My (ridiculously long) Monsal Trail race report (in two parts) ...

[linda9389]

(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 tarp😆).

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 wouldn’t hesitate to recommend; it ticked an awful lot of boxes for me. Would I do it again? Absolutely, yes. Will I do it again? We’ll see, there are SO many great events to choose from …

Monsal Trail Race Report (version 2): Achieving dreams, less useful, but joyous 🥰

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 time😍 ) 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 didn’t 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...

I’m not sure he enjoyed it quite as much as me - he said he would never run a half again … unless I ever beat his time! 🤔And, if I am honest, beating his time has been in the back of my mind for the last four years, the impossible dream...

But what’s 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 I’m stuck with those nerves no matter how many times I practice)🙈

⭐This Sunday I actually realised my dream: I beat my son’s 2019 time by a whole 12 seconds⭐

To say I was over the moon is a complete and utter understatement. I didn’t 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)😃 I was honestly as high as a kite for the rest of the day.

But that wasn’t the only dream I realised on Sunday. If you followed the link to my first post, you may have noticed that   Bluebirdrunner and   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 ❤️

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   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 couldn’t run for 5 months through injury, and in all the good days in between!

⭐On Sunday, not only did I achieve my personal HM dream, I also got to meet the two legends who helped me uncover that dream ⭐

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 that🥰

Here's to running, to dreams, to friendship and to having a fabulous time 🥰

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

Oh I just love this post 🥰 such a great achievement running a half marathon and then to find you topped your son’s 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 wouldn’t have dreamt of entering a half marathon in my life but I’m actually going to do it next March with some of my running buddies from my club ☺️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

Fabulous! That's a very possible dream to realise and the sense of achievement will be amazing 🥰

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

The stuff dreams are made for 😊 What a wonderful run and the icing on the cake at beating your son’s time is fantastic! You have always been a positive presence here Linda and it’s a shame we didn’t meet up at that London Winter run that was cancelled because of the weather.

Wishing you many more years of wonderful running memories. 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks Brian! Now to come up with a new dream ... 🤔Surely I will make it to one of the events down your way before too long 🥰

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

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 🏃🏾 👍✅

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

He did eventually. But only after trying to wriggle out of the validity of my result of course 😍 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 😊

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

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 😍

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

That's right! There's a lot of runners to get over the line before it gets to my turn 😍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

😀💪👍

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

You did incredibly well running a Half Marathon (with blisters) in such a speedy time Linda, and I’m 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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

You know, I never picked up a Jaffa cake! What was I thinking??? My son has eventually conceded defeat and is considering his options 😍 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 🙈).

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 😊

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

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 it’s down to your son now, but you are current prize holder. 😃

I didn’t have any Jaffa cakes till afterwards but they did go down well.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

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 🌟

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

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!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

And you retirement has hardly begun 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Oooh you're right there, and I'd heartily recommend retirement too. As would you I bet 😍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Definitely. I miss the amazing people with whom I worked….but not the work, long car commute and sleepless nights!

[grumpyoldgirl]

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 💖

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

It was such a beautiful run GOG, great company and great achievements all round. This running malarkey is a good find 😍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

How are your toes grumps? Better I hope.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

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 🥰

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to linda9389]

Sound like battle scars to me Linda, carry them with pride 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Pride and the occasional grimace 😬

[Bluebirdrunner in reply to linda9389]

😚xxx

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Beachcomber66]

My toes are still not right sadly. I've been referred for an x-ray to rule out a sneaky fracture.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Ooh nasty. Remember a stress fracture may not show on an xray, so you may want to push for an mri if the xray shows nothing ...

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Good plan Grumps. At least you will know what you are dealing with.👍

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

what a delightful post Linda, it just oozes joy and sunshine. Thank you.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

You know that sums the day up perfectly 🌞🥰

[Bluebirdrunner]

I'm thrilled that you beat your then 21 year old son's HM record Linda. 💪😊Not 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 report☺(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.

I am pencilling in next year too, only the

10k though.😉

Jan

🌷xxx🌷

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

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 🥰So glad you had a lovely weekend. The stars were definitely aligned 😊

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

What a fabulous post Linda! You’ve done brilliantly, so many memories and so many achievements 😍

I’m sure your son is very proud of you. I bet he tells all his mates about his amazing mum!

You continue to inspire and this post will no doubt encourage more folks to follow in your footsteps.

Many congratulations to you on all counts and very well done. Here’s to many many days like Sunday and years of joyous injury-free running 🤗 xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you IP. I can't imagine my son talking to his mates about his mum 😍. He's here for Easter ... so I'm not putting the medal or the trophy away just yet 😍😍😍Joyous injury-free running? Now that's a dream I can get right behind 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Bluebirdrunner has pipped me at the post... what is the song? £

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

A fabulous and fantastic run and a fabulous and fantastic report. It was super !

You ran a race and a half and fulfilled that dream... Your son will have his work cut out. !

I am delighted that the location did not disappoint.

Moving on...

As BBR has said... you are the hero, you are the inspiration for me.... I could not wait to meet you... in person....

An amazing forum friend...Always there, always encouraging and always making me believe I can do IT!

This forum gives us so much more than running advice and running stories, it gives us friendship... priceless.

I am, shamelessly going to echo, Shake-and-run 's words... a day of sunshine, joy and yes, love .

Thank you for sharing this...

Hilx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

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 😊

For me running, and discovering these forums and so many lovely VRBs, has been priceless 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

Xxx

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Perfect!!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Week7]

It was jolly close 😊

[backintime 10 Miles]

Excellent post linda, and it sounds like it ticked many of your boxes!

Congrats on the prize, well deserved!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to backintime]

It certainly did 😊 Thank you 🙏

[Frenc Half Marathon]

This is just lovely to read Linda! You’ve achieved so much since that tentative first post, and beating your son’s 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 🤩. WELL DONE!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Oooh I love what you did there 😍😍😍Thank you.

[Over62 Half Marathon]

Great post linda9389 - what an achievement, and loving the sons reaction!

What a lovely place to run a HM and meet up with friends made on HU.

Wonderful achievement all round! 🏃🏻‍♀️⌛️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Over62]

Thank you 🙏 The stuff of dreams 🥰

[Kevin41 Half Marathon]

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 ‘opened the door to HU and it's community of fabulous VRBs and made me feel welcome’

Echoing some of your words I absolutely chime with ‘I hold them… very much responsible for my enduring addiction to, and passion for, running’ but when I think of this I think of both roseabi and you linda9389

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Kevin41]

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! 😍

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

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 ☹️☹️ 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 🤞🏻There’s a great site for the camper at Ashford in the Water too 😃

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

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!

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Definitely a thick layer of icing on the cake 😊😊

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

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

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes sorry, we have rather spammed the forums with this one 😍 A group runners high that needed an outlet ... but also The Monsal Trail is a great event that I think is worth sharing🥰

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

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

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

and we love your rambling posts too!🥰

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

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! 😀 🥰xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Aliboo - it was a blast for sure 😊

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

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 😊

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks, Linda. Yes, I am definitely considering it for next time. It sounds perfect.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Sorry to butt in! Me too. I've walked the cheedale to monsal head section several times, but never ran it.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Put it on your list 👍😀

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Done! 😃 Hope you're chilling, ready for tomorrow x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Day after tomorrow... I think 🤔 😀

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Oops!

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

How wonderful Linda! Many congratulations on your success- beating your son’s time is fantastic and a lovely trophy too 👍😀 👏 . I have strolled down that trail…..delightful, I am very tempted to enter next year (maybe not the HM though 🤔). Thanks for a great report

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Thank you. I would heartily recommend running it, so beautiful - worth running the extra distance for the views 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Another superstar. What an amazing run Linda. ❤️ So glad you had a wonderful time. ⭐️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It was a long way down after a day like that Cheeky! I'd say you were virtually with us, given the number of times we said you should be there 🥰

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

❤️

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

Fantastic post, congratulations on achieving your dream, on a fabulous race and meeting up with wonderful friends 👏🏽

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Runnin-g]

Thank you - it was a fantastic day 😊

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

What a fabulous and moving report! Meeting up with VRBs and in such a wonderful sounding place. Loved reading this 😃

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

It really was wonderful Mudita, full of smiles, a real celebration of running and the camaraderie that surrounds it 🥰

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Congrats on some great achievements! First place in your age group and beating your young buck of a son’s time is AMAZING 👏👏👏. I love it. It is so great that these VRB meetups occur - I wish I lived on the same continent 😆. It would be so fun to do these events you guys post about and to meet everyone IRL that are so supportive on here.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask. It's good to hear from you, hope all is well 😊

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 😍

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Vancouver would be a lovely place for a HM. Too bad it is still really far away from where I am 😆

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Really, really far!

[misswobble Marathon]

well done Linda! Great news on the age place award. Brilliant 😀💪👍🏅👊✊🌪🔥

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks Miss W. Had I run on the Saturday that trophy would not have been mine - my skill was really in picking the right day to run 😍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

💪😀👍🏃‍♀️ You chose wisely 🔥

[Instructor57]

What a great report linda9389 and great to have links to those previous posts 🙂Think 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 🙂

It's definitely going to be one in my diary if things go to plan over the next 12 months 🙂🤞

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Instructor57]

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 👍😊

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

What a wonderfully moving post Linda - so many tributes to the many who inspire us all on these very special forums!🙂

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 son’s time and an age category victory to boot! No wonder you feel so proud!💪

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 you…and a huge well done on what sounds like a very special weekend.🙂💖🏅

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra. It was a great event and a great weekend. If you get the chance, then yes - just do it (as they say🥰)

[Freecloud Marathon]

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 😊. 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 💨

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

Congratulations Linda on an epic HM, a wonderful day out and one you will all remember for many years to come. 🎉

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Thank you 😊 I certainly will 🥰

[Irish-John Marathon]

Great post, great run, great Lady Runner 🙂👍🏻

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

You are too kind! But I am having FUN! It's good to see you back IJ 😊

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Good to be back Linda

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thank you CLR😊 I'll cook my son a nice Easter lunch to make up ... with medal and trophy left discreetly on the side 😍

[Cmoi Marathon]

I thought I'd already replied to this linda9389 but now realise it was on Strava. 🙄

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.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Flat as a bakewell pudding ... but very beautiful and relatively peaceful too 😍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I'd pretty sure I'd have problems sticking to the route and would go off exploring!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😍😍😍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

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!!!😀🏅🏅🏅🙌🙌

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Thanks Hedgehogs! It was all great. Really looking forward to telling my son every detail when he comes for Easter tomorrow 😍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Absolutely, got to be done!!!😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

😅😅😅

[Decker Ultramarathon]

AWESOME!!! 🎉🎉🙌🙌👊❤️ This one I’m sure will be such a great memory in years to come. Congratulations Linda!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks Decker. I still can't resist smiling when I think about it. I'm easily pleased 😍

[TailChaser Marathon]

What a wonderful post Linda! It was a joy to be able to share that moment with you when you realised you’d beaten his time, what a target to have!

I think this forum helps many of us keep going, especially when we’re 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 don’t necessarily realise or understand how important running is to us and all the joys (and problems) that it can bring.

You’re right, there’s many more races out there to do but that HM was pretty special wasn’t it? Here’s to many, many more Linda 😍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

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 🥰

As you say, here's to many, many more special runs 🥰

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Oh that’s frustrating Linda! How can you run and not be interested in times and races! That must be even worse!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

I don't know .... but occasionally I wish I did 😍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to linda9389]

(If it’s any consolation, I had to explain to my mum what a PB was…)

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Haha. My father's got that now, even knows it's important 😍

[Katnap Marathon]

Awesome report and awesome result linda9389 !

Are your blisters better now?

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Blisters? Well, they're quietly bracing themselves for the next HM ... 🙈😱

[Katnap Marathon in reply to linda9389]

😃😂🤣