Royal Parks HM - the bling's the thing

[Katie204]

Hi everyone - here is a photo of my wooden medal from the Royal Parks HM. Still can't get over the fact that I really did it!

My plan for the run went out the window - I had planned to do the whole thing as run-walk, but once the crowd started running I carried on until I started to get tired. I was listening to my ZenLabs app but the run was so long that my phone battery died before the session had finished. I ended up doing slow running mixed with walking around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

The weather was lovely and fresh when we started out, but by the time we got to the park the sun had come out and it was quite humid, which was quite tiring. My neighbour, who was in the race as well (he came in 35 minutes before me!) said he saw a few people who had flaked out by the side of the track. I felt a bit faint, too, so made a point of walking in the sunny areas and running in the shade if possible.

This run felt much longer than the similar run I did 2 weeks ago - possibly because it was more hilly than my usual route, or because I didn't know the course so well. It was entertaining to see all the other charity runners there, and to get shout-outs and high fives from complete strangers, as I had my name written on my shirt. It was slightly embarrassing to get overtaken by the T-Rex and the Stormtroopers with Yoda and Chewbacca, but I was so glad - if a bit stunned - to reach the end!

[Madge50 Marathon]

Wow, well done Katie, and lovely bling, you should be very proud if that. I know what you mean about T-Rex, Yoda and his gang.....I got overtaken by a whoopee cushion of all things at one run! And sadly at my first HM, didn’t quite beat the chap with the tumble dryer on his back....🤔....

Just watch out for lanky the giraffe.....he’s a menace.... poppypug will tell you about him! 😂

Mx 👏👍

[C3PO Marathon]

Congratulatons again, Katie! You might have been overtaken by the Stormtroopers, but there's a good chance you had a better finish time than them. I saw them far ahead of me on Whitehall, then ended up overtaking them in the parks. They were looking pretty exhausted then, and Chewie took off his mask and was soaking wet.

Isn't it amazing what we can do?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to C3PO]

It sure is amazing what we can do 🙂 Well done! Lovely medal 👍 Warm sun is not really preferred weather for long races but you hung in there 💪😃🏃‍♀️✔️🏅

[Tomas Marathon]

Very very snazzy bling, love it! And congratulations again, you did great!

[AnnieW55]

The Bling I'd lovely. I recently ran the parks while on a London break and it was great, although a little busy for me. Congratulations on your run.

[Hidden]

Well done and what fabulous bling! You got round and you did it so you should feel amazing.

[PippiRuns]

Lovely piece of bling! 🏅🏅Congratulations 🎈

It’s funny isn’t it, that courses we don’t know seem longer than the courses we know well. You should think that knowing every turn and incline would make a run less interesting...

At the two city HM’s I ran, I was overtaken by the most unlikely creatures. Maybe that’s a reason for sticking to the smaller events 🙂

[Kallyfudge Marathon]

Congratulations Katie you are awesome

[ju-ju- Marathon]

Well done you and what a fabulous medal......

[AncientMum Half Marathon]

Well done Katie. What a fab medal!! Those people who run in costumes must be mega-fit. There was a fireman in full kit carrying a fire extinguisher doing my HM (and I'm pretty certain he finished well before me)