As some of you may know, I’ve signed up for the Bristol 10k in May. No great shakes for most, but a massive deal for me, being my first bling opportunity! 😍🏅🏃♀️
My husband works with a gazelle and his wife, the uber gazelle. There are several other moderate gazelles at the office, so little did I know that the company always organises a ‘team’ - and my dear husband alerted the gazelle that I was running this year. I’m now in the team. What???!!!! 🐌🐌🐌
I’ve told the gazelle I’m no speedster, and he assures me it doesn’t matter. What have I let myself in for? 😅😅😅
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cheekychipmunks
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You’re too kind Dexy, however I don’t see myself ever making gazelle status! It has inspired me to attempt to go a little quicker though, so we’ll see! 🏃♀️🤞🐌😀
Don't worry Cheeky about the gazelles, by that I suppose they are sub 23 minutes 5K'ers or sub 40 minute 10K'ers, great company to be with, training with the them will be a great experience, they won't expect you to run as fast and during training they will go at your pace.
Thanks AlMorr. They’d grow moss if they ran at my pace! I did tell them my predicted pace and they were still happy for me to muck in, so you’re right, it’ll be fun! 🏃♀️👍🏃
All these lovely comments are making me feel better, so thanks 61! The team factor plus the lure of bling will surely spur me on, and I’m really looking forward to it now! 😀🏅👍
Hopefully you’ve let yourself in for a great fun day in May without any pressure. Go and enjoy it... you’ve told them you’re not gonna set any world records, so don’t stress it... you’re gonna be fine, enjoy a 10k, get some bling and be damn proud at the end of it all.
Very true, UNM, and you’re right, I’ve been upfront and realistic with them. It was kind of them to include me, and when I’ve completed the race in whatever time, being part of the team will feel very special! 😍🏃♀️👍🏃
Haha, Deals, not so sure I’ll ever be a gazelle with my short little pins, but the lure of bling will most definitely help overtake my everyday snails! 👍🏃♀️🐌😅
Yay! Go cheeky! You’ll do great and have a blast doing it! Just remember to run your own race and try to not get too caught up in everybody else’s pace. It’s very easy to start out too quick getting pulled along by the crowd.
Sage advice Sask, thanks! I’m hoping to shave a little of my snail time off by May, but I have no gazelle aspirations so pacing myself will be important. 😀🏃♀️
More wise advice, thanks Jell. 👍 I certainly won’t let it affect my enjoyment, but it’s bound to add more nerves as the race approaches. That’s no bad thing though as it’ll spur me on.
I’m already getting excited - what will I be like in April? 🙄😅🏃♀️
Well there’s a challenge if ever there was- and you know how much you rise to a challenge cheeky😊
Just enjoy it as you enjoy everything else in the running world. You’ve been up front with them and they’re happy to have you in the team so just go and enjoy the experience.
Anyway May is five running months away and your inner gazelle might have already emerged by then 🐌🏃♀️🏃♀️😊
Thanks Beanjo, I know you’re right. They know I have snail tendencies, but I do intend to shed a couple of them before May, and maybe see a tiny little gazelle emerge. A slow gazelle, don’t get me wrong!
Yesss, OF, snails are hardy, gazelles are flighty. I’ll be staying at a pace comfortable for me, and if I’ve shed a snail or two by May, great. If not, it doesn’t matter either. I’m going to enjoy it and earn my bling. 🏅😀👍🏃♀️🐌
I've got a much chap, much younger than me in my office who used to run like a race car. He can be a right sarky sort (all in good humour) most of the time. But whenever we talk about my runs and speed, he's never once cracked a joke. It just seems that whether it's on here, at work, parkrun or anywhere else, all runners respect the effort and commitment of each other, so you know you be fine and in great company..... As will they 😉 🏃
Spot on Uncle. Unlike in other walks of life, runners truly seem to look out for each other. It’s one of the main reasons I love this forum. There’s never ever any judgement. We all cheer each other along, and really mean it. 😀❤️🏃♀️🏃♂️
Oh cheekychipmunks that made me giggle. Uber gazelle 😂. Joining a ‘team’ is pretty cool but with Uber gazelle I would feel the same. I think it’s amazing you signed up for the 10k. Pretty damn fantastic to be true. I am sure you will have a blast and enjoy every minute. 😀. And just think. Bling too. How fab is that.
Hahaha, one of the reasons I signed up in the first place was to get my own bling collection started! How shallow is that? 😅😅 The team thing wasn’t on my radar at all, but now it’s going to happen, I’m going to embrace it. 😀
What’s more I’ve signed up for 2 more 10ks too! So May, June and August - and there’s one in July I might be able to do as well! Hellooo? Who is this person? 😅😅😅
It’s your run....let that be your mantra! Everyone might set off together but, def if it were me, once you all get going and fall into your comfortable pace....you’ll all break up anyway....don’t worry about it...you’re fabulous! You’ve entered a 10k, that’s something to be proud of in itself! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Thank you MC, you’re so right. There’s no way I’d be running with them, in fact the team is being made up of many different levels of runners so we’ll all be strung way out. I just know two of them are super speedy. But hey, they can cheer the rest of us in! 👍🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️👍
I did this one a couple of years ago and it's fab! There's live music along the way, the atmosphere is awesome because there are so many spectators and there's loads of iconic sights to gawp at along the way! It's a very well organised race and one of the best and most memorable I've done.
Oh, and the bling is fab too 🏅🙂
It doesn't matter how many people you run with, it's your race and no one else's, so just enjoy it. You'll absolutely love it 🤗
Oh wow IP, great info, thanks! 👍 I know the route well (I’m from Bristol and drive it most days) which is what attracted me to this race for my first - and it’s basically flat - but I didn’t know about the live music etc. Totally can’t wait! How exciting. 🏃♀️
You’ll do brilliantly, you always do! Anyway, as others have said, it’s 5 months off and just think how far you’ve come in the last 5 months. You know you can run 10k and the gazelles know you won’t be at the front with them, but will be waiting to cheer you across the line, so keep doing what you’re doing and look forward to your first bling 🏅🏅🏅
Oh heavens Sandie I’m so excited already reading all the wonderful comments on here! I’m pleased it’s 5 months away, but I’d love for it to be sooner if you know what I mean! 😀😀
Oh Cheeky, how lovely to be part of a team, all cheering each other on. And of course, all your VRBs on here will be cheering you on too! You're going to have a blast 🏃♀️🏃♀️
It’s dawning on me now that it’s going to be brilliant fun TC. The team will hopefully unleash a tiny wobbly legged gazelle as I near the finish line! Thanks for your encouragement, it really helps! 👍😀🏃♀️
Public races are wonderful. You have the opportunity to chat as you run round or to run in your own bubble. I did both. Everybody is really friendly and everybody gets cheered at the finishing line, as well as encouraged by spectators. The two Blenheim races I did were odd because the palace grounds are open to everyone, so we were running past walkers as we progressed round the course.
You've let yourself in for some which could be great! You may really like training and running with others and move onto. a new stage in your running. Either way, you will end up with some bling which is never a bad thing.
May is quite a way off so you can do lots of training for a distance which you can already achieve.
Gazelles all have to start somewhere too, and it sounds like they're a nice and helpful bunch, hopefully you will have fun training with them.
Aww thanks SSF, with each reply on here I’ve begun to feel more confident! You’re right, most runners don’t start off being gazelles - although the young man who ran our parkrun in 15.58 probably did! 🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃
I am smiling reading this post. I predict the gazelles will gain as much if not more from running with cheekychipmunks as she will from running with them. When they are losing motivation she will cheer them on, when they are nursing injuries she will lift their spirits and when they try to do too much or push too hard she will slow them down and steady them. Lucky gazelles I say 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Jayval, that was lovely! Thanks so much! Yes, I’ll be the voice of reason, spouting all my C25K advice!
I know a few of them, and they are very friendly - and I’ve been up front about my 🐌 tendencies. They’re happy to have me, and I’m looking forward to being part of the team! 😀🏃🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️😀
If they are anything like the 18 - 22 min parkrunners I regularly run with (on Tuesday’s), then it will not matter one jot that you are a slower pace. Honestly. The running community are the most inclusive positive people I’ve ever met. They’ll speak with you as an equal. Don’t let it phase you- you’ll be fantastic xxx
Thanks Equi. You’re right about the wonderful running community - I’ve never come across such a friendly bunch, whether on here or at parkrun. So the office team should be no different. I’m looking forward to it now! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃🏃🏃👍
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