3 madwomen go to Draycote Water

[Sandie1961]

After some beautiful sunny days isn’t it typical that today dawned wet and windy, but I’d paid my entry fee and was up for another medal 😜 My friend decided he wanted to show off his new campervan so we went in it and got stuck in the quagmire that was masquerading as a car park. Abandoned it, along with a few others, with the promise of being towed off at the end and headed off on the 20 minute trek to the event village to meet up with Shake-and-run and TailChaser . The car park guys meanwhile were telling people to line up and “gun it” which I’m sure didn’t help 😂The race itself was a short out and back loop followed by a full circuit of Draycote Water to make up the 10k. Fairly flat and on tarmac paths with lots of brave volunteers cheering us on. The rain was mainly squally showers but the wind, especially in the very last km, was brutal, so I was amazed to finish in 1.14.18, my fastest time this year by 3 minutes 🥳🥳 It is a rather nice medal too 🏅 I’m sure it would be a really lovely race in nice weather, but I was just glad to get back to my friend’s for a shower and a sausage sandwich 😋

[TailChaser Graduate10]

It was tough wasn’t it? I’ve just warmed up. You had a better lunch - our bar snacks didn’t sit very well in either of our tummies x

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Thankfully the rain wasn’t as bad as I expected, but that wind 😖 Sorry we didn’t have time to join you after. The sausage sandwich was delicious though 😋

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

That wind was pretty horrid 😵‍💫

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Well done TC! Another tough race in rotten weather but you’re more than a match for it 👏👏👏💪🏃‍♀️🏅

Roll on Spring 😀

[Katnap Graduate10]

Looks like you 3x cats had a great time despite the conditions! 👏👏👏

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Ah, you know us! Once we set our minds to something …

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Tough as old boots all three of you! Glad to hear that you emerged from the ordeal more or less intact (can’t blame the weather for a post lunch dicky tummy!) . Huge respect; you got the job done, picked up the medals and the rest will fade into history.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I was praying for the cancellation email, but as it didn’t come, we just had to get on with it. I think quite a lot of people probably ducked out. When I checked the results, there were only 355 of us completed the 10k (only 86 for the 5k!)

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Woohoo, that’s a cracking time! Well deserved sausage sandwich.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Hello Baddie! Haven’t heard from you for a while. Hope you’re ok. It was a delicious sandwich 😋

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Yay BTP, great to hear from you 🙂

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

Sums the morning up well Sandie1961 ! Although you didn’t mention Bert! He was ever present and very rude (storm Bert that is!). Some of the toughest conditions I have ever run in. I’m happy with my pace which is good enough to be in before the cut off for next week’s HM (assuming I can keep going for over twice the distance).

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

You’ll be fine next week I’m sure. At least the weather should be better 🤞🏻

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

That Ilmington series is very good training for races like these. Mind you, I did totally wimp out of my long run today…

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

Well done Shakes! Another one done ✅👏👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏅

Shame about the weather ☹️☔️🌊🌪💨 I hope conditions will be much better for your upcoming half 🤞🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

My goodness Sandie. It’s one thing to have pouring rain in September when it’s fairly mild , but in the cold of the last few days it must have been pretty miserable. But lovely to have a buddy get together.

An excellent time , I bet the weather helped a bit there - you wanted to finish as quick as possible.

Great bling !

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

You could be right 😂 We just wanted to get out of the cold and back into the warm. Although, to be fair, it was milder than recent days at about 5c!

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Wow, great job Sandie! A run (and attitude) to be very proud of 👏👏👏

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Thank you 😊 I wouldn’t have been sorry if it had been cancelled, but we just had to suck it up and carry on!

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sometimes you just have to get stuck in, don't you! Congratulations on that time though👏

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Very true JP! Thank you, I really surprised myself. Still some way off my PB but maybe the strength exercises might be actually making a difference 🤞🏻

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I'd call you very brave 😁 worth it though, especially for the medal

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It is a lovely medal isn’t it? A VRB meet up is also always good (even if I’d just come back from a couple of days in Manchester with Shakes 😂)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Fabulous and well done to you ALL !

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Floss! A tough one, but we aren’t quitters 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

No indeed !!! We runners and you all.. a very tough breed! xxx

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

💪💪💪

[RosesAreRed777 Graduate10]

Well done! Great medal and all the more kudos for sticking at it in the bleak weather. Well deserved.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to RosesAreRed777]

It was hard going, but at least it was a little milder at 5c and less rainy than we expected, so thank goodness for small mercies!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I’m so happy for you lovely trio Sandie. Whether it’s windy, raining, scorching or perfect running conditions, not much keeps us from grabbing the bling does it? Really well done on your time and showing the conditions what was what! 🥰

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky. I think the New Forest set me up for wet, but that wind was tough. Still, the medal is lovely 😍

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Oh, well done all of you! That sounds a tad windy 😳But, as you say, you’d entered and you wanted the bling so needs must. Lovely bling too 😍

I bet that shower and sausage sandwich were just the best!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

The wind was tough, but at least it wasn’t as wet as we’d expected! Yep, nice bling and the sausage sandwich was just what was needed 😋

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

Bravo you brave souls 👏👏👏 That sounded like it might actually have been a lot of fun 🤩😃 Well done!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

You masochist 😂 Mind you, it doesn’t seem quite as bad with hindsight, or, at least, it could have been worse! It was all worth it for the bling 🤑

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Bling wins the day every time! 🥳

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Utterly bonkers but utterly brilliant! You did amazingly in tough conditions. You deserve an extra big medal!!! Hope you’ve warmed up!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

From 5c yesterday to 15c today. Completely bonkers 😜

[misswobble Graduate10]

Yay! Well done Sandie! Gorgeous medal and sausage sarnis made it well worth turning out on a bleak day. Well done 👌👏😀🏃‍♀️🌫☔️🏅