The New Forest is Flat .......

[UpTheStanley]

But the bit of Dorset they found for the New Forest Marathon (and half and 5k and, most importantly, 10k) wasn't . Garmin did something I haven't seen before and coloured my trace by pace - blue is slow and red is quick. See that blue bit from 5k? That's the first time I've walked in an actual race since the last time I did "Top of the Rock" in Gibraltar - a very long time ago! And my split for the 6th k was 7'04" (all the rest were sub 5'50", the first and last sub 5'20"). Time to 10k according to my watch 57'02", total distance 10.13k in 57'39", official race time (not in yet) should be somewhere between the two.

The race was a time trial. We were called forward in groups of 30 every 5 minutes, based I assume on our forecast finish times, and got an individual green light to start when the previous runner had gone 10m. I was in the second pod, having obviously been far too optimistic, and they should have sent me a target for my back as well as a race number for my front. I passed exactly one person the whole time, a lady who was walking inside the first k (which was entirely flat), and was passed by many (15-20?), mostly ladies who clearly should have had more confidence in their undoubted abilities! (talking to you Oldgirlruns ). Just under 500 runners altogether I think for the 10k, people were still starting as I finished. Everybody behaved impeccably with regards to social distancing as far as I could see.

I'm told the course was beautiful. I fear I didn't pay it as much attention as I might have ......... The organisers had done an amazing job to put the race on at all, and the organisation was also spot on, so many many kudos to them.

I have a minor excuse for my performance in that the room in the pub Dexy5 and I stayed in overnight was blessed by having the cellar cooling fan outlet outside its window. Dexy got not a wink of sleep all night, and after discovering her sending texts on her phone at 0230 I didn't get much more myself. But I did also have an incentive, having started in the 0805 pod I managed to get back to the pub in time to order a full English before breakfast closed at 1000. What them possessed me to agree to do an "all her yesterdays" yomp up and around Badbury Rings before we headed for home is something else to conjure with .....

Looking forward to next year's race already Onward and upward

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Nothing to do with the other evening attractions of the pub then? Beer and Shiraz do not mix.

Well done on completing it, it sounds good fun

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Not guilty, I was beer only 🍺

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Yep I had the Shiraz. 🍷

[Coddfish Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Ah, had misunderstood!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Well done on completing The New Forest 10K, sub 60 minutes, glad that you enjoyed your run this morning, you replied to me the other day that you didn't think you would run it sub 50 minutes, nevertheless I will congratulate you on completing the run, glad you enjoyed your full English Breakfast when you completed the run.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I’m so glad I sold my place. I’m not sure my ankles would have liked that trails course. And I would probably have been starting as you finished.

Love the black T-shirt and wooden medal though.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

You sound rather deflated UTS ☹️ I would kill to do a sub 60 and you’ve got a few years on me, but at least it was a real race, you and Dexy were able to have a night away with presumably a nice dinner to go with your beer and a full English followed by a full day in the great outdoors. Then think how much more you will enjoy next year’s with Dexy in your wake xx

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

More knackered than deflated I think Sandie

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Ah well, relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep in your own bed and you’ll be right as rain tomorrow 😊

[David_G]

Well done UTS, sounds like it was a tough one🏃‍♂️👏 I expect last night trying to rest with all that going on wouldn’t have helped either😟 I like the t-shirt and bling though, and I’d love to do a ‘real’ event again!😊

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to David_G]

It was certainly tougher than last year, a bit rougher underfoot as well as more ups and downs. But it was good to do a real race.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Great bling and well earned 🏅 That’s a great time especially given your lack of sleep! The same thing happened to us once when we stayed overnight, it really messes with your head. And temper 😡 Considering that distraction I think you did brilliantly!

And no doubt the breakfast sorted everything out - drool drool 😋

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

The complaint has been lodged with the owner (who is away in France). I’d had an email confirming they’d reserved their quietest room for us so very annoying.

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Not good ☹️

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Great pics UTS! While I appreciate the sentiment, I think the chances of my ever passing you are non existent- unless we’re going in opposite directions of course😆. But I take on board that I should have more confidence in my ability and so I will! I was more or less awake for Dexy’s 0430 text and responded - in fact we had a brief exchange before I went back to sleep! Early nights all round tonight? Very impressed that you were able to run and get back for breakfast- and do a walk as well! But I thought the New Forest is Hampshire not Dorset?!

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

It is - but the race wasn’t 😀

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Crossing borders eh?!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

😱 I thought your phone would be off.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

No, I’d forgotten to turn the silent mode on and I was only semi asleep anyway - for some reason I didn’t really sleep well. And that’s without the problem you had! But it’s fine- what are friends for if not to text each other at 4.30 in the morning😂!

[Katnap Graduate10]

👏👏👏 at least you got some downhills to recover!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

What goes up ...... 😀

Comes down a bit quicker!

[SlowLoris]

Very good time for that course. I think I saw you exit the car park in a blue Focus (car not state of mind) but I was too far away to be sure.

Madame Loris also did the 10. She's not a keen runner but came back on a high.

Crappiest medal I've ever seen.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Was that you who got into the 10k warm-up area with Mme L around 0730/0740 on the strength of an HM race number? If so I know who you are 😀

You’ve right about the car, but I quite liked the medal once I realised it was wood not cardboard !

[SlowLoris in reply to UpTheStanley]

No I didn’t run today, just chauffeur.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Was your companion running in a natty suit with bowler and umbrella? Just noticed your new profile picture, Mrs Peel.

[Hidden in reply to SlowLoris]

How is your training going?

[SlowLoris in reply to Hidden]

Finished on Saturday. Not as planned. I might do a race report on the other forum when I’ve stopped crying into my beer.

[Hidden in reply to SlowLoris]

Whatever happened you're still awesome

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Did you do the NFM on Saturday? Do post.

Sorry we missed you. We would have hung around longer had it not been the draw of breakfast.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Still a reasonable time for 10k UTS, despite all the complicating factors! Yes I'd noticed Garmin's new coloured pace - quite useful I think.

Sounds as though that type of arrangement for races will be around for a while.....

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JP, the start was weird but the whole thing worked very well.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Great time for a tough run UTS, especially after a poor nights sleep. Lovely photos - has me hankering for a race too!

Loving Garmins new coloured-coded pace markings. I fell over on my 10K today and there on my map is a nice little blue blob where it happened!😂 I soon got going again though, although finished my run on orange!🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

I hope you aren’t too bruised Sandra.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

What the missus said ...... sorry Sandra, I thought I’d replied already 😟. Thanks for your comments 👍

[Hidden]

That is a brilliant time! Wow 💥

Really is inspiring reading you do what you do 👏👏👏👏👏

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - you wouldn’t have been inspired by seeing me crawling up that hill 🏃‍♂️🚶🏼‍♂️🧎‍♂️

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I don’t like keep putting wow but that’s such a good write up and race, can only dream of those times, and learned what the coloured lines on my map are now

So thank you for sharing all that, i enjoyed reading it

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks - writing a run up is easier than running right up.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to UpTheStanley]

It really is

[Fionamags Graduate10]

It was interesting to hear how they managed to organise the event with social distancing - I have to say I was a bit sceptical. Good to hear they did it so well - just a shame about thise hills 😖 . But that was a great time nonetheless! 🎖🏅🏆

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

I expected there would be a lot more bunching especially early on, but I doubt if there were ever two people within 5 metres of me at the same time. The organisers did a really good job 👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

No idea how I missed this UTS, and I was keeping an eye out for your post too. Pfft. 🙄

Really well done. For someone who doesn’t run trails a whole lot, that’s a fantastic time! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

Nice you got to run in a real life race this year too. 🎉 Let’s keep all crossable things crossed for the end of October. That should be fun. 👏👏

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You live on the marathon forum mostly these days, you distance fiend you 😀

All crossed as instructed. It’ll be a restriction on numbers of households mingling that’s most likely to catch us out 🙄

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Well let’s all do the “please don’t let that happen just yet” dance then!

And yes, I do mainly post on the Marathon forum nowadays , but I’m too nosy not to hang out on here often too! 😅