Are you taking part in next year’s Great North Run? I have plans to do so again.
Yes, again. I first took part in the Great North Run on 1988. Read my story of that race here.
It’s all about getting fit first and I’m working on how to do that.
I’m also planning something interesting in terms of putting together a team of fellow wheelchair users, just in it for the fun run. Don’t worry, Josh Cassidy (the 2011 winner of the Mens’ Wheelchair Race), I’ll be no threat to you winning again – indeed you’ll probably be half way home when I cross the finishing line!
According to the BUPA Race Results page, there were only 19 wheelchairs (14 men and 5 women) in the 2011 race and the slowest time was a fantastic 1 hour 11 minutes.
In 2012, the year of the Paralympics, I’d like to see a lot more wheelchair users taking part in the Fun Run, either self-propelling or with the assistance of a pusher. It’s all about the taking part. After all, it is largely a fun run, so there’s no reason why wheelchair users cannot join in the fun with everyone else.
I’m sure there were “fun runner” wheelchair users in the 2011 race, but there doesn’t appear to be any record of how many did so.
If you did, please let me know, and it will be my pleasure to share your success on this website. I know from my experience doing it over 20 years ago, it’s a great achievement and should be celebrated.
Please contact me at steve@wheelchairsteve.com.
Please also let me know if you plan to take part in a wheelchair in 2012. It will be a great year to have a record wheelchair participation.