On your marks, get set, go! Get flourishing those pompoms!

[Cmoi]

We’re racing through July and yes, our old friend Friday has caught up with us already! And that can mean only one thing… it's time for a fabulous flourish of pompoms!

So wave wildly and jump joyously for the super-speedy RunBrianRun , who’ll be getting into the starting blocks (literally) on Monday 25th July to run the 200m in the Sussex Vets League: sussexathletics.net/sussex-...

Have a fabulous race, Brian, and go grab that medal!

The Marathon Team xxx

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Got an event coming up? Want to check out what your VRBs are up to? You’ll find the July events post here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

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[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Morning Cmoi. Have a great day RBR, and the same to anyone else coming under starters’ orders this weekend. Another cool long slow run for me I think. Might even rain 👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you BC I hope you enjoy your long cool run too.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Good luck RunBrianRun for Monday 🍀 Hope the new starting blocks get you off to a flying start 🏃‍♂️

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you IP I spent the whole training session on Thursday practising with them.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Have another great event RBR - can't wait to see another awesome result 💪😊

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda. I hope so too. I’ve just heard that they’re putting me in with the M50 runners to cover that event so that will be quite a challenge as I’m normally in with the M60s.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Wow, go you! Rise to the challenge 😊

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Thank you, Cmoi. I’m really looking forward to it.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

You're welcome RunBrianRun , wishing you a great race!

Is your selection confirmed for the 30th as well? You were waiting to hear, I think, though I might well have overlooked any update.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Hi Cmoi, yes it was confirmed yesterday. 😀 Selected for the 200m and the 4 x 100 relay for the VAC club.

Hotel is booked and I’m nervously looking forward to it,

The event is on the 31st and it’s the U.K. Inter Area Championships though, not the actual U.K. Championships. The spreadsheet on HU has it as the latter. I’m hoping to enter that one next year.

Anyway, here’s hoping I get under 28 seconds as that’s my target. 😃😬

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I've just updated the spreadsheet RunBrianRun , hope it's now correct, do shout if not! 😀

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Good luck Brian!💪🏃‍♂️x

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you aliboo70 😊

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

Been practicing my Pom Pom waving at the Tour de France all week. The sight of me (a seriously mature lady) leaping up and down yelling encouragement at Geraint Thomas is a sight to behold. Still got some energy left for all our runners out and about this weekend, go guys and have fun!!!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Ooh, which stages did you watch Shake-and-run ? And did you also wave like a crazed thing and shout 'Hello hélico !" at the helicopters, just in case you got to be on TV?!

The race was split into three when I saw it: 23 rider breakaway, peloton about nine minutes after, and then considerably later, Caleb Ewan and three team-mates, desperately trying to keep him in it. The cheers and shouts of encouragement they got were incredible. 👍

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Stages 17, 18 and 19 in the Pyrenees. One hill top finish ( we were 100k from the line), one mid stage village, and one start ( so we could see riders up close as they were going up and down to sign on).

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

I've gone all fangirly and followed Romain Bardet on Strava. Love his title for stage 19: Pour la degust’ de malbec on repassera 💨

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

I once had a close encounter with him after the stage at Bergerac 🤣

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Wine-tasting?! 🍷🍇

He's from my nearest town and is still a member of the cycling club there.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Having a pom pom party for you RunBrianRun ! Good luck 😊.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Pom Pom party here we go!! 😃 Thanks Frenc 😊

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Every day should be a pom pom party! 😁

[RunWillie Marathon]

Go well RunBrianRun I’m cheering for you!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

I appreciate your support RunWillie 👍😊 Thank you

[TailChaser Marathon]

Best of luck Mr Speedy RunBrianRun 🥳👍👍👍👍💪💪💪

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thank you TailChaser I’ll be doing my best speedy impression. 😂

[Irish-John Marathon]

Go Brian 👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Thanks Irish-John 😊👍

[lexi6 10 Miles]

Two days too late, but not too late fortunately RunBrianRun to wish you luck on Monday 🏃‍♂️🔥

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to lexi6]

Thank you Lexi 😊 It’s not too late 👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Hey I just thought I’d post a quick update on my event. I came last after tripping up with about 15 or so metres to go. I almost did a complete somersault landed on my shoulder and skidded to a halt on left side. I would have been travelling around 30km/h at the time. I’m a bit sore and my shoulder hurts like hell today, but I’m ok. I got up and walked over the line in 35.6 seconds. I dusted myself down, washed the cuts and grazes, and went on and ran the 200 leg in the medley relay.

Despite this setback I was really happy with how the run went. The club dropped me into the 50 year old category as they were short of runners and this meant that I would be running with young whipper snappers 😂 One of them, has just come back from the world championships having come 4th in 400 meters and then his team got gold in the 4 x 400! 🤩

He was in lane 6 and I was just inside him in lane 5. My target was to try and get a fast start and get on to his shoulder and hang on in there for as long as I could.

Well I got a blistering start and was on him within 30 meters. I just sat there feeling very comfortable and then went for it off the bend. I grabbed a two metre lead and tried to focus on my form and staying relaxed, which I honestly found impossible. (I need to work on my relaxation technique).

I then sensed and heard him coming black at me as we approached the final 30 metres and just as he drew level with me, my spikes on my right toe seemed to just dig into the ground and over I went. Wheeeeee. Splat.

Anyway, the really good news is that the chap who won, said he slowed up when I fell and he still finished in 27.4. That means I would have been very close to that time. My previous best being 28.29 this would have given me a massive PB and shot me up the rankings.

Hey Ho. I still have my final race this Sunday which is a much bigger event as it’s the UK Masters Inter Area champs at the Pingle Stadium in Nuneaton. I’m really hopeful of a good time there and might even make the final! Yay! I hope I stay on my feet this time though.

Sussex vets M50 200m just before I fell over. 😞

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks for the update RunBrianRun ! Even though you're being so positive, I'm really peeved for you about your fall. Great that you're still able to run! 👍😀

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Yeah I can see why I might be more upset but I’ve still a chance to fix it this coming weekend so that helps.