Felt emotional on the start line today, probably because it was lovely being part of the wonderful, giving, running community, and thinking back to how my running took a nosedive back in February.
Jenny was in the green wave, me in the pink. We had no issues with anything pre-race and we wished each other well as she headed off to her speedier cohort. It was misty and cool to begin with, but I took my trusty shades and left my sweatshirt in the bag drop. Lucky I did as the sun broke through and it was sunny and warm by about 6k. Bristol’s cheeky hills felt ok - lots of people were walking up those, but I trucked on like I do. 💪
I had enough in the tank for a sprint finish and crossed the line in 1:19:03. My watch said 9.86k, but I wanted the 10k achievement so walked until it clicked over.
Jenny smashed her 10k PB by 5 minutes and ran 55:31! A work colleague ran the 10k in 43:30, and another ran the HM in 1:17:36! What? 😮
I’m so close to being back to full fitness, after a long 7 week layoff, and it feels fabulous. 🙏🏻
Banging HU10k playlist to listen to too! Mine came on trudging up a hill which gave me a boost. 😀 HM next weekend so I’ll listen to it, plus more, then! 🙏🏻
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Great run Cheeky! Yesterday obviously just a gentle warmup for this one which was a gentle warmup for next week, which is a gentle warmup for ...... ??
congratulations on a great run Cheeky, sounds perfect and what you need before you tapper for your HM. Well done to younger cheeky too. Love your bling.
Thanks Shakes. My HM will be a Jeffing affair and I’m only doing it because ….. umm well, because I’m a bit daft as I haven’t run over 11k for ages and haven’t run a HM since 2021! But you know what I’m like. 🙄😅
Thanks Sola. I quite enjoy the hills if I’m honest. There were a few, and I’d forgotten to tell Jenny about the 2-parter at around 7.5k! None were massive, but they were definitely hills. 😅
Congratulations to you and Jenny on completing The Great Bristol 10k, especially Jenny with that 55.31 PB, wow 1:17:36 for a HM, that is amazing for a club runner, good luck for your Healthunlocked HM next week🏃♀️👍
It’s quite sobering especially as this young man only began running about a year ago Al! His first ever race was the London Marathon last year! A natural born runner. 🏃♂️ Jenny and I were were happy with our times though, being mere mortals! 😅
Thanks Stephen. I’ve been building up fitness over the last few weeks and I’m happy I can see the results. 🙏🏻 Yes, a gentle running week next week, and a leisurely Jeffing HM next weekend. I don’t want to push my luck by trying to run the lot, much as I’m not a fan of Jeffing. 😀
Thanks, I’m curious how it’ll go as I’m undecided whether to run 10k and Jeff the rest, or start Jeffing from beginning. I’m a Jeffing novice as you can no doubt tell. 😅
I will be interested to see how the Jeffing works for you and whether you do decide to run 10k and then Jeff. I prefer to keep going but recently taken to walk/run to try and get back to some sort of fitness!
Hi SS. I’m undecided and probably won’t know what I’m going to do until I start running.
Like you, I’d far rather keep running, but I haven’t run a HM since September 2021 and since then my longest runs have been the 2021 and 2022 Great South Runs. This year my longest has only been 11k so I think I’d be asking for trouble if I tried to run the lot, hence the Jeffing idea. Watch this space! 😅
That’s good to hear Oldfloss . I’m debating whether to run the first 10k and Jeff the rest, or start Jeffing at the beginning. Do you have any tips? I’m a complete Jeffing novice as you can plainly tell. 😅
I would Jeff first...and get ready for the next bit...that would work for me...after jeffing the 10K. I could have run another 10K at least. Relaxed and beautifully warmed up...
Well done on your run, it's great to hear you're well on your way to full fitness 😊 Advice would be to jeff from the start to feel the benefit of it, esp important over longer distances, but I sometimes run through the start if it's a bit congested. My ratio is 30s:30s but if there's a downward bit I'll often run through walk sections, and vice versa. Your run, your rules 😁
I'm doing the Great Manchester Run 10k on Sunday so hoping the bling is as lovely as yours. Never realised how motivated I was by bling 😂🙈 I honestly think I'd crawl round an ultra if they had a sparkly horse on the medal 😳🤣🤣
Ahh Jackapoodle thanks for that great advice. I’ve always been a confirmed ‘must run the lot’ kind of person, but I’ve decided to Jeff this HM purely because I haven’t run one since September 2021.
I did a trial Jeffing run at 60:30 a while ago (because someone I know uses that ratio). It was ok, but felt strange! I realise some people swear by it.
I’m with you on the bling. 😍 So much so that I entered a virtual spring HM just so I get a medal at the end of the HUHM. All that way with no medal? I don’t think so! 😅
Enjoy your Great Manchester 10k. Great Runs are fab aren’t they? So well organised.
Actually I was toying with 5:2 (minutes), but I really can’t decide. It’ll probably end up being somewhere in between, so maybe 2:1 minutes. That’s the novice Jeffer in me faffing! Watch this space. 😅
Thanks IP! I remember the first time we were introduced to the hill past Castle Park during our HM, and it was quite unwelcome! But now I know it’s there it’s fine. 💪 Jenny was overjoyed with her PB. She barely trains either. Rocks up to PR, gets a great time, then casually runs 10k like it’s nothing!
Another bit of bling for the collection, and you killed two birds with one stone, ticking off the HU V10k at the same time. Times are irrelevant; you all ran 10k and yours is brilliant especially after your lead up to this and a 5k yesterday.
How lovely that your family came out to cheer you and Jen in too - the good weather does help in that respect.
I’m glad that I’m not the only one who carries in to the distance just to make sure Garmin and Strava recognise it !
Thanks Dexy, yes my bling hanger is decidedly groaning now. After the haul I’m expecting later in the year, it might well be full. At least Santa will know what to get for me! 😅
It was lovely seeing Mr Cheeky, Alice and the babies in Queen Square. They gave me a spurt of energy for sure. 🥰
I simply had to round up to 10k today. My watch agreed with the km markers up to 6k, then was a little behind after that so I knew I’d be a bit short. Luckily it coincided with getting my goodie bag and finding Jenny!
Well done cheekychipmunks ! 👏👏🏅I ran the Bristol 10k today too - I agree about the cheeky ups and downs 🥵and had forgotten that Bristol has a fair amount of cobbled streets too! Will post my event later but well done to you and your daughter.🙂
I was wondering how you got on Sandra! It was warm too wasn’t it? But such a fabulous atmosphere, and everyone was so friendly. Did you see the Budgie Smuggler guys? 😂😂 And the fully kitted out cricket players?
Wow, fantastic running for the both of you! It's not easy coming back from injury especially since you were doing so well before. Maybe one or two 15 minute very slow runs before next week's HM and just go by feel and listen to your body.
Thanks so much Freecloud. Actually it wasn’t injury that sidelined me; I had virtually back to back viruses (neither was covid) that knocked me back. Thankfully that’s in the past and I’ve rebuilt the majority of my fitness. Such a relief! 🙏🏻
Yes, just a couple of little bimbles should do the trick this week. 😀
Congratulations Cheeky! That's a great run, but what's even better is hearing you say that you feel virtually back to full fitness. That will stand you (and Jeff) in good stead next weekend 👍👏🥰
Thanks Linda, it’s been a long time coming, but I can safely say that normal service has been resumed. 🙏🏻 I’m looking forward to the HM - still working out how to do it - run 10k then Jeff the rest, or Jeff from the outset. No idea! 🤷♀️
Brilliant run Cheeky, so pleased you're feeling like your health & fitness is back...it makes such a difference to our mental health too being able to get out & just run.
And a HM next week too, best of luck...hope you enjoy it just as much 😀
Thanks Run46, you’re so right. Running is joyous and being without it was hard. I do feel for people who are out for a long stretch due to far more serious conditions than a pesky chest infection.
I’m really looking forward to my HM. I haven’t dared check the weather forecast yet. I’m doing it on a Prom so I hope it’s not going to be windy. 😳
Just read your post now and congratulations on your super race and brilliant time. I understand about those cheeky hills …..they have cousins in Hereford 😂😂👍🥰🥳👏👏🎉 Well done!
Thanks so much Folkylass, I had such an amazing time and both my daughter and I were thrilled with our times. A PB for her, but not for me. It didn’t matter one jot though as I’ve just finished building back fitness after being out with a chest infection for 7 weeks in Feb-April. It felt wonderful feeling wonderful! 🥰
I don’t know about you, but conquering a few hills during a race makes the bling feel even sweeter! Not too many though please! 😅
Well done to you cheekychipmunks! 👏🎉🏃♀️🏁🏅And what lovely words, 'I’m so close to being back to full fitness.' Sounds wonderful and so good to share the day with your daughter and HU runners. Win, win, win 😊
Thanks so much over61. It was even sweeter having been off for a long (for me) time. We had the best time and the atmosphere was fantastic. Still grinning now in fact! 😍
Nice Tabbles, well done. 😀 I wish I’d gone for a teeshirt now as it’s a nice one isn’t it? But I have so many and opted out. The medal was lovely and chunky so that was the main thing. 🏅
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Virtual 10K race report
Manchester Half Marathon Race Report