Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep – the Friday pompoms are awakening! 🐣📣🎉🏅

[Cmoi]

Another Friday, and halfway into April already?! It is indeed, and a little bird told me that it’s time to wake up those pompoms and get cheering for our latest clutch of fabulous HU runners – and riders! 🏃🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Pretty much all the action’s taking place on Sunday 16th April, so let’s hear it for:

 SkiMonday , who’s off to the ABP Newport Wales Marathon: newportwalesmarathon.co.uk/ Claiming to be one of the UK’s flattest marathons, the event boasts iconic landmarks, such as the city’s Transporter Bridge and the stunning scenery of the Gwent Levels, complete with coastal wildlife and picturesque medieval villages.

Also aiming for that magical 26.2 miles are  GTFC and  Tasha99 , who’ll be taking on the Manchester Marathon together: manchestermarathon.co.uk/ The fourth largest marathon in Europe, this is also described as a friendly event with huge support around the route, as well as being - guess what? - the UK’s flattest major marathon.

It’s the Boston (UK) half marathon - bostonmarathon.co.uk/ - that has  Hedgehogs123 's name on it. The organizers were so busy boasting that this is the UK’s flattest marathon (anybody would think there’s some sort of rivalry going on) that they forgot to add any highlights for the HM route, other than that it’ll be colour-coded in red.

And to round off,  Shake-and-run is doubly in need of pompoms! On 16th April she’ll be taking part in a blooming marvellous cycling event, the Blossom Trail Bikeaway, riding 49 undulating (hah! not flat!) miles in the countryside: cycleeveshamvale.org/blosso... Then on Friday 21st April, hopefully full of flower power, and accompanied by  TailChaser , she’ll be looking to complete a virtual HM to replace the cancelled Shakespeare HM.

Is there anyone else to add? If you’re heading out to a race this weekend and would like us to give you a pompom cheer, reply to this post with your details and we’ll get you added to the list!

Have lots of fun, everyone, and don’t forget those race reports!

The Marathon Team xxx

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🏅 To tell us about any more April events, go here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

🏅 And this is where you can claim your badge for a new distance milestone, be it 10 miles, HM, Metric Marathon, Marathon or Ultra (50K and beyond): healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Just have a great day everyone and bring back the bling! Come on the smoggy army headed to Manchester ( yes GTFC I have recognised your smoggy status by association !!) . I see that the sausage munchers are out there again; bangers must be good for runners!!

[GTFC Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

I'm honoured Beachcomber66 after 3 months of living with my beautiful girlfriend Tasha99 ❤

[Katnap Marathon in reply to GTFC]

Best wishes on the day to you GTFC and Tasha99 from TailChaser , myself and the family Kat!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[GTFC Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Very many thanks. It's so much appreciated 😊

[Katnap Marathon in reply to GTFC]

❤️ and sleep is important for a good performance... 🤣Good night to you both!

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you BC #utb

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

👍🙂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Pompey pom-poms will be waving down here! SkiMonday again? Good luck, that sounds a lovely route for you. Have fun Tasha99 and GTFC flat running together and Hedgehogs123 on your HM. Special wishes to the running buddies in Stratford upon Avon. Good luck on your (virtual) first Half Marathon Shake-and-run . We will all be rooting for you and TailChaser .

🐥 🐥🐥 🐥 🐥🐥

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Good luck to one and all!👍🙂 Many, many miles to be run between you…even if some of them are ‘flat’! 😉🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Here on time, this week...! Pom poms and dragon flags waving here in Wales!Run safe, Run well, Run Happy!

Go everyone xxx🏃🏃‍♂️🏃🏃🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃🏃🏃

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

Good luck everyone! Look forward to hearing all about your runs / rides 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Good luck epic friends! A wonderful selection of runners deserves some blustery pom-poms and they’re flapping away merrily here for you all. There is bling in your future. Grab it and have fun on the way.🏅

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Good luck everyone

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

Good luck to all taking part in your events, hoping for better weather for you all 🙏🏻

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Good luck everyone 🍀 Have fun, enjoy the atmosphere and be proud 🙂

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Yep, got the ' power' bars at the ready!! 😄😄🤞

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

👍😋

[TailChaser Marathon]

Big fluffy marathon and half marathon sized pom-poms for everyone this weekend and for my compatriot next Friday! What a line-up! 😃⭐️💪💪⭐️😃

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

You have a good one too!!👏

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I love the way they run the Boston, Lincs HM and Marathon on the same weekend as the big one in the US! Especially as the US one is taken so seriously! 😄 Have loads of fun HH 👍

[RunSkippyRun Half Marathon]

Good luck to everyone. I'll be supporting at Manchester so will cheer on tasha99 and GTFC as they go past

[GTFC Marathon in reply to RunSkippyRun]

That's so lovely RunSkippyRun 💚🙏

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Good luck everyone!!!Have brilliant races👏👏👏

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Good luck all.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Pom poms and all the very best to all runners at events this weekend 👍 🏃🏾

[GTFC Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

In AlMorr we trust. Lots of love super Alan 💙

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to GTFC]

Enjoy your marathon with Tasha on Sunday in Manchester Dean 👍 🏃🏾 ❤️

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I’ve been chatting on and off with GTFC about this on Strava so I wish you and Tasha99 a great run in Manchester! Also to Hedgehogs123 and TailChaser and, of course, Shake-and-run on her bike.

I have first-hand experience of the Newport and Manchester events. In terms of scale, there’s a huge difference. To give some idea, with Newport, it takes maybe a minute for all the runners to cross the start line; with Manchester, it’s more like two hours! As for how flat, Strava shows 43m of climbing for Newport vs 120m for Manchester although I think it’s fair to describe them both as “flat”.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

That's an amazing time, two hours to get over the start line for the later runners at the Manchester Marathon, the lead runners will almost have finished just a little later than the last runners have started.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

I lifted all the descriptions from the respective event pages SkiMonday , that's what amused me!

[GTFC Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

All the best SkiMonday we wish you well in your epic run 😊

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

good luck  SkiMonday !

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Wow loads of great races,good luck to you all and have fun! 😁xxx

[Birdlady64]

Very best of luck GTFC and Tasha99 , SkiMonday , Hedgehogs123 , TailChaser , Shake-and-run

[GTFC Marathon in reply to Birdlady64]

Birdlady64 you're too awesome. Can't wait to meet you one day 😊

[Birdlady64 in reply to GTFC]

🤗 you never know, one time when you are down this way....

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Birdlady64]

I feel The Bench should be involved.

[GTFC Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

This 👆🏽🤣🤣🤣🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Good luck everyone. Go out and enjoyyyy!!!!

[GTFC Marathon]

Thank you so much Cmoi We've trained so hard together and we are ready for it 😊🙏

[GTFC Marathon]

Thank you everyone 🙏 we're really grateful and will give it all we have on the day. Sending best wishes to everyone over the weekend and wishing you all the best. Whatever happens for us, I'm so proud of Tasha99 ❤

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to GTFC]

Have a great race and a brilliant day 🎊💪💪

[RunWillie Marathon]

Cheering for you all GTFC & Tasha99 , SkiMonday Hedgehogs123 , TailChaser , Shake-and-run ❤️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

[GTFC Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you RunWillie 😊

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Wishing you all great runs and great weather Tasha99 GTFC TailChaser SkiMonday Shake-and-run Hedgehogs123 🎉🎉🎉😃

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Good luck everyone and enjoy your races. Pom-poms shaking from Lincolnshire!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Wow 🤩 these are all magnificent events! Good luck to you all. 👍

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

Pompoms waving in the North West. Have a great race and enjoy your day. Make good memories 🎊💪😃

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Good luck SkiMonday and enjoy Newport 😉 also enjoy your marathon together GTFC and Tasha99 ! I'm in awe! Good luck Hedgehogs123 and Shake-and-run that sounds like it might be a beautiful ride? Also Good luck for your virtual half with TailChaser pom poms are waving here!

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

thank you for the promise of Pom poms, I will try not to let you down.

I think GTFC and Tasha99 run together sounds really romantic! Enjoy you two. Good luck also to SkiMonday and Hedgehogs123 have a fabulous time.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Thank you, you too!! 😄🏃‍♀️

[Tasha99 Marathon]

good luck to everyone running this weekend! Xx

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

Almost 50 miles of cycling completed. A little stiff this morning but felt good to be back on a bike after 6 weeks (and I could still remember how to ride it 🤣).

Medal