As some of you know, after I did GSR in October, my old friend Clive (an honorary HUer) threw down the gauntlet and said if I could do 10 miles, I could do a HM. He would let me choose which one and would run with me, even though his time was over 30 minutes faster than I could even dream. I chose Hampton Court, because it is supposed to have spectacular bling (see pic - can you blame me 🥰), it’s flat and we could get to see the gardens. I have been nervously watching email and Facebook all week with fingers firmly crossed, because I would have been absolutely gutted if it had fallen to COVID-19, but we had an email on Friday saying it was still on with an explanation why and information about the precautions they were taking, then a further email last night reconfirming. It was a small event with only 3500 expected, although I don’t know how many actually turned up, but I don’t think it was that many (still waiting for my official time as well, but couldn’t wait any longer to post!) and it was on open roads and footpaths. Anyway after a delicious dinner in a half empty Italian in Teddington and a sleepless night at the Travelodge, Clive and I headed off to the Palace. There we met up with onemdc and her daughter, which was lovely. We were in wave 6 so decided to nip for a last wee, only to find everybody else had gone, so we had to get a wiggle on as the marshalls “gently encouraged” us to get started. We started inside the Palace forecourt, then turned to run alongside the Thames. Over a bridge and into a vicious headwind, as we headed towards Kingston, then on to Thames Dutton, before turning back over the river and along the original riverside footpath. Final turn through the Palace gates at mile 11 onto a gravelly, grassy track, which was an absolute killer, but Clive was still there telling me “you’ve got this”. I think I mildly swore at him at one point. Finally turned a corner onto a gravel driveway and through the arch in 2:22:54 Strava time. Target was 2:20 so I am really happy with that, given the headwind, grass and mud. Unfortunately we couldn’t wait for onemdc as we had to get back to the hotel to shower and change before checkout time but she has texted to say she did 2:37 which is brilliant. Really well organised, with a nice goody bag and I got my photo taken with a Henry VIII. What’s not to love? If everything else is cancelled, at least I got to do my HM, although I still can’t quite believe it apart from an inability to walk 😂 Feeling better after bangers and mash and a pint of cider in Wetherspoons in Twickenham (see slogan on glass!) and now back home with a G&T. Cheers everybody and congratulations to all HMers, who have battled the weather and Coronavirus to go and run today 🥂🥳💪🏻
PS Please can I have my badge, pretty please 🙏
Written by
Sandie1961
Half Marathon
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Well, you don’t mess about....what a time! Fantastic achievement and a classic case of never say never!!You could have had a three course meal after finishing and I still wouldn’t have been within sight of the finish. Awesome 👏👏👏👏👏✊
Thank you BC! So glad I got to do it. I think you do yourself an injustice, I probably wouldn’t have even finished my starter 😂 Fingers crossed for London in May, but I’m not optimistic 😢
Woo hoooooo! Go you, great time. And you don't mention your foot even once there! I'm putting this one on my list! Gonna take me years to get through my list ...
Love your photos, looks like a fantastic day. So glad you got to do it 😍. Let's see if I can find a badge ...
Aw thank you. Yes you should it was great. You even get a potted history of Henry VIII and his wives although waves 1 and 2 didn’t get to hear the ending 😂 My foot feels ok, but I do have a massive blister on my sole 🤢
So brilliant that you managed to do your first official HM Sandie. I too love the bling. It sounds like a brilliant weekend altogether and sausage and mash is the perfect way to renourish!
You can get your photo taken next to Henry VIII at the Mary Rose Museum In Portsmouth too!
Ooh, maybe I should go for matching photos, but perhaps not quite so sweaty looking 😂 Yes, I know it was a risk and obviously if they had cancelled, I would have had no choice but I just couldn’t miss out!
Fantastic work Sandie! Congratulations to you. That's one of my fav places to run or go for a walk along by the Thames there and in Bushy Park close by.
Thank you BBR 😊 We walked through Bushy Park from Hampton Wick station (train from Vauxhall to Hampton Court station was cancelled yesterday lunchtime). We saw loads of deer and it is just so unspoilt. Lovely !
all non-essential shops closed, schools closed, non-essential travel suspended
on the plus side, I get to work from home, so that's 4 hours a day extra I get, I will be able to pick up running slowly without juggling public transport
Wow look at that bling! I’m surprised you managed to stay upright when they put round your neck! (My OH nearly kept going downwards at one he did as he had to bent down to let the lovely medal giver put it over his head and it was a big heavy one 😂)
And what an awesome time! I hope you’re mighty proud of that, you should be!
That is a really impressive time Sandie, and, oh that bling! I can definitely see why you chose it. So fantastic that your run went ahead too, brilliant! 👍👍😊👏👏
Yayayayay Sandie you speedy star! 🌟 🏃♀️🏅💪 What a wonderful day you had, and whoa that’s beautiful bling! 🏅😍 Clive was right, you smashed 10 miles, now you’ve smashed your HM! 💪 👊 👏
I’m so happy your event went ahead - it sounds like a nice sensible number! Bath did too, but “only” 6k turned up out of 15k by all accounts.
Soooo, the question now is ..... would you do another? After my first one in September I was in agony and thought yesterday’s run would be it. But ......... I’ve signed up for Bristol in September already! When’s yours?!!! 😅😅😅
2795 started, so not that many drop outs! Just now I am in the “never again” mindset - feet and legs hurt so am hobbling like an old lady 😂 But I did say I would never do even one and look what happened!
Oh yes, fingers crossed for Southampton but I am not feeling confident. Reckon parkruns may go the way of other events in the next 2-3 weeks, but we’ll see. It really does feel like Doomsday.
Well that’s a definite yes then! 😅😅 I feel surprisingly fine this morning, but look at my pace compared to yours. I bet you’d find it less painful if you did it again too. 😀
Let’s all hope we get through this horrible spell unscathed. Take lots of care. ❤️
Really well done, you've definitely earned that medal! Great time too! How are your legs feeling this morning? I ran my very first half marathon too yesterday in Bath! It was great, but don't particularly want to get out of bed just yet because I know that my legs are sore this morning! Great job and well done again! 😃
We done to you too on your first half in Bath. Isn’t it an amazing feeling to think that we ran a full 13 miles?! It took me until nearly 9 to stagger out of bed too - hobbling like an old lady, but will pluck up the courage to take the dog for a walk to try to ease the pain 😂
Thanks! I keep on getting little reality checks every now and again where I'm like, I just ran a half marathon, and then I get all excited again! I am feeling stiff and sore too this morning but have just got back from a short walk round the block and that seems to have done my legs a world of good! Rest up and take care!
Absolutely Amazing! I’m so delighted you got this one under your belt before all the potential cancellations. You must feel fabulous, all your hard work paid off and brilliant time 👍 ✊ 🙇♀️ 😘
Wow! Brilliant run, brilliant post, brilliant pics. 🎉👍🎉 We used to live at Kingston, so I “ran” every step with you. And what amazing bling. A total experience to treasure. 🎉🎶🎵🎶⭐️⭐️🏃🏼♀️🎉
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