Great North Run training diary: Final prep, nutrition & running gear with just weeks to go
In just over two weeks Express Sport will be on the start line for the Great North Run.
The AJ Bell Great North run is now just weeks away, with race day of September 7th breathing down the necks of all competitors, organisers and volunteers alike.
Around 60,000 runners will take on the 13.1 mile course from city to sea, spurred on by over 200,000 spectators lining the streets in support.
The 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run will feature some of the world’s leading athletes competing at the front in the elite men’s, women’s and wheelchair races. These include Great Run ambassador and Olympian Eilish McColgan who has confirmed her participation.
Express Sport will be among the thousands on the start line, and has been documenting the preparation - physically, mentally and nutritionally - in the build up to what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting race days on the yearly calendar.
And so, with just over a fortnight to go, are you ready? Do any of us ever actually feel truly ready for these things, irrespective of the graft and time endlessly channelled away into such ventures?
The answer may be no, put the proof is always in the pudding. No, just metaphorical for now, you can have the actual pudding itself after crossing the finish line, and heaps of it!
Once the clock ticked past the less-than-a-month-to-go mark, training sure began to feel different. Earlier in the summer it was about stacking miles and grinding out steady runs to build the base.
Now every session has a purpose, or at least a greater degree of it. Long runs aren't quite as long, but faster. Interval sessions creep back in - uncomfortable but necessary, sharpening the legs for what's coming. Even the easy runs feel like they're carrying intent.
Now, at present, there's a temptation to do too much. To throw in one last monster run, just to prove I can. But the sensible voice says the work's already there, it just needs to settle. That balance between pushing and holding back is harder than it looks, regardless of what your personal time expectations are for the race itself.
The route is starting to take shape in my head. The Tyne Bridge. The Red Arrows overhead. That surge of people moving as one towards the coast. It's not just a half marathon, it's the Great North Run. It has its own gravity. You don't just run it, you get pulled through it.
Everything feels very much in tune now. The lingering injuries are - touch wood - momentarily at bay, and nutrition has been a pivotal part of this. Refuelling the body to ensure it can recover as intended. Here are the picks of the bunch, and what you should certainly consider adding to your culinary list with haste.
Ok, so this stuff has been a revelation. The benefits of bone broth are age-old and frequently told. Broth is great, packed densely with minerals, nutrients, essential proteins and heaps of collagen. The latter being the really good stuff; treating the bones, joints, ligaments and tendons to fresh daily boosts of collagen makes the running experience all that more bearable, and ultimately enjoyable.
Borough broth are very much leading the way when it comes to this product, with masterfully crafted concoctions including lamb, beef, chicken, chicken pho and tonkotsu. Fish broth is also available and tasty as a pescatarian option, while organic apple miso and seaweed is another offering.
A warm bowl of broth before or after a run (or both) is comforting and energising. Adding in varying selections of diced vegetables is also super easy, and you feel like you're earning health brownie points in real-time. With the colder autumn months fast approaching, this will be a staple within my diet for the remainder of the year.
Electrolytes are key, when the body is zapped and worn from the training run. It doesn't matter if it's been a long one or quick outing to maximise time; the body loses salts and these must be replenished. If not, say goodbye to adequate recovery.
And so, after being unconvinced by other products which can feel a little too saccharine and fizzy, stumbling upon Humantra was something of a eureka moment. Coming in delicious flavourings of lychee, berry pomegranate or Himalayan lime, these quick and simple sachets each immediately made a full bottle of water something to guzzle with glee.
Humantra has felt particularly effective following both planned long runs and quick, intervals hill sprints. Basically, when the body is at its most depleted, these little hits of powdered perfection feel as though a system reboot, or revitalisation is provided.
Pro tip; taking a large swig of cold water infused with a Humantra first thing has served well for bringing energy levels to a swift focus. Beneficial, even if your planned run for the day in question comes later in the afternoon.
Still the ultimate go-to when it comes to top level restoration, NIGHT POWDER remains a delicious pre bedtime treat such is its lovely tart taste. But this stuff packs some seriously scientifc punch. Powered by its 'hero ingredient' L-Glycine, the supplement is also neatly composed of saffon and cherry pure, along with magnesium, manganese and copper.
As previously noted, sleep improves exponentially with this product and the quality of which just feels richer. It has been a constant throughout the training block, and will remain so well into the future.
Now, the creation of DAY POWDER tandems perfectly to bring the cycle full circle, curtailing a restful night's sleep with an energy-filled day ahead.
DAY POWDER comes with more of a fuller, less smooth taste than NIGHT POWDER, though is equally as delcious. The focus provided by this supplement feels invaluable, particularly on those slow sluggish days when training really is not appealing, whatsoever.
As training has increased, the organic and natural theme has certainly been continued. It's always nice and somewhat reassuring to put something straight from Mother Earth into the system, and The Herbtender’s Perform & Recover capsules have endeavoured to play a huge role.
Free from additives, fillers and unnecessary ingredients, getting a daily pep up from Perform & Recover has played a consistent role so far in feeling replenished, while also keeping at bay that lingering feeling of muscle cramp and dull aches which seemingly omit from the joints.
Footwear and running gear
Recent pounding of pavements has been occuring with the use of Under Armour's Velociti Elite 2 running shoes, which have added some serious stride to proceedings.
These cloud companions are soft, nimble and highly versatile. A full-length, carbon plate adds propulsion, while rubberless Under Armour Flow technology cushioning makes it light and grippy.
In terms of kit, the recent prolonged warm weather we've been blessed with has meant most runs have leant themselves nicely to the classic and comfortable shorts and t-shirt combo.
The trick is to find a neatly fitted waistband on shorts, particularly for longer outings and race day itself. Once everything is snug and fitted to the body, the mind has one fewer mental conundrum to navigate. The Under Armour Launch have thus far been ticking every box adaquately, and wick sweat away from the body in that ideal manner so as you don't feel clammy or in need of a freshen up.
Most kit accessories never really feel essential, but if you're heading out on those long runs then a vest certainly is. Hitting up the big distances with a Silva strive vest strapped securely on has put an extra bounce in the stride. Light and breathable with 5L of storage, this has been a godsend in providing handy little pockets and mesh holders, for electrolyte drinks, gels and the emergency sweets.
The real heroes
Thousands of people will be running the Great North Run, each admirable and each holding their own personal reasons for doing so. Express Sport took a look at a select few, to highlight the best of what this iconic race is truly all about:
Laura Bottomly from Malton - is taking on the GNR for the fifth time this year, having completed it annually since 2021 in memory of her sister, Emma. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 21, Emma passed away at 26, but not before running the GNR herself during remission - a race she loved and one that now holds deep meaning for Laura.
Once unable to run even 1k without stopping, Laura never imagined completing a half marathon. Now, the GNR is her way of honouring Emma’s memory, celebrating her love of running, and raising vital awareness and funds to help others affected by ovarian cancer.
Jenny and Vanessa Herbert, sisters from Reading - are running in memory of their brother. Just days after receiving a text from their older brother Mark, asking them to join him in the race, the unimaginable happened. Mark, aged just 49, died suddenly from a heart attack, caused by undiagnosed coronary heart disease.
A keen runner and former club-level athlete, Mark had already signed up to the 13.1-mile event and was hoping his sisters would join him on the iconic route from Newcastle to South Shields. “We just knew we had to do this for Mark,” says Jenny, 39, a psychotherapist based in Newbury. “He wanted us to do it together. We can’t do it with him, but we can do it for him."
Matty Long, Newcastle - is gearing up for his first Great North Run, running alongside a friend he shook hands with in a pub back in January as a promise to take on this challenge together.
Matty, 21, is raising funds for YoungMinds, a charity that supported him through his own struggles with anxiety, depression, and obesity during his school years - difficulties that left him battling daily panic attacks and self-doubt. Now a confident university student, YoungMinds Activist, and advocate for mental health, Matty is determined to show others facing similar battles that things can and do get better.
Rafi Solaiman, Worksop - is an award-winning Paralympic athlete, actor, and model living with cerebral palsy. After suffering brain haemorrhage, which left him needing to learn to walk and speak again at 12 years old. Through rehab he discovered frame running with one of his first frames supported by the Boparan Charity.
After going onto represent Great Britain at three World Para Athletic Championships, bagging himself a gold and two silvers, Rafi has stepped up the challenge to 13.1 miles - determined to do it to raise money for the charity that supported him early on. "There are far to many negative stories in the world now, everyone is lacking a bit of spirit and heart," he says. "That's why I'm taking on this challenge to inspire others to help themselves.”
Twitter - @danny7gallagher
Contact - danny.gallagher.editorial@gmail.com
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