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Bananas, David Beckham and Paula Radcliffe do it for runners 13 August 2003 What do bananas, David Beckham, Paula Radcliffe and a desire to raise money for charity have in common? All were named as significant motivating factors by over 1,000 runners in training for the Bupa Great North Run in Newcastle on 21 September. With the big race just six weeks away, Bupa surveyed runners from all over the UK to find out what motivates them to put in the hard work. Nearly 90 percent said they ran to keep fit and healthy, 58 percent said they were motivated by the sense of achievement, 44 percent said they enjoyed it and 26 percent said they wanted to raise money for charity. "It's fantastic that so many people are motivated to run in order to stay fit and healthy. Motivation is a very personal matter and will vary significantly," said Bupa's medical director Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, who will be running his seventh Bupa Great North Run this year. "It's also encouraging to see that so many runners want to do something for charity. This year over 300 Bupa staff members will be running the Bupa Great North Run for our nominated charity, Leukaemia Research Fund." To add to the fun the survey also asked runners which of a number of celebrities currently hitting the headlines they'd most like to run behind. David Beckham led the pack winning 26 percent of the vote. Pierce Brosnan proved youth isn't everything coming second with 23 percent. Bill Clinton came third with 14 percent, Ali G fourth, Jude Law fifth, Justin Timberlake sixth and Alistair Campbell brought up the rear. Paula Radcliffe, winner of the London Marathon, was chosen as the female celebrity runners would most like to run with, winning 47 percent of the vote. Kylie Minogue was beaten into second place with 23 percent. Ruby Wax came third with 12 percent, Nicole Kidman fourth, Serena Williams fifth, Christine Hamilton sixth and Cherie Blair last. "It appears that people are most inspired by the example sports people like David Beckham and Paula Radcliffe set. But the results also suggest that an entertainment value and a sense of humour is very welcome in a running partner if you have a half marathon to complete," said Bupa's assistant medical director Dr Annabel Bentley. Bupa also asked runners how they fuel up before a run and what they like to eat and drink. "Over half the runners - a whopping 56 percent - said they ate a banana before going running. This is good news as bananas contain a whole host of nutrients that make them ideal for runners," said Bupa's Dr Annabel Bentley. When it comes to a drink before setting off on a run, 84 percent of runners from all over the UK choose water. The drink of second choice was coffee or tea, chosen by 13 percent of runners. Dr Annabel Bentley said, "Drink some fluid before you start running, but don't try to load up with huge amounts of water before setting off. In the past people were advised to drink lots of water, even before they felt thirsty, but the latest expert advice is that it's better to drink according to your thirst before, during and after the race. Although rare, it is actually possible to drink too much water and lower the level of sodium in the blood. However, this is more common in endurance events over four hours."
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