Great South Run: Grit and sheer determination! 💪🏅

[cheekychipmunks]

I did it! ✅ Did I ever doubt myself after my mega cold? I sure did, especially after having to take 5 walk breaks on a 3k run in the week. I knew I had no chance of getting close to last year’s time of 2:08, but that didn’t bother me. I just wanted to get round the 10 miles, preferably without walking. It was slow (2:24:00), and by heck I had to cajole my legs after 10k, but I trucked on, running every step. Mr Cheeky was there for the final mile, encouraging me all the way, and so were some of my wonderful buddies. It was awesome and I felt proud as punch, albeit in total agony.

As ever Great Run did themselves proud (heavy bling too 😍), and there was great entertainment on the route. The weather behaved impeccably, having been blowing a hooley yesterday. That would have been interesting!

Anyway, what a weekend; what a meetup! Check out these legends ……. Dexy5 UpTheStanley TailChaser Katnap (plus speedy Youngest Kitten), Sandie1961 (and Mr Sandie who kept Mr Cheeky company!), JonathanP (and son), Oldgirlruns Beachcomber66 linda9389 roseabi Mudita11 and David_G . Lots of us had dinner together last night, several of the above weren’t running and instead were a sterling support crew. Thank you! 🙏🏻

I celebrated my success with the takeaway of champions on the way home: chicken tenders and fries. Next up, the longest bath in the world. 😍

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

A huge congratulations to you CC on completing the Great South Run, sorry about you being in agony but all your supporters would ease the pain.

Great photos, the pain won't last long after your long bath, I wish you a very good evening, once again well done 😀 🏃🏾.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks so much Al, I’m thrilled that I did it, and seeing my friends, old and new, was fabulous of course. 😀

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Whoopee! Whoopee!Whoopee! I'm so pleased for you! Wow wee running 2hours 24minutes non stop! Just amazing after that mega cold. 🎉👏🏁🏃‍♀️

I expect that the bath was simply gorgeous! 😊🛀

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank you over61! I’m chuffed to bits that I was able to keep going! And funnily enough my cough has been almost non existent since finishing! Maybe it’s given up on me and moved on! Good riddance. 😅

Oh the bath was dreamy. ❤️

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I am so proud of you my friend, after everything you’ve been through with that darn cold. You are made of strong stuff cheekychipmunks . Looking forward to our next meet up already. 🐈‍⬛😉

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks lovely Dexy5 . I did miss running with you, and hope we can be together next year for my GSR no 4! Your support this weekend was wonderful, so thank you. 🙏🏻

See you rather soon! 🐈‍⬛

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

congratulations cheeky and all the other HU contingent. Well done for running all the way.

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

Thanks Shakes! We all think you’d love it and hope you can come next year! 😈

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon]

What an absolutely epic performance today! Massive congratulations to you. That bling is so well deserved. Enjoy!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you so much MU. I am remarkably stubborn, but I made a pact with myself that if I really needed to walk, I would, as I haven’t run more than 15k in 2022! But I felt ok, just my legs were complaining and I knew I could talk them into carrying me all the way! 😅

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I know about legs complaining! How have yours been since? Different bits of me have been aching at different times! I had horrible knee pain straight after and yesterday morning but that subsided (thank goodness). I thought that might have been a proper injury. Now I’m on to burning calf muscles!

Being able to dig out such a huge distance having not run 15k recently is just awesome. 💪

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I’m surprisingly ok now MU, just slightly fatigued quads. Hope your aches and pains are subsiding too 🤞 I was reading on FB about the lack of water stations at the Bath Half and people collapsing left, right and centre. Did you notice that?

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I was expecting to see more water stations than there were and I was really glad that I’d taken a bottle to carry just in case. I noticed a couple of people on the side of the road getting attention and that was one of the reasons I decided not to push harder to get a bigger PB. It was also much sunnier than I’d expected so perhaps others were caught out too. I’ve never done a half marathon before so I didn’t know what was normal for how many water stations there should be. I was glad of children with jelly babies!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

well done to you and all the HU runners! Great job!🏅🙂👏

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra, we had such a great weekend. 😍

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

well done cheekychipmunks . Glad you made it round. Time doesn’t matter. It was a lovely day for it.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Coddfish]

Thanks Coddfish, yes the weather behaved, making it a truly enjoyable run, slow or not. Hope to see you soon. ❤️

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Well done cheekychipmunks , especially after that cold! What a fabulous day. I hope that bath is nice and bubbly 😊😊😊.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thank you Frenc! I do believe that run has chased the remnants of the cough away, and I’m super happy to have made it round. 🙏🏻

Oh yes, the bubbles were plentiful in my bath. 😀

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Congratulations on a sterling run there cheeky! Hope you enjoyed the supper and well earned bath. 👍Well done to all the HUers on the GSR today. 👏👏👏

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thank you Brian! I dug deep, especially in the last few kms, and didn’t let the leg gremlins win. Running is character building isn’t it? 💪

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Without doubt cheeky. I can honestly say it is. I barely recognise the person I was before I started running. You did amazingly well especially considering you were also just over a bad cold. 😊👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

💪🙏🏻

[Katnap Marathon]

Great to chat with you on the course around Mile 5. You were looking strong, controlled and determined!

Lovely to be able to add real world meetings with linda9389 , Mudita11 , and (I think) Ripcurlrana71 .

Big shout for the cheering support crew!

Oldgirlruns , UpTheStanley , Dexy5 , David_G , and Mr. Sandie1961

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Katnap, it was lovely to chat on the course, and I was pleased that I was able to! You guys looked great as usual! 💪😅

I was also very pleased with my performance after the cold - everything felt great except those weedy leg muscles! 🙄😅

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Great result pushing on through that CC. I too had to apply some effort (in Bath) today but I think you had to dig a lot deeper than I did! Great HU turnout too!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks SM, my fierce determination came through today, that’s for sure. I’m also certain I couldn’t have made it round a hilly course of any length today, but I do feel better in myself after that run. Cold be gone!

You nailed that Bath course it seemed. 💪

[misswobble Marathon]

Congratulations 👏. Well done 😀🏅

I hope you’re recovering nicely after food and a soak 🛁

Well done HU. Great runners and support crew 😀💪👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks MW! Yes my legs are talking to me again now. They approved of food and a loooong bath. 🙏🏻

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Well done cheekychipmunks you did yourself proud and it was great to be in the HU support crew, cheering everyone on! I’m going to book my place next year as soon as I get home👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to David_G]

Glad to hear it David! In the meantime look after that leg of yours.

Lovely to see you on the route. It’s definitely gives a boost seeing a friendly face, and it was kind of you to make the journey especially. 🙏🏻

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Woo hoo, well done and a huge congratulations!!! What a great feeling that must be and great bling!!! Have a nice long bath with epsom salts (I'm told that really helps) and hopefully your legs will start to forgive you!!👏👏🏅🏅

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I’m a massive Epsom salts fan Hedgehogs, but I’m disappointed to say that I didn’t have any to use today. Bubbles it was, and they were lovely!

I’m very happy that I made it round. The lure of the bling helped. 😍🏅

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Fantastic report, what a good day you’ve had and you got through, hope you enjoyed that bath

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Oh that bath was the absolute best Sola. 😍 It made me feel human again. 🙏🏻

It was a wonderful weekend in general. Such lovely people. ❤️

[Time_Lord Half Marathon]

Congratulations cheekychipmunks  et al. You did so well.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Time_Lord]

Thank you T_L. It was wonderful and we all had such a fun weekend. 🙏🏻

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on beating that cold into submission .Sounds like an amazing day of running and VRBs materialising as real , actual human beings! Amazing.

love the photos.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

Thanks W7! It’s funny, but I’ve barely coughed since finishing the run yesterday. After how I’ve been this last few weeks, it’s something of miracle. 😅 My legs, on the other hand, are wondering what on earth happened to them. My longest run this entire year had been 15k prior to the GSR, whereas last year I’d done a couple of HMs! They’re still in shock. 😅

[Week7 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Your legs did you proud. Strange about the cough -some research needed re post viral coughs and running maybe?

My legs feel your pain! .Mr Garmin made me run 10 miles on Saturday as part of a half marathonplan. As usual I ran loops around my town but for a change of scene I decided to run ( PLOD) up the steep hill out of town and loop around a neighbouring village. Even after a good long walk yesterday I am still feeling it today-hoping Mr Garmins gentle 45 minute run this morning will loosen things up before I have to sit down to work all day tomorrow.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

Oh well done! At least the GSR is flat; I know I couldn’t have made it up any hills yesterday, as my leg strength has been affected severely by this cold/virus. I always thought running with a cough wasn’t recommended, but I must say I chose to ignore that advice as I wouldn’t have missed my 3 x 10k races and the GSR for anything. The bling is too important! 😂

Enjoy your gentle run today. Note: I won’t be! 😂

[Week7 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

4 races in such a short space of time would be too much for my little legs even without having a cold/virus! The vast majority of my runs are at 🐌 pace.

Be proud of your bling and look after your legs!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

They’re being treated kindly for a few days now! Otherwise they might fall off! 😅

[Week7 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

💪🦵🏅😋

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

congratulations 👏🏻 What an achievement - it sounds like a great day and everything went well.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

Thanks Dendev, it was fabulous and we all had a blast. 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Great job Cheeky. Loved your grin just before you crossed that finished line 🥰

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Sheer relief Linda! 😅😅

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

What a fabulous sounding day Munks!!!! So many memories and so many VRBs! It still looks a tad windy though if that top photo was taken on the day.

Very well done to you and I’m wincing at your pain. But you did it. And got the bling. Nothing else matters 😂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Ahh no, IP, the windy photos were taken on Saturday, thank goodness. It was calm as anything yesterday 🙏🏻

It’s amazing how single-minded bling can make us isn’t it? It sure kept me focused! 😀🏅😍

[UpTheStanley Half Marathon]

I’m hoping the bubbles weren’t confined to the bath Cheeky ? 🍾

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to UpTheStanley]

Well actually I was so exhausted that I had a very dull, bubble-free early night UTS. 😴

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Great report Cheeky and wasn’t it a fantastic day? Really loved meeting everyone on the day of the race. I have entered for next year already 🤣 x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

Great to meet you too Mudita, and yes it looks like there’s going to be a repeat performance in 2023! 😂

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

well done Cheeky on a great 10 miles. Loved reading your report and all the fabulous comments. You are made of strong stuff and any future colds had better think again! 🎊🎊💪💯🌟

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Thanks CSMN! Yes I’m hoping they’ll think I’m a lost cause and move elsewhere! 😂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I can’t believe that I didn’t notice you in the home straight Cheeky . In fairness I was feeling a bit groggy by then and longing for the finish line! Dexy5 transported us to chocolate cake and flat white just in time. There was a really lovely supportive spirit about the whole day…everyone was willing us to succeed…and you did 👊 ‘Supermunks!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

You looked as determined as I felt BC, and in any case even if I’d have called out to you I wouldn’t have been able to say much - plus you’d have been relegated to SuperSnail status! I must say I love Supermunks! 😅

A truly wonderful weekend, with the loveliest people. ❤️

[JonathanP 10 Miles]

Well done Cheeky - great that we were both able to run all the way!🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to JonathanP]

Definitely Jonathan! Those grandchildren induced colds didn’t get one over on us after all! 👊 💪

[Ramdoesntgiveup Marathon]

cheekychipmunks well done you. The time doesn’t matter really and was good you focused on getting around and those walk breaks. Proud of you 💖x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Ramdoesntgiveup]

Thanks so much Ram! I was focused on taking no walk breaks, as I wanted a goal to be proud of, knowing I was in no fit state to try to better last year’s race time! Mission accomplished! 😀

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Awesome Cheeky!! So happy for you! Congratulations! 👏👏👏

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks so much Decker! We’re tough us runners! 💪

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

congratulations on completing after your loooooong illness! You are awesome! Love the great big meet up too 👌🎊😄

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks CLR, can you believe it was the same cold as I had when we did Cheddar? Even then I’d had it over a week! 🙄😅

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It's been a rotter that cold! But you have done so much!!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks! Probably not recommended doing 4 races, but you know what the lure of the bling does to us! 😅

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

How wonderful, many congratulations 👏 to you - well done!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Thanks so much SS! ❤️