Great South. What an amazing day!

[Sandie1961]

I’m a bit late to the party, having come to my sister’s in Newbury to celebrate my brother in law’s 65th birthday after the run.

Massive thanks to the lovely Dexy5 and UpTheStanley for your hospitality over the weekend. What a great evening we had yesterday and Beachcomber66 we only had a G&T and a small glass of wine!

Walk round to Coddfish and Mr Coddfish’s for a pre race chat and to use their facilities (thank you 🙏) then off to the bag drop and a nervous wait in the cool, sunny conditions. A quick stretch and warm up and we were off. Milestone markers in miles are just so much longer than kms - couldn’t believe how long it seemed to take to get to 1 mile 😫 Running through the historic dockyard and I was thinking how nice it would be to stop and take some photos, but I couldn’t. After a horrendous journey yesterday I didn’t get to the Mary Rose, so I will be back.

Then running through Portsmouth, chanting “oggy, oggy, oggy” in the tunnel and round to the seafront where I spotted Dexy and cheekychipmunks and yelled at them as we passed each other.

Target time 1:52, unofficial time 1:48:05 but Strava 10 mile time 1:45:27, which is 12 minute faster than my fastest 10 mile time and a 10k PB over 2 minutes faster. I am completely knackered but so thrilled and proud. It has been such a fantastic weekend 😃😃😃😃

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

You are turning into an absolute running machine Sandie! Brilliant run today! Wasn’t it a blast? 😀

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I am still on a high but totally shattered - a couple of large G&Ts will definitely help me sleep! Fantastic weekend 😃😃

[TailChaser Marathon]

I said to Katnap earlier that you’d be knackered tonight with that time 😂😂

Brilliantly well done all of you! 👏👏👏

[Katnap Marathon]

Awesome results for all HU runners.🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Fantastic run Sandie - so glad you had such a fab day - and massive PB to boot!👏👏👏💪🏅

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Brilliant time Sandie. I think wine and G&T must be good running fuel. Could catch on. It is obvious that you all had a fantastic time; the run was just the cream on the top! 👏👏👏👏👏🥇😊

[backintime 10 Miles]

Great run Sandie. A great time too...you deserve those drinks !

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

How wonderful is that? Sounds like a fabulous weekend. Massive congratulations on a very well earned PB - transformed indeed 👏👏👏🥇

[Katiepops Half Marathon]

Wasn’t it fab?! Thanks to my super speedy partner I was in Orange, but it didn’t really matter in the end, we had greens and whites with us at the start! Sounds like our times were really similar. Well done on a great run. I’m back next year. You?xx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Katiepops]

Whenever I say never again, I seem to end up doing it. So I plead the 5th Amendment 😂 Wasn’t the weather perfect though?

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Congratulations Sandie that was a fantastic time, and it is obvious that your recent training programme and weight loss has done you the world

of good. Spitfire Sandie for sure. So lovely to spend quality time with you too. Ready for my bed 😴 💤 💤

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

What a great time Sandie! And to have seen Cheeky and Dexy5 and be able to cheer each other on midrace is the icing on the cake. Yippee! Rest well now 😴

[Hidden]

Fantastic Sandie! And a blazing time! I agree about the mile markers - such a long time between each. xx

[JonathanP 10 Miles]

Well done Sandie - fantastic time !👍🎉

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Fantastic all round! Very well done, fab day 👍🏻💪🏻😁

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Congratulations everyone! Glad you had a great run! A great time!

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks Tasha! Your new badge looks great 😃👏

[Granspeed]

🎉👏🏼🎉 You are becoming a Speed Demon! PBs falling wherever you go. Well done you!

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Thanks Granspeed! The crowds and the other runners just give you such a lift 😃

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

How brilliant to meet up with everyone, fab photo there 😘

Many congratulations on your race and great time Sandie! Definitely the G&T and wine didn’t hurt 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😏

Hope you’re feeling ok today but you can bask in pride and lovely memories.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP! Spending some time with Dexy5 cheekychipmunks UpTheStanley and Oldgirlruns on Saturday evening was just the icing on the cake 😃😃 Slight soreness in the hips today but otherwise feeling great!

[alisonx]

Well done Sandie!

🥇👏🏽🎉 awesome time - clearly the G&T the night before had a positive effect

and huge well done to you all xxx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to alisonx]

Thanks Alison. We had a brilliant time 😃

[misswobble Marathon]

Sounds brill. Well done 😃👍🏃‍♀️🏅

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

It was great! Next big (V)RB meet up now is 9th November for Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun 🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

[Mummycav]

Ohhhhhh...I have running envy here, AGAIN!!!! Firstly because you all got together, which I love...and secondly because you have done a wonderful thing...I watched with envy the GSR...I was looking for familiar faces but didn't see any...It looked like and sounds like it was great fun...well done to all of you for what you've achieved...you should be sooooo proud of yourselves and still beaming xx love it xx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Mummycav]

It was fab! Great race with good friends, all thanks to this amazing forum 😃

[Mummycav in reply to Sandie1961]

That's what I love about it too...bringing people together...What can be better?!! x

[uncle_wiggy Half Marathon 10 Miles]

Well done on those PB's Sandie, that's fantastic! 👏 👏 👏 Sounds like you all had a great weekend!!

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to uncle_wiggy]

It really was a great weekend. Massive congratulations on your HM too. Lovely shiny new badge 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🏅

[uncle_wiggy Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Sandie1961]

Thank you Sandie, I do like the look of it! 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator]

I am so late relying to this... I am sorry.

What a fantastic run and what a lovely, lovey photograph!

You and all of the chums had a terrific day that is plain to see.. and.. your race time... ?WOW!!!!

You are so, so speedy...and clearly finding it really enjoyable too

You deserved those G and T's and I hope you did sleep well !

Terrific run my friend.. congratulations!!! xxx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you dear Floss! I’m trying to keep up with you 😃 It was a fab day with lovely friends

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Sandie1961]

You are way ahead of me and that's perfect!!! You did have a beautiful day xxx

[Hidden]

You’re a very handsome bunch ! Good advertisement for running. Well done 👍

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

I felt for you having that long drive home when I could barely walk up the road. Well done on your time and hope to see you again some time.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Coddfish]

It was lovely to meet you yesterday and congratulations on your race. Hope you have recovered. I’m ok today - short drive yesterday to my sister’s in Newbury then the rest of the drive this morning. Enjoy Japan 🇯🇵

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Brilliant! Well done to you! Many congratulations!

🍾🥂🏅🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️👏🏻👍🌟 💥⚡️🎉😊

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank you! I’m still on a bit of a high 😃