Until today my longest run on the common was 10 miles which I’ve done twice, and it’s hard going. 🥵 I vowed never to run up there for longer than that, so of course today saw me do my 4th ever HM! 😳😅 Not my fastest, not my slowest, but definitely the windiest 💨💨
Nothing like yesterday, but still plenty strong enough to buffet me full in the face on each circuit. I tried running on one of the side trails which normally would offer some shelter, but it was simply too muddy to endure for a run of that length. Tried another couple of unsuccessful options, but ended up mostly on my little (not) PR loop of just under 0.5k and braced myself each time I rounded the far bend! 💨💨 Unfair how it was a headwind for all but one side of my loop. 🤦♀️ I’m hoping no one heard me cussing the wind out loud on several occasions! 😅
Flossie the dog accompanied me of course, trotting along by my side. 🐾🐕❤️ It got busier and busier with dog walkers as time went on, but no-one hampered me I’m happy to say. There was also a horse rider, and I hoped she wouldn’t be there for long, and she wasn’t. She probably took one look at all the people and dogs and decided to ride elsewhere.
So 3hrs 5 minutes of running in the bag today (PB was 2hrs 49 last October, but that was on pavements and it wasn’t windy). I’m ok with that, but I REALLY hope there’s no wind for 2 weeks’ time when I do it all again. Or if there is, please can it be easterly and dry underfoot! Any chance weather gods? Please? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Short reluctant legged cool down walk, then home for a quick post run yoga, and nothing planned for the rest of the day! Got some lovely Mother’s Day treats, so demolishing chocolate and supping fizz will be on the agenda! 🌸 🥂 Can’t wait to receive my Bath Half bling! 🏅🥰
Thanks for all your support guys. When the going got tough, which is did often, I thought of you all waving your pom poms and cheering me on. You’re the best! ❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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You're a superstar! The mental fortitude required to do 0.5km loops for 21.1km must be off the scale! Add in wind and mud and it becomes a physical test of similar proportions. But there was nothing coming between you and that bling, right? Massive congratulations. This time next year I look forward to your race report from Bath itself ... 🙏
Thanks Linda, I underestimated how taxing the wind would be, and the reprieve up the one side that it was behind me lasted no time at all! Why does that always happen? 😅
I’m entered into the real Bath Half in September. That should be fun! 👏👏
Congratulations on completing what will be the first of 2 half marathons within 2 weeks, good time as well, a very happy Mother's Day to you, I am just wondering how many times you ran around that park when you run a HM, enjoy the rest of the day. 😊 🏃🏾
Thanks Al! I lost count of the times I ran the loop. Over 35 I’d say, even including a few diversions. If I wanted to run the perimeter of the common it’s 2.5k, which would be less loops for a HM obviously, but it’s very hilly, and too hard for me for a long run. 🥵
My only exception would be a metric marathon, but judging by how my legs felt this morning it won’t be happening any time soon! Maybe that would be a nice goal for you too (there’s a badge to be had!) 😅
You are a Superstar cheekychipmunks. A half marathon is an amazing achievement in my eyes but to do it in those circumstances is absolutely amazing. Well done you. You deserve that bling.
Now let the family spoil you for the rest of the day.
Magnificent achievement cheeky. 40 plus circuits on a muddy trail in a gale? Few would have taken it on, never minded succeeded. I have this mental image of you sinking lower and lower into the common as you deepen a trench with each Circuit; would have provided some shelter from the wind! Enjoy your pamper afternoon!! 🙂
😅😅😅 What an image BC! The little circuit, I’m very happy to say, is mud free for the most part though. It’s the more interesting trails that aren’t great after all this week’s unfortunate weather. 🙄 But the loop is very exposed to the elements and there’s no reprieve from the wind. I wasn’t very polite to it on more than one occasion! 🤣
I think that a full and frank exchange of views with the conditions was fully justified! You inspire me to keep going; got to get that HM distance back....I was toying with idea of a 25 before my latest run of injuries....not ready to give up yet 🙂
I confronted the weather with frankness that’s for sure. Maybe not as polite as the weather gods would prefer, but I was cross with them for not listening to my pleas for a nice calm day - conditions were perfect last weekend. 😩
Oh you’ll be back BC. Keep up your exercises and keep it slow as a cheekychipmunk and long runs will be yours again! 👊🏃♂️
Ahh thanks IP, I wish it could have been the real thing, but the medal will be nice! 🏅😍 The wind affected me way more than I thought it would, and it didn’t let up once.’🙄💨
Hello CC. So pleased to see this post. Knew you’d have a good run. Sounds like it went well. And good on Flossie for keeping you company. Well done to both of you. A most impressive effort all round. Take it easy and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Thanks so much Stephen! Flossie trotted along with me for the vast majority of the run, only breaking off for a few sniffs and rolls! It was lovely having her there. 🐕🐾🥰
Thanks Coddfish, yes I pulled out at the 11th hour. So disappointing. I’ve signed up for this year’s actually - they pushed it back to September months ago, and offered the virtual version too. Hope it goes ahead. I’d like another HM medal! 🏅😍
What an amazing run cheeky! You really did brave it. You're amazing and so is Flossie 😍Those pom-poms are a thing of great joy, where would we be without them. See you next year in Bath 🤞🤞🤞👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks TC. It was my hardest one by far, and I’m doing it all again on the 28th! What’s that all about? 🤣 Flossie wasn’t overly taxed, she just trotted along wondering what all the fuss was about! No way she’d keep up with you! 😅
Congratulations cheekychipmunks , I'm in awe of your discipline - I'd get bored after a couple of loops, let alone 35 or more! And in those conditions too, well done!
Thanks Buddy! I’m running on the common for the next one too, but I’m hoping like crazy the conditions will be more favourable. No more wind or rain please! 🙏🏻
Thanks so much Decker, you’re right, it’s horrid! And the reprieve was so short-lived before it started all over again. 🙄 Never mind, it didn’t defeat me. 😀
You are just amazing Cheeky. It might not have been your fastest, but just to keep going in such awful weather is awe inspiring. Can’t wait for real races to come back though!
Aww thanks Sandie! It was my hardest by far, and what made it so frustrating is that on the one side of the loop where the wind wasn’t buffeting me, I felt fine. The wind was energy sapping. 💨💨
Congratulations cheeky. I've so enjoyed reading everyone's comments on your amazing achievement. A fantastic result in horrendous conditions. You are one amazing lady 🌟🥇🏆🥳 👏👏
Twelve and a half laps is the most I've been round anything ever, and that was a nice flat and dry athletics track. You must have been dizzy by the time you finished (we know already you were dizzy before you started 😀).
Blimey, that’s a lot of laps. And I know that although it shouldn’t be possible for there to be a headwind for ¾ of your route, the theoretical impossibility is not much consolation when it’s happening to you!
Goodness! You ran a HM on a half KM loop? Did you get dizzy? That's just amazing... I did 10K round my local common recently, it was icy on the pavements but I know this path is not slippery, I went round 6 times..that seemed enough, well done doesn't really cover it!
Haha, I did Curlygurly! Not the entire distance on the same loop, but the vast majority! I attempted to go off piste to get a break from the wind, but the alternatives were still too muddy and/or too hilly for a HM. Crazy aren’t we? 😅
Thanks GOG. I did, but it was so tough. I can handle the wind ordinarily, but during a long run like that it really wore me down. I spent the only tailwind edge of the common dreading the other three! 😩😅💨
Ah! I am staggered at your running such a distance in such conditions! Astounding! Brilliant well done to you x n, where n is an exceedingly large number! 🍾🥂🏅🏃♀️🐕🤸♂️🏃♀️🐕🤸♂️🏃♀️🐕🤸♂️👏🏻👍🌟 💥⚡️🎉😊
Did you listen to anything during your 3hours 5 minutes? Dare I ask if you enjoyed the run?
A seriously amazing lady with an amazing dog too. Many congratulations!
Oh wow over61, thank you so much! 🥰 I had my running playlist playing but I have to admit it didn’t help much as the wind was wearing me down - and because I knew exactly where it would hit, I couldn’t enjoy the one edge of my loop where it was behind me! 💨💨
Ordinarily I’d have alternative trails to give me some relief but the mud/hills made those impossible for HM distance.
I sound like a right misery, but I’m happy I did it and overcame the gremlins that were shouting at me to pack it in. Plus Flossie was my buddy the whole way round and she perked me up. 🐕🥰 So, yes I did enjoy the run (I suppose!) but I’m hoping beyond all hope that it’s not as windy on the 28th for the HUHM! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Having completed it is definitely something to enjoy. The wind would make listening to anything very difficult. Yikes! Just 11 days before you go for another HM! And here I am very slowly, hopefully, nursing my knee back to some sort of health. But it is wonderful to read of your achievements, even if I am not even dreaming of such things.
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Virtual New Forest Half.....done!! 😁
Another Bath HM report.
It’s Bath Half day!!