Sonia prepared for race of life to win Great North Run

Tyneside

That was the message that came through loud and clear yesterday when she addressed the assembled media in a pre-race press conference in South Shields dispelling any suggestion that she might be just using the event as a stepping stone to her New York Marathon debut on November 3.

It's true the Big Apple is always on her mind but, with her preparations at such an advanced stage, she knows that she has to perform here to maintain her confidence level, which is very high at the moment.