

It is absolute proof that the North East is the best, with the best people, communities, spirit and love. The whole experience has been so emotional and at the point I was handed a finisher’s medal, I must admit it all got to me. I had a tear in my eye after spending months looking ahead to today, training to get in shape for it, planning a race run-up and race day schedule, and building it all up in my mind as the nerves grew.