The
Great North Run Hall of Fame honours a number of people who, over the
years, have made a special contribution to the Bupa Great North Run -
not just the victors from the Olympian world of elite athletes but also
volunteers, administrators, media colleagues, fundraisers and celebrity
supporters from the last 30 years.
Hall Of Fame
This is about respectful memory,
holding the connections firm,
like how as a North East poet, I join Kevin Keegan
in having had the odd
dodgy perm
As Michael proved
you can use the Great North Run to make you Ready
Or Lynn Proctor
Keeping the finishing line in her spokes
held her steady.
As they remember the run forever
the run will remember them
Seeds become trees become forests
leaves growing from a single stem
The inductees aren't a handprint outside a theatre
or a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
They're the imprint of every trainer,
the whoosh of a red arrows plane.
They're the refreshing energy of water
gulped in the nick of time,
the unyielding Tarmac
the White of the finishing line.
Remember superstar splitshirt Kevin Keegan
who kept going when his trainers gave out
Remember thirstquencher Carol Heppel
who was Better Prepared- since she is a scout.
and takes memories of her orange stain
into the Hall of Fame
Remember postergirl Ingrid Kristiansen
treadmill training Nordic Mum
taking just an hour ten minutes
to polish off the Great North Run.
Remember load bearing Catterick Garrison
communicating, securing, ringing a bloomin big gun
Remember sane Sir Christopher Chataway
TV,MP,MD,
Roger Bannister's pacemaker
Still improving at eighty,
record breaker, bridge maker.
Talking of memories- we've eaten pork in Rich thyme reduction
Which sounds like something from Dr Who,
rich thyme reduction, the way the minutes pass quickly
when you're listening to Sue.
And those who've joined the 24
After tonight's induction
will forever soak up your memories
Like a rich thyme reduction.
They're not a handprint outside a theatre
or a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
They're the imprint of every trainer,
the whoosh of a red arrows plane.
They're the refreshing energy of water
gulped in the nick of time,
the unyielding Tarmac
the White of the finishing line.
An induction into the Hall of Fame
for those who've gone above and beyond,
connected forever to the Great North Run
by the threads of memory's bond.
