Well, what a contrast with last week’s positive report this is going to be. As I type, I am getting email after email of shut downs and lock downs. The Royal Shakespeare Company has just sent an email saying all the venues are closed as of tonight and also it looks like I’ll be home working from tomorrow onwards. I know, I am very lucky to be able to do this, but how ironic when I'm just getting used to working closely with people again (I used to work from home up until 2 months ago!).
It became apparent as last week went on that our half marathon was less and less likely to go ahead, and as of Friday night when they postponed the London Marathon, I knew it was inevitable. I took it out on the weights at the gym when I found out and gave myself a sore shoulder in the process 🙄. Sure enough, Saturday morning, sitting in a café after volunteering at parkrun, the news came through. Not just a postponement but a full on cancellation. The thing about the Shakespeare marathon and half marathon was that they are held on the weekend of Shakespeare's birthday celebrations. It is always the day after the big parade. Not this year, no news about the parade but I suspect that will bite the dust soon as well.
This is when this wonderful forum comes into it’s own. I’d already decided to run it anyway but I was still pretty devastated, for the silliest of reasons really: I wanted the crowds to spur me on, to step over the timing mat at the start and the end, to eat the best banana in the world and to show my charity top off for 13.1 miles. Now it wasn’t worth even ironing my name onto it as there would be no one to see it. But, do you know what was worst? I wouldn’t get my bling! My one material reward for all the training I’ve been doing (c400km to date). The charity would get it’s sponsorship, I’d have that extra fitness but I wouldn’t have something to stare at, show off, fidget with and wear around the house for days and weeks on end.
But first roseabi with her Virtual HM badge and then linda9389 , you have both come up trumps! Thank you so much! Thanks to Linda I have now entered Katnap and I into a Virtual Half Marathon competition (search for 'I ran it anyway' on virtualracing.co.uk) that has been especially designed for runners in our predicament, and we get a beautiful wooden medal as a reward. I've never had a wooden medal so it will be a lovely addition to the collection, and I'll be more than happy to walk around with it bouncing on my chest for days.
Add to that, just being able to know we are all in similar boats, trying to figure out what best to do next, to run or not to run, and being able to share and discuss the issues involved is such a precious thing. Katnap is wonderful but I can’t share these issues with many other members of my family - they just don’t understand, appreciate, or even care how much work it takes to get to this point, but I can share it with you fellow VRBs, and it is so very precious. Thank you 🙏
So week 15 has ended in a much better place than I expected. I won’t bother going into detail about the runs this week, suffice to say that we did our 10 mile run yesterday and it was a good one. I still have niggles in my Achilles and my knees are a bit wobbly but I have my final ‘cut back’ week now and, with any luck, a sports massage (please, please, please!!). So it’s onwards, upwards and towards the final push!
We all have a rocky road ahead of us but we are in such a good place here to ride the lumps and bumps that come along. Stay safe fellow travellers. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🦆🏃♀️
Written by
TailChaser
Marathon
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So sorry to hear that your HM is cancelled along with so many other events TailChaser. I was going to say that I would make a medal if you do it virtually, but it sounds like you’ve got that covered. I like the sound of a wooden medal.
Will working from home allow you to be more flexible with your runs again?
I’m still keeping fingers crossed for parkrun, it does so much good for the community, and people’s mental well-being. But I am sure an announcement will come out soon. I think if it is cancelled, many will still turn out for a run.
I think that is parkrun's dilemma Dexy. a) they know it's very important to mental well-being and b) that people will do it anyway. We've already agreed with Shake-and-run to go for a run Saturday morning no matter what. I wouldn't be surprised if they allow skeleton teams of some sort to keep it safe.
To be honest, much as I loved the flexibility before, I've got into a routine now and my day is longer too so it's not so easy. And I have no idea how long it will last for so I think it's best to stick with it. It's also not so bad now the days are getting longer and I'm really enjoying running once a week with eldest kitten just before tea. He's also getting a lot out of it.
Thank you so much for the thought for the medal 🤗🤗 🤗 I tell you what, we could make hundreds out of all the empty toilet rolls and bits of leftover pasta that will be rattling round over the coming weeks 😁
I can’t believe all the panic buying that has gone on while we’ve been away. Went to restock on Thursday, after our holiday, and so many empty shelves. It’s like the locusts have been in.
I can walk as far as the prom now so things are improving. Going down stairs (of which we have many!) is harder than going up. I found the brace puts pressure on the ligament so I’ve stopped wearing it for a few days but will put it on if I feel the knee needs protecting. The physio gave me a couple of exercises to stop the ligament shrinking or tightening up. In 10 days time he’ll start me on balance again. I’ve been so lucky, that it wasn’t more serious. Fingers crossed I’ll be running in April, but I won’t rush it.
Glad you've picked yourself up again. Knowing the focus of all that training is gone really makes you think about/realise why you enter a big organised event doesn't it? More on this in tomorrow's HM group post hopefully
It certainly makes you think Linda. I've been fighting quite a few demons these last few weeks with regard family support and that together with what is going on now has made me even more determined to get this done. I don't need the big event, I just need the bling to remind me when I feel down that, yes, I can do it.
Ah TailChaser I love the sound of the wooden medal!! That unique medal will always have special meaning!! What a fabulous idea!! 🤩 Wishing both you and Katnap a great run!! 🤗🤗❤️
Strange times aren’t they TC? I’m so sorry your HM was a casualty too. Yes, the virtual options are fantastic! I’ve applied for an “I Ran it Anyway” medal and sent my evidence off yesterday. It’ll be something at least, but I know what you mean about the crowds and atmosphere. ☹️
So will you enter another HM later in the year? I have. You’ve put so much training in, and whereas a virtual race will be fun and you’ll get a medal, it won’t be the same.
What makes me sad is PR. I know it hasn’t officially been called off yet - but surely it will be. Our meetups. 😩😩
Ahh well, stay safe all of you. Keep running as long as we’re allowed to, and see you on the other side! 😘
Thanks cheeky! I thought you still got your Bath Half bling? But it’s such a good thing being able to do these Virtual Runs anyway. Keeping fingers crossed for the Vitality 10k as they’ve not come to a decision yet (they’re posting on Facebook) but hopefully that will just get moved if they have to do anything.
We most definitely will be booking another. There’s one in Kenilworth in September. However, the Shakespeare is currently ‘looking at options’ whatever that means so we need to see what they decide. Maybe cancellation meant postponement, who knows!
The PR thing is particularly frustrating as we’ve had no meet-ups so far this year and I was going to post about Southampton again soon! What with this and the weather!!! 😫
Take care, stay safe and keep everything crossed xxx
Well lots of us from the Virtual Bath Half runners FB group have sent proof of our runs (mostly wearing our race tops and numbers) to the organisers and apparently they’re considering it! We’ve emailed too, so hopefully they’ll decide to do the right thing. Yes, it’s “only” a medal, but we paid, we ran the distance and our charities got their sponsorship money in most cases, so ....... 🤞
I covered my bases and requested an “I ran it anyway” medal too! Can’t have too many of those beauties can you?! 😅
Maybe an official virtual run would work for you too if all else fails? Our FB group has well over 1,000 members! ❤️
Let’s keep all sorts of things crossed for some PR meetup enjoyment over the summer .... 🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️
Yes, everything I possibly can is crossed for the summer!
I'm a bit annoyed today tbh as I heard from our HM organisers. Basically, our T&Cs state that we forfeit our entry if it's cancelled and our entry fee goes to charity. I was going to offer it anyway but it was very blunt with no sign of any compromise like offering us the bling if we did it anyway. We can defer our place for next year but it's never over-subscribed, so that makes little difference and we'll still have to pay an entrance fee again. They will basically cover their bottoms with the T&Cs if we say anything. I hope you have better luck.
That’s a bit harsh isn’t it? 🙄 Cheeky so-and-so’s!
I had an email today saying that the Bristol 10k will most likely be cancelled and we’d get refunds if so. It’s run by Simply Health who are really organised. It’s why I winged it and entered the Bristol HM in September - it’s run by them too so we should be covered if it’s cancelled for any reason. 😀
Good call! I'll look into who's organising Kenilworth I think. If it's the Rotary Club I think I'll give it a miss. There's a lot of Simply Health runs in Birmingham so I might have a look into them, thanks!👍
The Monsal Trail weekend was cancelled yesterday by Nice Work and our options are entry for the same race in 2020 or 2021 or entry to any other Nice Work event. I think they are keen not to refund, as they said they have already incurred a lot of costs for medals, t-shirts, signs etc but are being very flexible
Two Castles Run in June just cancelled. They’re seeing what percentage they can refund but it would be best now to go to the good causes they were trying to support.
It’s been a strange week for everyone for sure. It’s so disappointing when a race is cancelled but the training is still there and never wasted! As you say, it’s great that we have this forum, now more than ever.
Oh TC what a shame for you and all those others who’ve done so much training over the last few months. S-o-A will be desolate without the visitors; we can only hope that this horrible virus is over soon. Fingers crossed for PR!
It's really odd here OG. I walked into town this afternoon and there were no queues of traffic, no herds of foreign students, very few wandering around the town and all the lights were off in the RSC tower. This time of year it's usually just starting to ramp up again. I was sitting waiting for my sports massage (Hallelujah, I got my sports massage!! ), looking at my phone, watching all these things we'd arranged slowly get called off. Today they did actually call the parade off, so that is that. Youngest kitten was supposed to have a music exam on Monday and that's gone too. Katnap's C25k group were 2 runs off graduating and that's been called off because of English Athletics rulings. It's affecting just about everything and everyone, it's just so surreal.
And don't get me started on my hunt to find half a dozen eggs!!!
Stay safe OG, PR will be on whether it's official or not. x
I think sometimes you have to allow yourself to go through the feeling of utter disappointment to then pick yourself up on the other side and start to feel better.
I'm so glad you're now preparing to do a virtual HM, and will be getting a special wooden medal for your dedication 👍😊
You'll have to show us what you won when it arrives 🥇
We are lucky to have running and our wonderful forum to keep us balanced and sane 😁
Most definitely Run46. I don't know what I'd do without it, and I don't know what my family would do if I didn't do it either! This place is also keeping a lot of us sane too. I expect the forum posts will grow and grow in number over the coming weeks. And oh yes, I will most definitely be showing my bling off. I even get a runner number so I'll be printing that off and pinning it to my shirt 😁
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