I was waiting for a cool wet day to do this run, and boy was it wet?! 💦💦💦 I wasn’t deterred though, far from it. You can keep your hot and humid conditions, this was more like it! 👍😀
The run felt good, as ever my legs wilting from 13k onwards, but I absolutely know I can make 21.1k before too long. 👍
I saw a few dogs, all well behaved ones, 2 other runners, equally as drenched as myself, several river barges - the last one travelling at the same speed as me in the final 2k! There was a heron, ducks and ducklings, a couple of small fallen branches and gazillions of puddles, no point in trying to avoid those! I had the radio on for the first kilometre, which promptly lost signal so I ran the first few kms in silence. Realising my phone was accessible in my hydration vest (took a while to remember that 🙄) I stuck some tunes on. Rookie error though - my jelly babies turned to slugs again as I foolishly picked one of the mesh pockets to put them in. Daft woman - it was raining! 🙄🙄
I was remembering my darling bunny who I very sadly had to have put to sleep on Monday. Seems silly to some running for a bunny, but she spurred me on. RIP little Maple. ❤️🐰❤️
So did 19k. Legs weary but all good. I’m not sure when I’ll step up to 20k. I have the Severn Bridge 10k on the 25th, plus the GSR in October - with a grandchild due in between. But it’ll be waiting for me I know! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Wow! Great job cheeky! I’m sorry to hear about your little bunny but am glad you were able to focus your sadness and use it to help today. Rest up, enjoy the new grandbaby. 20k will be there when you’re ready,
Thanks Sask - it was sad as she was a little fighter, but had to make the sad call for her sake. 🐰❤️
I’m not sure I’ll even do 20k ...... I might end up going for the full 21.1k next time - some time at the end of next month most likely. I’ll do some leg strengthening exercises in the meantime I think! 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Yes I’ll need to get them stronger. I’m 100% fine puff wise, but my legs lose all power after 13k it seems, and I have to drag them along! I’m sure my running is slower than my walking pace! 😅😅
Doesn't sound silly at all, cheeky. I don't have pets, but friends who do are hugely attached to them, whatever they are. And a run is such a great place to sort through your thoughts and feelings. I never have tunes, because I enjoy the quiet. Funny because at home I have the radio on constantly. I like your 100% chance of rain 😁 just right for a cheeky style run
Thanks for understanding GOG. I’ve always had animals and it’s so sad when we lose them. Harder still when the owner makes the call, but I know it was the right thing for her. It would have been awful if she’d have suffered. I had to do it with my elderly horse a couple of years ago too. Why do we have animals?!
But yes, running is a great place to sort feelings out. ❤️🏃♀️
And absolutely right, the rain was very welcome indeed! 💦💦💦
Blimey! I only had a budgie! My kids had two gerbils, one had died, the other got ill. I'm desperate to get myself a dog, but Mr grumpy is not keen on getting one just yet.
See if you can change Mr Grumpy’s mind - dogs are fabulous companions whether you’re walking or running. I don’t take mine on these long runs, but she accompanies me every week at PR and also when I can let her run off the lead on the trails. Fantastic creatures. ❤️❤️
So you’re not going to go the whole hog then UTS? I think I will bite the bullet next month (after the baby is born, so later in the month I would imagine) and go for the full 21.1k. You’re not tempted? 🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃
Maybe we can do a virtual HM together in September if you’re flexible with your timing? It’ll definitely be in the 2nd half of the month - baby is due somewhere around the 7th. 😀
That would be great. In an ideal world, it would coincide with Dexy5 doing a 10 miler, so I get paced that far and only need to add a parkrun on my own. Long long runs alone are not really my cup of tea. Let's keep an eye on the possibilities
Well done CC....I’m waiting till tomorrow to attempt mine. Had my checkup with my dr yesterday re my dizzy spell after the 18k run. I told her I’d taken water and fuel and she said “ oh you are a more careful runner than me then I always forget”.
She has checked my BP and my ticker ...all spot on. She’s looked through my notes as I told her my dad had had angina, then quadruple bypass, then after 10 years was on waiting list for a second one and had massive heart attack and died at age of 64. Mum also died of a stroke but she was 85....and I have been concerned as no matter what I do my weight won’t come down and neither will my waist size.
She said when they did my blood tests earlier this year they checked glucose levels, cholesterol, iron etc and everything is really good. I told her I was concerned as my BMI comes up at 27.9. And she told me that’s within ok levels ( internet says obese) and that the fact I can run 18k without walking is much more indicative of my health.
Do you take snacks along? I’m not sure I could run that far with nothing to top me up - jelly babies do the trick for me (preferably dry ones 🙄), and I always eat a banana before heading out. 🍌
But yes, running miles and miles is a clear indication that we’re doing something right isn’t it? Good luck tomorrow. 🤞🏃♀️😀
I take a couple of gels and some dried apricots usually but my daughter bought me lots of small bags of sour Mike and Ikes( which I love ) so ill be taking a couple of those I think too ..... in my new hydration running waistcoat/vest.
I did my HM just on water and one bite of a Jaffa cake.. that was toooooo sweet..son-in -law ate the rest, at the half way point..I did take water, ( there were plenty of water stations though) and some jelly babies in my Saloman vest though in case Had cold Staffordshire oatcakes and cheese roll ups, though when we finished... I made them the night before and chilled them Yummy!
Ooo sounds yummy! I’m always so hungry straight after a long run - it’s easy to dive into the biscuit cupboard, but I do try to resist, not always successfully! 🙄🙄
Wow! Great run cheekychipmunks , well done you! You will manage the full 21km no problem. Have a lovely rest now, you deserve it.
And in the rain! I thought I hated running in the rain, but it started here halfway on my long run this morning, and it was so lovely. I had gotten rather hot around the 8k mark, so when it started to rain at 9k I was so happy I was practically skipping! It rained for the rest of my run and was bliss.
So sorry to hear about your bunny. RIP dear Maple. I hope the run helped.
Hi CC. Great report and well done on sloshing through all those km. So sorry to hear about your bunny. My cat died recently so I know what it’s like to lose a furry friend.
Wow, amazing run and wonderful description. I don’t see why you can’t run for your bunny. We are not the most important species (other than to ourselves); every life form is equally important- take any away and you disturb an intricate web of interdependence. Bunny’s have souls too and are precious xxx
Awww thank you so much Flick. I do love my animals and they’re important members of the family. It gave my long run a purpose this morning as I did it for her. ❤️❤️❤️
Fantastic run Cheeky. You are a real superstar 🌟💫⭐️ You may be right in thinking of going for the HM distance next time. My jump from 13k to 10 miles was to avoid having to go all that way again just to run 1 extra km 😂😂. Hope you have got some self pampering lined up for this afternoon and that you are dry again xx 😃
Thanks Sandie, totally my thinking. The distances nowadays are too long to repeat purely for the purpose of a single km. So yes, it’ll be HM next time I go for a long ‘un. 😀
I can’t actually believe I’m saying that because I have the Severn Bridge 10k coming up, and whilst it’s still a good distance, 10k doesn’t faze me at all now (touch wood I won’t crash and burn!) 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
It’ll be interesting to see how much faster your 10k is now that you’ve run twice the distance cheeky. We’ve entered The New Forest 10k on 8 Sep which should be lovely.
Huge well done you and hugs for you and Little Maple...now hopping around Bunny heaven xx I had a bunny...bought for 2/6d pocket money when I was 11...bought her home under my coat...no hutch or anything...she lived under my garden shed... died there when I was 21...! I loved her..so know exactly what you are feeling..x
Great run though..these distances are long..it is easy to forget that...you are doing wonderfully..and you need the strength and stamina for that new small runner in training...believe me...phew xxx
Aww thanks Floss. Buns are such lovely creatures. I had them when I was very young, but Maple came to me a few years ago via my daughter who snook her into her apartment while she was at Uni! I offered to keep her here and got her a friend - who we still have. He seems ok, but I’m keeping an eye as they form strong bonds and I know he’ll be missing her. ☹️
Yes the importance of leg strengthening can’t be over stressed I’ve found since running 10 miles plus. Mine struggle after 13k each long run, other than that I could carry on running like Forrest Gump! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
You're an inspiration Cheeky! I'm struggling with my 'long runs' at the moment. Anything past 10k just feels like I'm in uncharted waters, it's too far out! Too far away from land!
And then I read your comments and think of you out there running 19k with your hydration vest and your jelly babies in the rain... and it just makes me think.. "Go get your water bottle Clubber.. you're going on a long voyage!" 🌊⛵🌊
Hahaha, out you pop clubberlang! You won’t regret it! I’m slightly opposite to you in that I enjoy the uncharted territory feeling. My legs don’t necessarily agree, but I find it more interesting when going for a new distance. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Epic effort CC. Rain can be ok provided it is not freezing cold, but well done for toughing it out. You are not making these longer distances sound any more attractive though. My long run day tomorrow, but I am not planning anything of note. Sorry to hear about your bunny. We get very attached to our dogs; just other family members ,only not so demanding and no tuition fees! Average Heart rate of 168? You must have been pushing it!
Hot shower, loads of protein and maybe the odd glass of vino later.👏👏👏👏👏👏💦💦🏆🥇
You’ll be fine BC - think how much quicker you’d do a run of that length - you’d probably knock an hour off my time!! My legs have several hours of work to do! 😅
That HR stat surprised me a lot. I’m not convinced it’s right actually - wet wrist? 💦💦💦 I could have talked pretty much the whole time I was running! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I’m liking your recommendation for a glass of vino - cheers! 🍷
Thanks Ang. ❤️ It’s awful saying goodbye isn’t it? I’ve lost quite a few in the last 8 years - 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and now my bunny. But I love keeping pets and it’s just part of the life cycle.
Oh Cheeky that’s such a fantastic distance 👏👏👏. Loved reading your post. Just amazing how far you have come over recent months. And your poor bunny Maple ☹️ 😪.
I’ve just been looking at my vest (bought using your link) and I don’t have a mesh pocket. Yours must be slightly different. UTS gave it a trial this morning and seemed to like it too.
Maybe a slightly different model. They’re really comfy aren’t they? I’m impressed how soft and non-chafing the fabric is, especially on the shoulders. 👍
I now understand the jelly babies ref, my goodness you are doing so well!!go girl, it doesn’t matter where we get our inspiration to run from I think running for you pet bunny is wonderful 👏👏🐶
Wow! I completed my first 10k run yesterday and pushed beyond the 9k target for this B210K run. A few twinges and mind gremlins to deal with but was thrilled to have run, non stop for 65 mins. To think, 60 seconds was tough enough at the start of the year.
I've learnt so much about personal resilience and resolve but stepping up to half & full marathon just seems a step(s) too far. How do you keep the gremlins quiet for 2, 3, 4 hours and who knows how long?
I love a challange and already thinking about the big one but...
Oh well done on your 10k a1sw! 🎉👍😀🏅👊 It’s a lovely distance - are you going to enter some races now? Warning, they’re addictive! 🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️🏃
I don’t know, I suppose I’m fairly goal driven so if I have a distance in mind I do it. 🏃♀️ I don’t really get gremlins and I never consider stopping or walking - I just need to spur my legs on in the last few kms. I like tunes or the radio/podcast and I keep my long runs achievable by avoiding some of the very hilly routes around where I live. 😀
I also think of my VRBs on here - I always say when I have a long run planned, and I don’t want to let you guys down! 😅
I bet you’ll get curious and step up after time! The distances are long, but my feeling was “why not?”! 😅
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Rabbits make such lovely pets.
Weekly chat June 13-19 
Wild, Wet and Windy!