Pom pom alert!!! A real race!!!😎👋🎉📣😎

[linda9389]

Good evening lovely runny people!

Can you remember where you stored your pom poms? Hunt them out, dust them off and get ready to shake and cheer!

Katnap and TailChaser are hitting a real start line this Sunday for the first race of our autumn HM group calendar (what do you mean it isn't autumn?) - Compton Verney Half Marathon.

The event info makes mention of a 'cheeky' hill at 11.5 miles'. Good luck with that guys, especially in the glorious sunshine and high temperatures that are forecast for Sunday 🌞🔥

Also on Sunday we have a late entry in @Cmoi who is going to be tackling a super-hilly trail Half Marathon (for which read more than 21.1k!!!).

Go conquer those hills, good luuuuccckkkk (and stay cool 😎)

If you are racing any event this coming week, comment below and we can cheer you too!

Have a great weekend everyone, happy running!!!

Marathon Team xxx

(Edited to add Cmoi's event)

[SueKen Half Marathon]

Good luck to the Cool Katz! (PS i might be gatecrashing your Parkrun next week, as ours is off! Might get to meet you in person!)

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to SueKen]

Thank you 🙏 That would be ace SK! We saw our ED with his wife who runs the juniors this morning. They were carrying a big parkrun sign 😂 Can’t wait!! 👏😃

[Katnap Marathon in reply to SueKen]

Here we go! 👍🐱👍

Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun starts again next week 24th July

[Kevin41 Half Marathon]

Woohoo - good luck, enjoy the race!!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Good luck!!!! Stay cool!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I know you two superstars will be awesome, TailChaser and Katnap . 🥰 Be especially careful in that heat though, and drink tons - but think of us all leaping around supporting you, think of that beautiful bling and have a ton of fun! 🏅

Woohooooooo! 🎉

[Katnap Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Socially distanced start similar to Cheltenham 10k but this time we are promised hose pipe dowsing en route 💦

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

And won’t that feel wonderful? 🥰 💦

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Oh yes!

[Irish-John Marathon]

Hurrah! Welcome back Pom Pom Squad, and best wishes for a great run

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Best of luck Katnap and TailChaser! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[grumpyoldgirl]

Woohoo, a real race! Good luck cats🐈🐱

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Whoop whoop whoop Katnap and TailChaser . How lovely to be running at Compton Verney with the grounds designed by Capability Brown. You can always gain a bit of shelter from the trees. Have a truly wonderful time and enjoy the ice lollies. My Pom Poms have gone off in a huff after not being used for so long but I’ll get my tambourine out for you. 😘😘

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

🤣🤣🤣

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

We’ll listen out for it Dexy 🤣🤣 Thank you 😍

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Go Katnap Go TailChaser !!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[Yogamaz]

Shaking off my Pom Poms!! Have a great race and hope the heat isn’t top bad 🐈 🐈

[Cmoi Marathon]

Happy running TailChaser and Katnap ! Will wave pompoms frantically, unless I enter the local trail race, in which case I'll need to save my energy, sorry.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

When's the trail race Cmoi? This weekend?

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes, it's on Sunday linda9389 . Don't want to steal Tailchaser and Katnap's thunder, so will only post after the event, if I actually enter it that is.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

We have big cheers and big pom-poms. Once upon a time, not so long ago, we'd have a string of names to cheer every week. Let's hope we're back there soon! If you're going to do it, let's get those pom poms raised for you too 😊

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

You need HU thunder too Cmoi! Goodluck if you do it 🤞💪💪👍

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Cmoi]

Whoop whoop for you too Cmoi . No such thing as stealing thunder in here. Hope it’s a bit cooler for you

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Don't be shy... Go for it 👏👏👏🎉

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the support. Think I'm going to do it, despite the gremlins screaming at me like never before. I'll almost certainly be last: it's billed as 22.8k and 770m+, 770m-, so attracts serious trail runners. I've run further, but not quite that much elevation. Am also super-anxious about organisational aspects and running with other people. Need to get over myself!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Good luck! It will be good practice for your maratrail! Just look at it as a dress rehearsal 😍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I did it linda9389 ! Will post details separately. Thanks for the push I needed.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

You’ll be amazing Cmoi. I have the same screaming gremlins, we need to shut them in a box and tell them to do one! Good luck 🙌

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

I wasn't amazing TailChaser but I did it! Glad you enjoyed your race. 😀👍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Itt looked amazing from what I saw! 👏👏

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Love this 😍😍😍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It won't let me edit it!!! I'm still suffering from the heat 😂

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Apparently 'Itt' spelt with 2 't's and it's (itt's?) ok 😂

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Ah thanks so much TailChaser . I've just added a photo, taken halfway up the uphill that genuinely had me thinking I'd have to do it on all fours!

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

That's why it's an amazing run Cmoi! How many of us would do a run that had an incline that that? Ok, maybe GoGo_JoJo but not many more!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Had I known that was in it I might not have bothered TailChaser ! I got halfway up, saw that arrow and thought "Must take photo for my HU VRBs!" Little did I know that although it got a bit easier, the trail kept on going up (and up and up) round the corner...

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Ooh, it’s horrible when they do that 😖

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Good luck! Hope it goes well. Look out for that cheeky hill.

[lexi6 10 Miles]

Whoo hoo! Katnap and Tailchaser. I wish I could send you some of our colder weather to keep you cool. Have a great race. 👍🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Katnap Marathon in reply to lexi6]

I hope your flooding isn't bad as Germany, Belgium, Holland!

[lexi6 10 Miles in reply to Katnap]

We got off lightly Katnap, feeling lucky. Just terrible over there isn’t it?

[RunWillie Marathon]

Cheering you on also from down under Katnap TailChaser 😍

[Blackberrypie Half Marathon]

Pompoms at the ready!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Blackberrypie]

Great to be able to shake em after so long 😁

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

How fab is it to see this post again!!!! I’m so excited at the thought of real-life races 🤗

Good luck Katnap and TailChaser 🍀 Just keep thinking of the ice cold beer at the end (is that just me?) it’ll taste like heaven 🍻

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🤣🤣🤣

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Hmmmm….beer….🤤😁

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🍺🍺🍻

[misswobble Marathon]

I was heading up to the loft today anyway 😁. Woohooo.

What fun! Wish I was doing it 😁🏃‍♀️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

😍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to misswobble]

There’s plenty of spaces still if you can get down this way mw 😀👍

[Katnap Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I'm not going near the loft in this weather 🥵

[TailChaser Marathon]

Thank you so much everyone! Really, really appreciated and the advice we’ve had on staying cool has already been put into action: wet buff around the neck and new cap on head for this morning’s (not)parkrun and they worked a treat. The one thing I’m not so sure about (and this may be TMI) is my bra is soaked through!!! And it was ‘only’ 18C! Not much I can do about that and I will be wearing a thinner top so maybe it will evaporate? 🤞🤞

Looking forward to the ice lollies at 7miles and the hose downs in the villages 😁 Bring it on !! 👍💪💪💪

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Also TMI, and you might already do this TailChaser , but I dab a bit of Vaseline under the front of my bra in sweaty weather, to avoid ….. (chafage)! 😳😅

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

That’s a good idea cheeky! I’ve never had it but I thought it might be likely tomorrow. We used some on our eyebrows today and it seemed to work on it running down our faces, although it was difficult to tell if the hat was catching it all. Thank you 🙏😀

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Woohoo 🥳 Pom-poms being shaken all the way from France for you TailChaser and Katnap 🇫🇷 Sounds like you have found a way to improve on the Cheltenham hot weather rehearsal. Have a fabulous run and enjoy those ice lollies 😃😃

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

😃🍡😋

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

It was a good rehearsal Sandie. We learnt a lot there I think. We’ll have to find some Prosecco somewhere for afterwards 😁😋 We’ll listen out for you, thank you 🙏🤗

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Good luck TailChaser and Katnap! 👏👏 Hope you have a great time. Take it steadily and keep hydrated!!💦👍

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Whoop whoop, enjoy you crazy pair...I'd say you must be mad in this heat but that's the thing with real races, you've got to do it on schedule regardless of the weather.

Plenty of sunscreen & water & hopefully you'll still be able to enjoy it...though maybe at a slower pace than usual.

Good luck, stay safe and enjoy 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🎉

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Good luck and enjoy the day, Cats! Try not to chase any records, it’s too hot and Cmoi, I hope the elevation is manageable on your trail run and that you enjoy it too. Looking forward to the post race reports.

[Katnap Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Oops!