(with thanks to Katnap and Dexy for some of these photos)
Monsal Trail Race Report (version 1): The Event review, pragmatic but useful
In my opinion (and I know several VRBs share the same opinion) this was a highly recommendable, fabulously low key, friendly, wonderfully scenic, virtually flat event with easy logistics.
There was a choice of either half marathon or 10k on both the Saturday and Sunday, with a limit of around 300 participants per distance, per day. The event always sells out ahead of time (as does accommodation in Bakewell).
Before the start it was easy to find parking in the village of Bakewell. A short uphill walk (around 10 minutes) served as a gentle warm up. The loo queues never seemed to exceed 10 minutes or so and there was no queue at all for bag drop (which was literally that - drop your bag on a tarp๐).
The race route is along a disused railway trail which (despite what some route planning apps suggested) is pretty much flat, with the gentlest of inclines which are easiest on the return leg of the out and back route.
With other runners and other trail users, you rarely find yourself alone but there are only a smattering of supporters along the route so I found it to be a lovely peaceful run. There are amazing views of the Peak District the whole way, and on the sunny day we had, they were absolutely gorgeous.
The finish line was supported but relatively low key and not overwhelming (which I like). The medal was gorgeous (there was a separate option to purchase a t-shirt).
Live results were up fast, and the official finalised results and photos were published the next day.
There were lots of places available in Bakewell for a post race lunch, all within easy walking distance (back down that hill) of the finish line; there were also lots of places to purchase Bakewell tart and/or Bakewell pudding if post race cake is more your thing
This is an event I wouldnโt hesitate to recommend; it ticked an awful lot of boxes for me. Would I do it again? Absolutely, yes. Will I do it again? Weโll see, there are SO many great events to choose from โฆ
Monsal Trail Race Report (version 2): Achieving dreams, less useful, but joyous ๐ฅฐ
Just over 6 years ago I started Couch to 5k for the first time. By week 2 R1 I had had to stop because of knee pain. Googling this, I came across HU and tentatively wrote what was to be my first of many posts (though of course I had no idea at the time๐ ) healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
I restarted in April 2017, completed the program and gradually pushed on to my first official half marathon (which I ran two years later, almost exactly four years ago).
I ran it with my eldest son who was a young invincible 21 year old at the time, who didnโt see the need to train! Of course he still beat me, but that day, my own achievement, his smile when I crossed the line, will remain in my memory forever; it was a truly wonderful day: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
Iโm not sure he enjoyed it quite as much as me - he said he would never run a half again โฆ unless I ever beat his time! ๐คAnd, if I am honest, beating his time has been in the back of my mind for the last four years, the impossible dream...
But whatโs all that got to do with my Monsal trail race report you might ask?
The Monsal trail was my 8th official HM event, but I was every bit as nervous on Sunday as I was back in 2019 before that first one(I guess Iโm stuck with those nerves no matter how many times I practice)๐
โญThis Sunday I actually realised my dream: I beat my sonโs 2019 time by a whole 12 secondsโญ
To say I was over the moon is a complete and utter understatement. I didnโt EVER really believe I would beat him (and nor did he). I had blisters the size of marbles (the big ones), but I could have jumped for joy when I realised (it turns out I also won a trophy for coming first in my age category)๐ I was honestly as high as a kite for the rest of the day.
But that wasnโt the only dream I realised on Sunday. If you followed the link to my first post, you may have noticed that ย ย Bluebirdrunner and ย ย Oldfloss were the first to respond to my question. Those few kind words meant such a lot to me. They opened the door to HU and it's community of fabulous VRBs and made me feel welcome; and six years later here I am, still loving the support and camaraderie of this forum โค๏ธ
On Sunday, I finally got to meet both BBR and OF in person. They are legendary folk to me; I hold them (along with a few special others such as the late Iannodatruffe and ย ย roseabi ) very much responsible for my enduring addiction to, and passion for, running. I am totally convinced that being a part of HU is what has kept me running; in the early days when I found it so hard, in the dark days when I couldnโt run for 5 months through injury, and in all the good days in between!
โญOn Sunday, not only did I achieve my personal HM dream, I also got to meet the two legends who helped me uncover that dream โญ
The Monsal trail event was such a very special day for me, and will be stored in my memory bank right alongside my memories of my very first half marathon. I just love that, six years on, running is still giving me so much and I thank every one of the lovely VRBs (some of whom were there too) who have played a part in that๐ฅฐ
Here's to running, to dreams, to friendship and to having a fabulous time ๐ฅฐ
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linda9389
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Oh I just love this post ๐ฅฐ such a great achievement running a half marathon and then to find you topped your sonโs time too is just amazing, well done! So lovely you met with some of the fantastic HU vrbs too - what an amazing day you all had - very inspiring too. I wouldnโt have dreamt of entering a half marathon in my life but Iโm actually going to do it next March with some of my running buddies from my club โบ๏ธ
The stuff dreams are made for ๐ What a wonderful run and the icing on the cake at beating your sonโs time is fantastic! You have always been a positive presence here Linda and itโs a shame we didnโt meet up at that London Winter run that was cancelled because of the weather.
Wishing you many more years of wonderful running memories. ๐
Excellent run for you Linda9389, so you beat your sons HM time, well done, I wonder if he is going to run another Half Marathon to beat your time of the Mosal Ttail. You mention that he wouldn't run another HM unless you beat his time which you did, I hope he congratulated you on your wonderful achievement ๐๐พ ๐โ
He did eventually. But only after trying to wriggle out of the validity of my result of course ๐ If he does run another, and trains for it, then I will stand no chance of matching him. But for now I'll make the most of it ๐
O dear, so he thought that your time was wrong, that's not fair, of course your time was correct, he's just a little envious of you, I won't use the J word.
He tried arguing I should use the gun time, but I pointed out it had taken at least an hour for us to cross the line at LLHM, so I would have beat his gun time a long time ago! He conceded fast ๐
Always use the chip time at a big event, sometimes at the London Marathon or The Great North Run there is a difference of 90/120 minutes from when the start gun goes and when the later runners cross where the chip time starts.
You did incredibly well running a Half Marathon (with blisters) in such a speedy time Linda, and Iโm so sorry we missed you coming back in and crossing the line. I was probably back at the refreshments table for more water and Jaffa cakes! You so deserved that prize as you were in the biggest age group. Has your son responded to your good news yet?
I love your 2 posts - one to provide useful info to anyone wishing to take part, and one with the emotional journey you have been on.
We were just so lucky with the weather! It is now raining in Cheshire, after 3 bluebird days in Derbyshire.
You know, I never picked up a Jaffa cake! What was I thinking??? My son has eventually conceded defeat and is considering his options ๐ If he does run another, the record will undoubtedly be his and I have no doubt I won't ever be able to beat it. But beating this one was a lot of fun and very rewarding (I do hope that doesn't make me sound like a bad person ๐).
I do wish we had stayed in the Peak District longer - the weather has been exceptional. Enjoy the rest of your travels and safe journey back home ๐
Yes we could have stayed a week in our cottage for not much more, and there was so much more to see and do. But it was also lovey to catch up with friends In Macclesfield for the first time in 3 1/2 years.
You have thrown down the gauntlet and itโs down to your son now, but you are current prize holder. ๐
I didnโt have any Jaffa cakes till afterwards but they did go down well.
Just a lovely post Linda. You describe beautifully one of those special days which come around only occasionally, and then top it off with a generation gap busting pb. I feel as though I want to join that run right now! What a ๐
Thanks BC. Maybe pencil it into your calendar for next year? It is a very different event to the GSR, and all the more lovely for that (at least for people like me who actually prefer something a bit quieter and a bit less urban)! Its also nice and central for VRB meet ups (albeit everyone travelled from the South this time I think!). I didn't realise anyone else was going until just 2 or 3 weeks beforehand - what I thought was going to be a nice, quiet, pleasant trip with my OH turned into something incredibly special and memorable for all the right reasons!
Another wonderful post from the Monsal trail, I am so enjoying these. Well done Linda, what a brilliant result. And it was plainly a special event for everyone involved ๐
Toes are not too bad (probably one black one); blisters on the side of the feet are less painful but still look yuc and have a long way to go before they heal; then - having fallen off my bike yesterday - my knee is grumbling on bending or on the stairs (but running was OK), and finally my little finger is either badly bruised or broken from that fall ... but hey, what do I need that for??? I'm a bit crocked, but I can still run, so I'm still smiling ๐ฅฐ
I'm thrilled that you beat your then 21 year old son's HM record Linda. ๐ช๐Not only that but finishing first in your age group to scoop that lovely trophy too! A fantastic run from you, which hopefully took the sting out of your blisters a little.
I'm sorry I missed you coming over the finish line too, I think we had decided we needed to move our stiff old legs a little on a warm down walk after we had recovered a little from our finish line sprint....
But we saw you straight after, looking as fresh and calm as before your epic HM, and very happy with your time!
As for your second reportโบ(blush), I feel exactly the same meeting you! One of my heroes. An accomplished runner and cyclist and such a supportive and inspiring, lovely HU friend. Our hug at long last meant a lot to me.
It was a special event wasn't it, the memory of which I shall treasure, and smile about on future runs.
We stayed on for a few days afterwards too, basking in the glorious sunshine and countryside.
Ashford in the Water is a great little hamlet minutes away from Bakewell.
It just goes to show how much we can affect people we cross paths with, often without realising. In this case the affects are all so positive ๐ฅฐSo glad you had a lovely weekend. The stars were definitely aligned ๐
Thank you IP. I can't imagine my son talking to his mates about his mum ๐. He's here for Easter ... so I'm not putting the medal or the trophy away just yet ๐๐๐Joyous injury-free running? Now that's a dream I can get right behind ๐ฅฐ
The location positively delighted - you are very lucky having all that on your doorstep.As they say, what goes around comes around and you and BBR definitely started that cycle for me ๐
For me running, and discovering these forums and so many lovely VRBs, has been priceless ๐ฅฐ
This is just lovely to read Linda! Youโve achieved so much since that tentative first post, and beating your sonโs time, well, what a way to go!!! The event sounds just perfect, and meeting up with some very special VRBs must have been the cherry on top of the Bakewell ๐คฉ. WELL DONE!
what a fantastic race report. Thank you for taking the time to write it for us all.
So lovely to read about who you consider legendary on this forum and who โopened the door to HU and it's community of fabulous VRBs and made me feel welcomeโ
Echoing some of your words I absolutely chime with โI hold themโฆ very much responsible for my enduring addiction to, and passion for, runningโ but when I think of this I think of both roseabi and you linda9389
That's so kind Kevin. I would love to think i had been able to pass on some of my passion for running. and I know roseabi felt very much the same way. As I say, what goes around comes around, and seeing people benefit from these forums is so, so rewarding. Here's to enduring running addiction! ๐
I am just so gutted I missed it. After cheering Floss in her HM in 2019, I entered the 10k on 22 March 2020 (cancelled and lockdown 1 started next day), transferred to March 2021 (cancelled due to lockdown 3) and ended up doing it virtually on my own around the village. Just not the same โน๏ธโน๏ธ It would have been so great to meet up with you all and run with you again. It really does sound like it was a wonderful day. Maybe next year the HU crowd will outnumber other running clubs ๐ค๐ปThereโs a great site for the camper at Ashford in the Water too ๐
It's definitely waiting for you Sandie! Ashford in the Water comes highly recommended too (although why one would have a campsite in the water I cannot fathom!) For me it was very much a last minute surprise that this was to be a VRB meet up - a great surprise though!
Part 1 was good, part 2 was amazing, what a goal to beat, I think I've read all posts about this race and it seems like the perfect event, how lovely to meet the legends too
Yes sorry, we have rather spammed the forums with this one ๐ A group runners high that needed an outlet ... but also The Monsal Trail is a great event that I think is worth sharing๐ฅฐ
Don't ever b sorry for sharing good runs, great runs and even bad runs, if we all didn't there would be no forum, I'm just so happy for you all that you got to do it and see each other too, just wait til I'm back running, my rambling posts will fill the page
Whoop whoop what an amazing day,beating your son's time AND getting to meet some HU legends,lovely reports there linda9389 ,so glad you all had a wonderful day! ๐ ๐ฅฐxxx
Hi Linda. Really enjoyed reading your report. I have walked on the Monsal Trail and would love to run it one day. Well done on the HM and your amazing time. That must have been quite a moment.
It hadn't struck me until seeing your reply (and nowing how LLHM was for you), that there couldn't be two more different events. I loved my LLHM but I now know I love a Monsal Trail event even more. The noise and myriad twists and turns of LLHM are a real onslaught to the senses, whereas the Monsal Trail was almost soothing; it still had the nice firm smooth running surface, yet you are surrounded by nature and space. I think you might just love it Stephen, well worth considering ๐
How wonderful Linda! Many congratulations on your success- beating your sonโs time is fantastic and a lovely trophy too ๐๐ ๐ . I have strolled down that trailโฆ..delightful, I am very tempted to enter next year (maybe not the HM though ๐ค). Thanks for a great report
Congrats on some great achievements! First place in your age group and beating your young buck of a sonโs time is AMAZING ๐๐๐. I love it. It is so great that these VRB meetups occur - I wish I lived on the same continent ๐. It would be so fun to do these events you guys post about and to meet everyone IRL that are so supportive on here.
Thanks Sask. It's good to hear from you, hope all is well ๐
We do have a few Canadians on here don't we ... but still very much spread out and far apart! I'll be in Vancouver soon for the HM ... but that's not exactly close either is it ๐
What a great report linda9389 and great to have links to those previous posts ๐Think I've now read all the reports from monsal and it's obvious it's not only a great place to run (I know the area from teenage years)
But it's also a fantastic event and so great that so many from the forums could attend and in some cases meet for the first time ๐
It's definitely going to be one in my diary if things go to plan over the next 12 months ๐๐ค
What a lovely place to spend your teens (I go back even firther, it was my preteen years and - as evidenced by the photo above - that's a very long time ago).You've made a great start. Things WILL go to plan! We look forward to reading your race report ๐๐
What a wonderfully moving post Linda - so many tributes to the many who inspire us all on these very special forums!๐
I have yet to read some of the posts on this event but it sounds fantastic and I am very tempted to look out for entry later in the year.
Well done to everyone but of course to you - beating your sonโs time and an age category victory to boot! No wonder you feel so proud!๐ช
Thank you for all you do to support us on here - I do not spend as much time as I would like to on here but, like you, this forum has helped motivate me through good times, difficult times and whilst on the injury couch!
Thank youโฆand a huge well done on what sounds like a very special weekend.๐๐๐
That's such a great story, a brilliant read and great to see you linking it with your other posts. It's always great to get the one over from your children ๐. I'd say at the moment I would be able to beat my son (28 in June) at a HM. He used to be a runner when he was a child and has only really ran for a a few days in since he became an adult. I nearly persuaded him to do a parkrun with me last year but it was raining on the morning and he copped out. He's with his other half working in Finland at the moment and I will ask him again when he is back in May. I might have a small chance in beating him. However, he will most probably want a rematch after a bit of training and leave me for ๐จ
Huge congratulations for your wins in this race Linda and a great post. Very interesting to hear more about the race and its so lovely how you've met up with special people right from the start of your HU journey. All these reports have been wonderful to read. Hope your son is OK after his defeat and thank YOU for all the support you give on here, it's much appreciated.
I thought I'd already replied to this linda9389 but now realise it was on Strava. ๐
Congratulations on your category win, and I'm delighted that there was such a fun HU meet-up too. Sounds more like my kind of event than most - I used to go youth-hostelling around that area as a teen.
what a wonderful, uplifting and motivating post!! I loved reading it!! It sounds an absolutely wonderful day and yes that medal is quite impressive!! However, beating your son's time has got to feel really great!!!๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐
What a wonderful post Linda! It was a joy to be able to share that moment with you when you realised youโd beaten his time, what a target to have!
I think this forum helps many of us keep going, especially when weโre feeling a bit down and/or injured. Being able to share achievements and experiences with people that understand is really important. Many of us have closer family and friends who we share other things with but they donโt necessarily realise or understand how important running is to us and all the joys (and problems) that it can bring.
Youโre right, thereโs many more races out there to do but that HM was pretty special wasnโt it? Hereโs to many, many more Linda ๐
You are very lucky to have runny people in your house. I have pretty much no real runny people to share with (the couple of people I know who do run aren't in the least bit interested in times or races) so sometimes I can only chat with me. I'm sure this forum has saved me from total insanity, but it has been particularly wonderful to share post run feelings with real running buddies on the handful of occasions I have met up with VRBs ๐ฅฐ
As you say, here's to many, many more special runs ๐ฅฐ
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Your son will have his work cut out. !
โญโญ Let us know your March events โญโญ