MOST people choose their close friends or a relative to become their running buddy and help to motivate them.

But when radio DJ Jo Whiley was looking for a training partner for the Bupa Great North Run she chose fellow mother-of-four Susan Spence.

Mrs Spence, who grew up in Droitwich, was chosen by the DJ from hundreds of entries into a competition to accompany her on the run in South Shields.

The 36-year-old, a former pupil at the Alice Ottley School, Worcester, only began running in February after her 10-year-old son James had Asperger’s syndrome diagnosed.

“I haven’t been running for long and started after my son’s diagnosis to get a bit of time for myself,” she said.

“Jo was interested in why I was running for the charity and we kept in touch over Twitter and text message to encourage each other and give each other advice.

“I’m not much younger than Jo, so I have grown up listening to her on the radio for years. We had two training sessions together beforehand and it was really nice to go through the whole thing together.

“It was great to have someone to talk to about it and to have support on the day too.”

It was the first time either woman had taken part in a half-marathon. Mrs Spence managed to complete it in two hours and 13 minutes, raising £900 for Ambitious about Autism. The DJ crossed the finish line in two hours and five minutes.

Cheering along at Mrs Spence’s home in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was husband Matthew, son James, Grace, aged nine, Elliot, five and Oliver, three.

Also watching were her parents Patricia and Donald Harrison, of Fabricius Avenue, Droitwich. To sponsor Mrs Spence, log on to justgiving.com/ Susan-Spence1.