I’ve decided to run 2 x HMs next month. 😀 🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks]

Why on earth? Because nothing is as it seems at the moment is it? 🤷‍♀️

My Virtual Bath Half number arrived yesterday. A lucky one - 1926, the year my beloved late dad was born. ❤️ I want to feel the camaraderie of running on the allotted weekend, March 13th/14th and not take the easier way out of combining it with the HUHM on March 28th like I was going to.

I’ll be running both HMs on the trails so won’t be going for any PBs, but I’ve trained in all weathers, I know every inch of the common so I can adapt both runs to suit the weather conditions on the day - but pleeeeaase no mud and not too much wind, running gods! 🙏🏻

I’m still planning on completing LEJOG4 with the HUHM on the 28th, so my hardest task is calculating my upcoming running/walking mileage to leave a spare 13.1 miles! As of today I have 103 miles to go. I ran 14k as my long run last week, so a ten miler in a couple of weeks’ time will suffice before tapering.

Crazy lady? I think I am. But my body has been holding out well on the trails, and it’ll be fun. 😀

So there you have it. Written down for all to see. No backing out now! 😅

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Well done cheeky. You are a strong runner and I’ve no doubt you can achieve everything you set out to do. I’ll be waving my Pom Poms for you. Maybe by then you’ll be able to return to your original gorge route.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. 😀 I’m going to stick to the common though. I decided that as I’ve run there since the beginning of this lockdown, I’ll put the icing on the cake and run my HM there too. Now I wasn’t planning on running 2, but it just adds to the “fun”! 😅

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

You crazy chipmunk!! I guess it is a buy one get one free in terms of the training. You will do it of course, no question. Things are looking up here; I can actually see some grass on the lawn!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

It’s definitely a BOGOF BC! I’d be sad to be 2 weeks late running the virtual Bath Half, and there’s no way I’m going to miss the HUHM, so what other choice is there? 😅

Yes, hopefully spring is on the way. Today’s wind was brutal and I think we’ve all had enough of winter now.

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Well done cheekychipmunks 👏👏 I think you’re very brave to do two HMs in a month, but I’m also sure you’ll manage it!We’ll both be finishing LEJOG4 with the HUHM so we can keep each other company (virtually, of course😊) Don’t forget you just have to finish LEJOG4 sometime within the HM, so you’ve got 21km to play with! Just make sure you haven’t finished LEJOG before the HM and you don’t have more than 21km left before you start it🙂👍

Incidentally, I’m aiming to do the Vitality Big Half in London at the end of April, so I’m almost doing 2 HMs in a month too!😃 Good luck!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to David_G]

Ahh yes, good point David, I don’t need to have exactly 21.1km remaining do I? I can overshoot if necessary, so it won’t need such precise calculations! So relieved. 😅 It’ll nice to be completing LEJOG4 virtually together too. 😀

Great that you’re doing the Vitality Big Half - you’re nearly as bonkers as I am!

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

You are not a crazy lady, OK, yes, you do have the running bug, those 2 half marathons are 2 weeks apart, on a Sunday, not sure if you will want to run(not) parkrun on the Saturday 13th and 27th March respectively, I wish you good luck for those two HM's🏃🏾

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al! You’re right, I may need to give those (not) PRs a miss, or maybe just slowly jog them at least. If it were a real PR I’d make sure I was volunteering. 😀

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Lol, the rules are, you cannot volunteer at a (not) parkrun. 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Shame! 🤣

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Wishing you very little mud for training and your HM’s

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks W&S. At least it looks like it’s getting a bit warmer for training now. 😀🤞

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yes and today the mud and grass was dry ish

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Long may it last. 🙏🏻

[Grannyhugs 10 Miles]

What a fantastic challenge you’ve set yourself, I hope the conditions are the best they can be for you. Happy running 🤗

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you GH. It only occurred to me when the race number arrived yesterday, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought I could achieve both. They’ll be much slower than my HUHM one last year round the streets of Bristol, but that’s ok. 😀

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

You are one incredible, amazing lady, even if you are a bit crazy 😜 Running one HM on your own without the spectators, bands, water stations, gels etc to keep you going is a challenge, but to do it twice 😳 Go you! Pom-poms will be shaken

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Aww thanks Sandie! These will be my 4th and 5th solo HMs - I’m a real glutton for punishment aren’t I?! 😳😅 I sincerely hope the actual Bath Half goes ahead in September - with actual people! 🤞👏

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

You've got this! I've no doubt at all that you can and will do it. Love the lucky number 🥰

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda. Yes the number is special, and it’s what got me thinking. I’m looking forward to them both. 😀

[HappyNoodle 10 Miles]

You go cheeky! Good for you 😍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to HappyNoodle]

Thanks so much HN! 🥰

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Wow! That's a lot (more) running on the common. I'm sure you're up to it so I'll just wish that you enjoy it.

Once restrictions have eased, do you think you'll still run on the common some times?

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Haha thank you SM! I absolutely love running up there (lucky really!), but the weather makes a mahoosive difference. If it’s wet and muddy it literally gives me less than half of the route possibilities, and the hills can be made horrific if the wind is against me. I’m hoping for mostly dry underfoot with a very slight breeze - for both HMs! Not asking much am I? 🤣

Yes I will still run there at least once a week when restrictions are lifted. Just not all the time! 😅

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

OK, hoping for good weather then!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Definitely keeping everything crossed! 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[JonathanP 10 Miles]

Excellent Cheeky! I've sent off a little message to the running gods on your behalf!👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to JonathanP]

Just the kind of VRB I need Jonathan, I hope the running gods got your message! Thank you. 🙏🏻

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Go Munks 🏃‍♀️Your race number is definitely an omen so you have to do it now 🙂 and you’ve said it here so....

Of course you’ll do them, you’re a very measured runner with lots of miles on your legs and that certain determination 💪

I’m already looking forward to your race reports 😬

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you so much IP! Yes, measured is a good way of describing my running. No bells and whistles, I just get the job done at my own little pace!

The number definitely “spoke” to me, so yes I’m committed to running the virtual Bath Half separately in its own right. ❤️

And yes, there will be race reports! 🤣

[UpTheStanley Half Marathon]

That’s just silly Cheeky. Just run one full one, then go and lie down for a month ..... 😀

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to UpTheStanley]

I respect your running prowess as a rule UTS, and ordinarily I’d listen to your advice. This time, however, not a chance! 🤣🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to UpTheStanley]

😂😂

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Hi CC. Not crazy at all. Just dedicated. If anyone can do it, you can.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thank you Stephen, that’s so nice of you to say. 😀 My stubborn streak will get me through. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

We’re all rooting for you. Remember that.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

You’re all wonderful VRBs! 🥰

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

You can do it. If you want it, you can grab it 👍🏻😁

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you! I really do want it JoJo, so yep I’ll grab the crazy opportunity with both hands. 💪😀

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Go for it Cheeky - I am sure you will smash it! I know when I ran my first HM, I ran the full distance twice in training 😮(definitely not necessary!) but mainly just to convince myself I would be ok when I ran the event with my sister!🤷‍♀️ I PB'd on the day, so it actually really payed off. Good luck!👍💪🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Wow, it certainly worked for you Sandra! 🎉I’m under no illusions about getting a PB on either, but once I’m in the zone I feel confident that I’ll be ok making the distance even if the runs are rather close together. It’ll be fun I think! 👏👏

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Gosh that’s an awesome target cheeky. Good luck with it.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks Brian! Ordinarily I wouldn’t be quite so ambitious, but these are crazy times so I figured why not?! 😀

[C3PO Marathon]

Sounds like a great plan!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thanks CBDB, I’m about to head out for a run and see how much mud there is now that it’s so much warmer. I might be eating my words! 😳

[Run46 Half Marathon]

That's fab Cheeky, you're obviously feeling full of the joys of spring a bit early this year 😆Lovely that you've got a number that makes you think of dear old Dad...what would he think of his girl running two HMs in a fortnight 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

Aww Run46, thank you! 🥰 He’d be so proud, and pretty surprised too. I didn’t take up running until 2018 and we lost him in 2013. As far as he was aware I hated everything to do with running! 😅

[Run46 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

My Dad would've been surprised too...mind you, if we went back to when they were still with us and told us we'd be running HMs in the future I'm not sure we'd have believed it either 😉

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

Hahaha yes you’re right! I still can’t believe it myself most of the time! 🤣