Half marathon number 17 was the first of the special ones this year. My Dad, Terry, was born on this day in 1930. With that in mind, I decided to run from the place he was born to where he grew up. I only remember these places because of a memoir he wrote. He was born in Pine Street in Birtley. That was easy enough for me to find on Google Maps. What was difficult to find was East Parade in Sacriston. There was no trace of it. I decided to run to a place of the same name in nearby Kimblesworth. I wasn't convinced it was the place that my Dad referred to in a memoir that he wrote.
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I like to think that I take after my Dad. He had an incredible sense of fun and always looked to make people laugh. I'm exactly the same. Whether I'm in a meeting at work or any other situation for that matter, my main aim is to have a laugh first and get the job done second. Thankfully, I always get the job done as my colleagues will testify to!
The picture below was taken on New Years Eve in 1986. My Dad would have been playing the organ at a club and probably got home around 11pm just in time to see in the new year. The money from my Dad's club gigs were my Mam's "housekeeping". For as long as I can remember he would often have at least 2 sessions a week.
I set off from Pine Street in Birtley just before 3pm and made my way down the old A1 (aka the A167). I thought about my Dad's memoir as well as the many stories he used to tell me when I was growing up. One story he used to tell me was when he was a dambuster. Whenever the film of the same name was on TV he would convince me that he was one of the rear gunners. During the easter holidays of 1980 we were actually stood on the Mohne dam in Germany. "Dad, is this the dam you blew up" is something I remember saying. Every time I tell that story, the volume in which I shouted on the dam gets louder. I definitely take after my Dad! Never let the facts get in the way of a good story eh?
Mind you, the stories I have about the places I've ran, the things I've done and the people I've met are very unbelievable. Playing football for Kevin Keegan with The Entertainers. Commentating on a Newcastle match when the original guy didn't turn up. Looking puzzled when Prince Andrew said to my wife "what on earth are you doing with him". Being held at gun point on Route 66 in California the day after tipping off the police which led to a drugs bust. I could go on but I'm sure you get the point!
I made it through Chester-le-street in good time and as soon as I saw this bridge after 4.5 miles I was reminded of a story my Dad used to tell me. The bridge, which is part of the east coast main line, was targetted by the Germans in World War Two. According to my Dad, they missed the bridge but managed to blow up a cow in a nearby field. I have no way of knowing if that was true or not!
As I approached my right hand turn off the A167 towards Kimblesworth, I felt puzzled and a little frustrated. My Dad's memoir only covered the first 10 or so years of his life. The next things I know about my Dad were when he met my Mam in 1970. The 30 years inbetween are a bit of a mystery. I think that his first job was a coffin maker. I remember this as he damaged one of his little fingers with a hammer while doing that job. I also know that he was a civil servant at the Royal Ordinance Factory in Birtley for 25 years. There's very little I know after that.
My Dad passed away in 1988 in a hospital which has since been demolished but was on a site that is next to St. Benedict's Hospice. I have so many questions and no way of having them answered was a thing firmly in my thoughts as I reached the 6.5 mile turning point at the East Parade which probably wasn't the one my Dad grew up in.
On the subject of my Dad being a Civil Servant, I remember that he used to have a bad back around the same summer day each year. What are the chances! He would usually spend it at with me and my Mam at our caravan in Seahouses. Now this is where me and my Dad differ as I've never had a single sick day in my working life.
Darkness fell on the A167 as I headed back towards Chester-le-street. Other than aching legs, I felt pretty good and there were furtehr signs that I was getting fitter. But as my fitness increases so does the fatigue. I could really feel 17 days of half marathons in my sore legs. That would have been enough to keep my Dad off work for a fortnight!
I made it back to Chester-le-street after 10 miles and was feeling hungry. I'd only had a bowl of porridge for breakfast and no lunch. I was very pleased to see Greggs and to me it looked like an oasis in the desert. I used my banking phone app to get a free sausage roll. That probably had zero nutritional benefit to my run but I felt pretty pleased to be holding a luke warm snack. That was soon demolished and I was on my way again.
The final 3.1 miles were pretty slow. I decided to listen to some of the music my Dad enjoyed or played in the clubs. First up was Quando Quando by Engelbert Humperdinck. This was followed by My Way and then a song that I remember my Mam and Dad singing as a duet. That song was "Something Stupid". I can even remember where we were when I last heard them sing it.
I was soon back to Birtley and passed the Red Lion which I believe was my Dad's local pub in relation to where he worked.
I made it back to Pine Street after 13.1 miles in 03:21:55. It was just outside the 4mph that I'm striving for. 03:19:02 on day 10 remains. the quickest time so far.
As far as this campaign of running 365 half marathons goes, I was very pleased with this run. It was another comfortable one. In terms of commemorating my Dad's birthday, I'd really enjoyed reminiscing about his stories and the good times as I ran.
The story didn't end there on day 17! What I'm about to write is going to sound like the tallest of my Dad's tall tales.
Later in the day, I saw a few comments on the Run Geordie Run Facebook page from a lady called Jennifer. This was soon followed up with a direct message. The first message was just a picture.
An explanation soon followed. The man pictured above is my cousin Frank. A cousin that I never knew existed until day 17. Many messages were exchanged in an attempt to help me piece together this part of a family tree that I didn't know about. I'd only met my Dad's brother a few times. Sadly the last time was at my Dad's funeral. Frank (pictured above) is my Dad's brother's (also called Frank) son. That makes him my cousin. He's got the same hairstyle as me!
Jennifer told me that her Dad reminisces a lot about his young life and time "back home" (in Sacriston). I found out that I had another cousin called John. He sadly passed away in1973 aged only 21.
Jennifer then messaged her Dad and the day's big mystery was solved. It was no wonder that I couldn't find East Parade in Sacriston. Frank said "the whole estate got demolished so that's why you can't find it".
Many further messages were exchanged but what shone through was that the Allison family have a tremendous sense of humour and fun. Jennifer said "Dad's got a very dry sense of humour and makes me laugh every day. I'm very lucky to have him and Mum".
I was pleased to hear that from Jennifer that "My Dad can literally tell you all about the family lines. He has the memory of an elephant". I started the day without answers and a sense of frustration. Perhaps I was going to end it with the hope that some of those gaps in time and knowledge could be filled. When I write my own book, perhaps one of the most important chapters will be entitled "My Cousin Frank". To be continued...
She observed that "Your Dad had the same love for his Mum and Grandad did too. There was no one quite like his Mam.". That's where I'm without doubt exactly like my Dad. Ultimately, dear reader, that is why my fundraising exists. Yes, a debt of gratitude is being repaid to St. Benedict's Hospice who cared for my Mam. But every step that I've take around the world is a love letter to her. This is keeping her memory alive as well as my Dad's. This is fulfilling my need to make them proud (although I'm sure my Mam would have told me to stop running a long time ago!).
Through my running and fundraising I have found some peace with my grief. I spoke about that at the finish of the run across the USA at Forrest Gump point in Monument Valley last summer. I'm in a really good place after all these years filled with grief. My wife, Donna, also has a lot to do with that positive outcome.
My fundraising and running entered a new phase this year. I am fully aware of St. Benedict's Hospice's desperate need for funds. That's the main reason that I've brought my next major running project forward a year. But there's something else now. I'm running for no other particular reason. People have questioned why I've committed to running 365 half marathons. I think today is one of those reasons why.
I wrote the following on the 13th December 2025: "Run Geordie Run 365 isn’t just about distance or destinations. It’s about stories too. The kind that live in the towns, villages and coastlines of our region.
This year-long journey is a chance to shine a light not only on the places I pass through, but on the people who have helped to make them special. 365 is a platform for connection. It’s a chance to remind us what makes life extraordinary.
The landscapes may be many and wide, but the real journey lies in the details: the inspirational stories, the laughter shared, the challenges overcome and the reasons that keep my miles ticking by. This isn’t just about where the run goes. It’s about what we discover together along the way.".
You couldn't make this stuff up, although I'm sure my Dad would have given it a good go. He also convinced me that the actress June Allyson was a distant relation. "Our June" is what he used to call her.
Day 17 is going to take some beating. Happy Birthday Dad.
If you'd like to sponsor my attempt to run a year of half marathons in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice then please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025. Thanks to everyone who has made a donation so far.
