Cheltenham Running Festival

[Shake-and-run]

Sandie1961 has already posted about today’s outing to a real event but I wanted to share my take on it. Firstly I have always had a soft sport for Cheltenham Racecourse, I rode a horse there in a charity race many years ago and have seen a lot of great racing on the course. I also was also part of the team providing first aid cover at race meetings for a few years and the lovely Johnny Francome told me to F-off once when I ran to his side where he sat on the turf to see if her needed help. Today though it was to be different, it would be me exerting myself as I huffed and puffed my way round the course. I was entered to do 10k but recent injury issues meant that I dropped down to 5k and given the high temperature I was glad I did. With TailChaser , Katnap and cheekychipmunks joining Sandie on the 10k we were a happy crowd as we joined it the warmup at the start. The 5k went well for me, I did have a sneaky walk for a few paces on a couple of the hills but I was doing my usual pace and felt comfortable, right hip behaved and left hip just thought about a little grumble as we came into the finish. We all looked a bit warm at the end and the chilled Prosecco Sandie had for us to celebrate over a picnic lunch was much appreciate. Great to be out with Virtual Running Buddies in the flesh and fingers crossed we can do it again soon.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

So great to see you again Shakes. I don’t blame you for plumping for the 5k - that second lap was brutal and even hotter than the first. 🥵

I agree, it was a fantastic day. 🥰

[Katnap Graduate10]

The car thermometer said 28°C when we set off and it seemed hotter when you stopped or walked. Such a brutal run! Very well done! 👏👏👏

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

I don’t believe Strava which said it was 20. Absolutely no chance!

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Garmin said 23°C but I think those figures are taken at the start and not the finish temperature! It felt over 25 on that tarmac at the end.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I don't think that was right either. We were in a very exposed area with the heat coming up from the tarmac and barely any breeze.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Especially on that windless section at around 6k …… 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Oh yes! 🥵

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations to you and all others on this forum for completing in the heat, The Cheltenham 5K and 10K runs, well done 😀 🏃🏾

[sparky66 Graduate10]

Well done girls 👏👏👏

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

You didn’t really need a warm up today did you? 🥵 Well done everyone, sounds a fab day.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

The warm up was a killer too IP!

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

I bet!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Lovely photos - great to see real live running slowly returning.🙂 well done on your run, especially in the heat!☀️🥵

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Great finish 🥂 to a lovely VRB meet 👍

[linda9389 Graduate10]

What a great day!

[backintime Graduate10]

Well done, it sounds hotter than a very hot thing. You did great to finish and I'm glad the hip mostly behaved itself.

I have a question though, was there a camber on the track? When I ran one lap of the Vincennes trotting race track 2 years ago, there was a camber which was really weird to run on

[Shake-and-run Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

We were not running on the actual track (which is grass) but on a combination of tarmac and sand/fibre surfaces that make up the support network of roads inside the track

[Week7 Graduate10]

Beautiful pictures.!So pleased there was a 5k alternative so that you didn't need to choose between missing out the event or risk injury!

[TailChaser Graduate10]

I think you made a very sensible choice Shakes, I was quite tempted myself at halfway. It's quite amazing what our bodies will put up with if we try. However, I don't know about everyone else but going downstairs is a bit tricky today! Worth it though 😍

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

So glad you were able to run at all Shakes. Well done you. It sounds like you had a lovely wedding anniversary