First of all, fast and flat was a barefaced lie! That’ll teach me for only running my virtual HMs over mainly flat routes! 😂 And it was hot too. The forecast was for grey and drizzly - wouldn’t that have been nice? Instead the sun shone for the vast majority of the run, and often we seemed to be running into it! ☀️
Anyway, I was waiting in the very long loo queue before we set off, and I heard “Munks?” Irishprincess spotted me!! We squealed and jumped around a bit (sure people thought we were bonkers!) and agreed to meet later. She was in the wave before me. 🏃♀️
The atmosphere was fantastic and very upbeat. I saw a friend who had a gazelle running, so we watched him fly off 💥💥 My wave set off spot on 10am and I felt great for the most part at a lovely steady trot. IP and I saw each other on the course two more times, on opposite sides of the Portway! Isn’t having names on numbers a fabulous idea? 👏👏 I was sandwiched between four lovely firemen for a while. No complaints! 🤣
As a bonus we had SkiMonday marshalling near the 5k mark. We exchanged greetings both times I passed him! The goatee definitely helps SM! Don’t shave it off will you? 😅
By this point the sun was really quite warm and full in our faces. The Portway isn’t flat, but its inclines were nothing compared with what was to come. 😨
I began to struggle a bit at around 10k, which is unusual for me. But I dug deep and continued on, being spurred on by the wonderful bands and people calling out encouragement. I saw my family who’d booked a table for brunch by the docks, and they gave me another boost. This is where it started to get seriously hard, and it was unknown running-wise for me. Little hills here, cobbles there, bigger hills (thankfully none too long), and I had to grit my teeth and trot on. Why won’t I let myself walk? I annoy myself sometimes 😂
Anyway, I dug uber deep at the end as a lady had passed me and that wouldn’t do. I managed a slow sprint and pipped her to the post! We high fived as we’d both given it our all. 🏃♀️My time was 3:09:54. Slower than I hoped but it was a harder course than I expected. I rummaged around in my goodie bag to find the all important bling which I duly put round my neck. Then the heavens opened! Oh why not an hour earlier? It felt wonderful! 💦💦
I met up with IP and SM for a tasty pizza and a Peroni 🍺 We had a lovely catch up and agreed to do the same in Bath next March.
I’m putting it on here so she won’t forget, but IP needs to send me her bank details so I can repay her for lunch. My phone died as I walked into the restaurant! It had full charge when I set out too. I’m that slow clearly! 😅 Of course I didn’t bring any cards or cash 🤦♀️ Worst thing though, no restaurant photos. 😩
So, would I do Bristol again? Yes, but I’d add more hills to my long runs. Bath should be easier. Would I ever do a marathon? Absolutely NO! Did I enjoy today? YES!
Thanks for all your support on here and on Strava. Without it I wouldn’t have completed today’s run. Next up - GSR! Yippee. 👏👏👏
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Congratulations!!! A REAL HM!!! Sounds like you had a fabulous day - especially once you finished running up those hills! GSR should be a breeze for you after that run today.
Yes a real HM at last Linda! So much fun, but of course you can’t pick and choose what hills to avoid! I enjoyed the GSR last time. It’ll be great to do it again. 😀
On the drive home I thought “we didn't get a photo!” But that probably had to do with us nattering so much 🤗 we’ll have to get some at Bath.
What a fab day Munks! We did well with the heat and those ruddy hills. When I got home I was telling my husband about the hills and he said he knew because a neighbour called him today and said a friend of hers had done Bristol before and said it wasn’t flat! At least we’ll know next time 🙂
Yes we’ll know for next time IP! My gazelle running friend who did the 10k today said she was mighty pleased not to be doing the HM 🙄 We’re clearly tough nuts! So lovely to meet you after all the false alarms! ❤️
Hello CC. Thanks for a very entertaining report. So nice that you met IP after all this time. The run sounds like a bit of a nightmare and you did so well to keep pushing on with it. What an amazing achievement. Take it easy for a bit and get some rest, won’t you?
Thanks Stephen, it caught me off guard a bit I must admit, but lesson learned - run hills more during my long runs in future! But yes, I’m happy I kept going. 💪
I fully intend to take it very easy for the next couple of days. 😀
Very well done Cheekychipmunks. I looked at the forecast yesterday and thought you’d have perfect conditions for the race, but the cloud and rain had moved to Southsea by mistake.
You have done a HM on your own turf, and you didn’t stop to walk? Incredible. You wear that bling with pride , because you are a superstar 🌟
Good to hear you’ve had practice on cobblestones because there’s more to follow in the GSR.
It was totally unexpected too Katnap. My phone’s usually quite good, but probably a combination of having Coach Bennett in my ear for 3 hours plus, and the fact it got wet when I’d finished couldn’t have helped. No post run photos though …… 😩😩
Oow, congratulations! 🥳My friend ran it without me because I'm still on the injury couch. 😞 On the plus side, her time was so good, she's guaranteed a place in the London marathon next year apparently. She'd never have done that with me!
I've been doing a spot of googling. Weston super mare half marathon in March looks flat. 🤔
I’ve never considered doing Weston Speedy. Could be an idea for 2023 - I’m doing Bath next March, and I don’t fancy 2 x HMs in quick succession (been there, done that!) 😨
I bet the warmth and hills didn’t bother the speedy runners. Your friend seems to have dealt with it very well! 💪🏃♀️
899th out of 2317 females, and she's 64!The thing that gives me pause for thought about Weston is the weather. Running along that seafront in strong winds doesn't bear thinking about. 🙁
Wind isn’t pleasant, but after yesterday I’d take wind over heat and hills! I’ll definitely consider Weston! You’ll have to report back if you run it next year. 😀
Congratulations on your Half Marathon today Cheekychipmunks, a good run and detailed post from you, that was nice seeing Irishprincess and SkiMonday marshalling at 5K, perhaps regarding the conditions being so warm you thought 5K would be enough but you continued to complete the run not walking at all, once again well done 😀 🏃🏾 🎓
Thanks Al! Yes 5k would have been very tempting today I must admit! The lure of pizza with my VRBs, and of course the ever important bling, definitely helped however. 😀
I can’t walk, because I’m not convinced I’d get going again! I’m happier at a slow trundle when the going gets tough. 🏃♀️
Thanks JoJo. Definitely tough, but definitely fun. I had comments from spectators about the fact I was smiling a lot. How can you not when you’re part of a big event like that? I love races. ❤️
Well done cheekychipmunks that’s an epic effort over a difficult course. 👏👏 I don’t know whether the GSR is a hilly course but I’d better get some practice in, just in case!😊👍Congratulations on finishing today, it must have been tough in the heat!🥵
There is an incline at the eastern end of the run from the pitch and putt course , past the Eastney Tavern and up to Henderson Road, but only noticeable to those of us who don’t do hills much. The worst thing about the GSR is usually the westerly prevailing wind which hits you in the last few kms. But you’ll be used to that in Bognor Regis David. It didn’t blow from the west in 2019 so Sandie1961 and cheekychipmunks were let off lightly. Hopefully we will be this year too
Congratulations Cheeky 🥳🥳🥳 You completed a tougher course than you expected, you ran it all, you had a VRB meet up, bling and a nice lunch. What more could you want? 4 weeks to GSR - the excitement is just building now 😃
Thanks Sandie! Course organisers are sneaky aren’t they? Bristol is definitely advertised as fast and flat. 🙄😅 Never mind, a VRB meetup is always fun and it spurred me on.
Congratulations!! Nice bling. Tso did you have to run on the cobbles down by the m-shed? If do that must have been very awkward.Running has taught me that roads I have always thought are flat definitely go up hill!
Sounds great fun having your HU meet up to round off !
Thanks W7! No, the cobbles were down by the Welsh Back. To be honest they didn’t bother me too much - it was the unexpected hills. I like hills as a rule, but I’ve never run a hilly HM before. 🥵 You’re right though - driving or walking doesn’t show up hills like running - I could have sworn some of the hills today didn’t exist before today! 😂
Oh you super star! 🌟🏃♀️🏅🏁 Running for three hours is what super stars are made of, digging deep for unexpected hills. I have lost count of how many half marathons you have run! What a great runner you are. How lovely to spot your family and meet up with Irishprincess and SkiMonday. Wonderful! 🎉👏💥👏💥👏🎉
You’re too kind over61! ❤️ I think that was my 6th or 7th HM, and it was definitely the toughest, purely because the others have been solo runs where I’ve picked the route! 😅 Today was a rude awakening to the fact I need to add hills to my long runs in future! 😅
It was so lovely to meet IP and SM for lunch afterwards. 😀
What a graph! Hard to believe that only represents 49m elevation gain. I let myself walk the 'quarry' part of my run on the last two Saturdays. Unheard of for me! Perhaps it is the slippery slope of age! We must all find the way that suits us. 😊
They were short sharp hills, especially that last one. 🥵 I’d definitely have had a better time if I’d walked them as I can walk far quicker than my slow hill trundle. Maybe one day I’ll allow myself to! Quarries are nasty - I don’t blame you one bit!
That sounds like a wonderful day especially as you got to meet some vrbs too! They were naughty not to mention the hills, but heck, you did ‘em! Note to self add some hills to long runs 🤣. Well done on a great day with pizza and peroni to finish it all off. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I know Frenc! Fast and flat? No, it wasn’t! I’m sure there are way hillier courses, but today’s was plenty hard enough for me. 🥵 The meetup was such fun afterwards.
Well done no way I could do a HM Picture from today, watched some of the runners. Did my own 10k. Did involve crossing the bridge and following part of the route.
It was a wonderful day for marshals and spectators I suspect Tabbles - that’s a lovely photo. 😍 I’ve never run over the bridge but I drive under it almost daily. I bet it was lovely for you today. 😀
Very inspirational , I watched the blind runners and their guides and some of the elite runners. Thought you may have been visiting so posted the photo as a memento.
Climb up to the bridge was 85m, I tried the wooded trial may have to rethink or wear longer socks.
I felt really emotional when I saw the blind runners and their guides. I was walking past the start on my way to the event village when they all started. Amazing. ❤️
I really did, thanks CSMN. I was momentarily disappointed not to get a PB, but I reminded myself I’ve never run a hilly HM before, and the sun didn’t help. It was great fun! 😀
Aww BBR, thanks! The meetup was the icing on the cake. It’s always fun to dissect a race with someone, and it was so lovely to have that long awaited meetup. 😀
That sounds like a great run all round and you even pipped someone on the home straight, which always feels good 😊👍 congratulations on completing the HM! 👏👏👏 🍾 Pizza and Peroni is a great recovery combo too 👍😁 Well done 👍👍👍
Huge congratulations cheeky, sounds pretty tough, and the weather is making running feel more of an effort at the moment. Although the firemen would have helped you take your mind off it😁Extra special to bump into running royalty too, sounds like a pretty special day altogether.
I asked the firemen if they’d give me a fireman’s lift in the Bristol 10k , but they thought I looked stronger than them at that point. Running in firemen’s kit must be hard.
Oh yes Dups, this is probably my hardest earned medal. I’ve done a couple of very hot 10ks (28 degrees 🥵), but the sheer distance of a HM amplifies everything.
The Scottish Half styles itself as fast an flat too, but I suspect much more accurately and, although there are a few gentle inclines (which feel worse than the actually are on tired legs) it has much more of a downhill aspect to it.Very much in the same camp as you though. Did I enjoy and would I do my event again? Absolutely! Would I attempt a marathon? Uh, I think not... I have still to get to the end on an HM and think, "You know what? I could just do that all over again..." I don't think I'm ever going to get to that particular place.
Well done on your run, and it is lovely to bump into familiar faces (even if they are passing you in the opposite direction some times...)
Yes SF, any incline is amplified on tired legs! The killer yesterday was the frequency of the inclines in the last third of the race. Just about had time to recover from one, then another …. and another.
I’ve never felt like I could continue on to a FM after running 13.1 miles, but speaking to our resident Ultra Marathon runner SkiMonday yesterday, he reminded us that any target distance is hard whether it’s 5k, 10k or the longer runs. I’m still not tempted though. I’m too slow and it would take from dawn until dusk! 😅
I have a friend that is an Ultra runner. Officially, I could beat her over HM distance but, the difference is, like yesterday, I'd be just about ready to be put down at the finish line where as she'd still really only be warming up and would keep going for another 3 hours.I'm happy sticking to HMs. At least we know we're only half-mad...🤣
Well done CC, I only did the 10K and found it very warm despite the forecast suggesting cool and cloudy, so even tougher for your HM. I do wonder if there is a definition of what is considered 'flat' for a race/event, as your elevation picture would definitely go against that. A lovely VRB meetup too, how nice. 😊
I hope you enjoy the nice flat of the GSR next 🏅🏃♀️
I think you've got an interesting point about definitions there Forest_Run_Beginner . Where I am, in mid-mountain France, that elevation picture does represent a flat course. But there again, I'm a freak who spends as much time as possible going up and down on trails. And yes, I walk a fair bit too. Can't cope with heat or flat roads either.
Thanks Sparky! Oh you must, it’s wonderful and very addictive. I need to have a race booked to look forward to all the time! Luckily I have the GSR next month and the Bath Half in April - both involving VRB meetups! ❤️
I’m still very proud today, although my quads have been stiffening nicely as the day has gone on. I’m planning a short slow jog in the morning to limber things up a bit. 🏃♀️😀
I have another 10K race on the 3rd October, but I've been too afraid to try a real HM one YET! But I'm looking for something local 😊So lovely to get to meet with your vrbs 💕
Ooo that’s not long to wait, good luck with that one! 👏👏👏 I definitely recommend running a real HM race, it’s very special. Just make sure you know the course well to avoid surprises! 😂
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