The faffing started early. It was raining, fairly hard. Shorts or capris, teeshirt, vest, jacket or no jacket?
I plumped for shorts and a teeshirt, intending to start off with my jacket, as the rain got ever heavier. 💦 On the short drive to Cheddar my wipers switched from normal to double speed. 💦💦💦 😳
I sat in the car to contemplate matters, then collected my ankle tag (no not 👮♀️, but no chips on the numbers), number and park & ride wristband. Still raining so I sheltered back in the car. Waited until the last moment to brave the elements, and trusted the forecast that it would clear up. Lots of others were still wrapped up, but I danced around jacketless, and met my friend, whilst waiting for the briefing by the wisecrack Relish man! The look of horror by some unsuspecting victims when he said we’d shortly be walking to our bus who’d drop us at the bottom so we could run up! 😅
And the rain stopped! 🙏. I felt happy with my choice of clothing. A shortish walk to the lane where we were let loose.
The first 2.5k is up and down - not insignificant ups either, but short enough to keep going happily. There was a deeeeeep puddle at 500m where we ground to a halt as people walked through. I’d have run it personally as I love puddles, but I had no choice but to go with the herd. 🙄 A few more undulations then we turned onto the Cheddar Gorge road. To be fair, it’s basically flat for about 2.5k more, then whoosh, down we hurtled! It’s such fun 😅 My little legs had no clue what they were doing, so I just concentrated on not falling flat on my face, especially on the last km where it’s very steep indeed!
My watched measured 9.93k so I trotted on beyond the finish to get the important 10k logged, collected my jigsaw medal (it’s bling, I don’t care!), Mini Cheddars (wisecrack guy mentioned those of course) and some sweeties.
A very long wait for our bus, but who cares? We were all chatting away merrily. Love running people.
1:14:23 according to my watch - my 3rd fastest 10k apparently and a whopping 4 minutes off last year, when my virus was just taking hold. Edited to add the the official time was 1:14:12, taking into account my rounding up I suppose. 😀
I recommend this one to anyone in the West Country. It’s the best fun!
Sorry about the dismal failure to keep this short. I simply can’t. 🥹
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Sounds like a great run Cheeky. A drop of rain never hurt anyone; I prefer that to searing heat. A whole 4 minutes off last year is brilliant too. All toned up and set to go for the GSR….🏎️
Oh me too Beachcomber66 In fact I wouldn’t have minded if the rain had started again after the hilly bits; it would have been really refreshing.
I was pleasantly surprised with the time. I do have one more race before the GSR however - the Cardiff HM in 2 weeks’ time. It’ll be a trot, nothing more, as my training has been non-existent!
We don’t want a short post, we want to hear it all. 😂 I was so feeling for you when I saw what the weather was like in Bristol . Better than too hot though.
Lovely that you met up with Ellie too.
That’s a brilliant time . I always say on tourist parkruns that you’ve got to take full advantage of downhills!
Well done for getting the full 10k in , I would have done the same.
Glad you enjoyed your run today and very happy that the rain went off, congratulations on completing the Cheddar Gorge 10K in a sub 75 minutes time, you look very happy in that photograph with Jenny
O dear I boobed again thinking that was Jenny with you in that photograph, sorry, 51 minutes for a 10K is a dream for me and you cheekychipmunks, I can cycle it in that time but certainly not run it.
Haha don’t worry Al, my post was so long it’s not surprising you missed that! 😅 Indeed, 51 minutes is never going to be in my future (not counting you out though!) She was very pleased with it. 💥
👍 🏃🏾 1:08:44 is my PB for a 10K, that happened in November 2021, I have only ran 4 sub 70 minute 10Ks, the most recent being 1:09:22 two weeks ago tomorrow with a 70 minute pacer Lorraine who helped me to achieve that time, by the way Lorraine was at parkrun this morning, I managed to follow her for most of the run.
That’s a great PB Al. Quicker than mine by several minutes. Today was my 3rd quickest according to Strava, my other two faster ones being 1:13 something.
They’re very jolly aren’t they misswobble ? I have to admit I’m a bit of a boring plain black (or navy) leggings wearer, but I do like bright tops. I do have a pair covered in cats though, which I wore for my 100th parkrun! 🐈⬛
Thanks so much aliboo70 , it’s a race where you can’t help but smile. I forgot to mention the goats grazing on the edge of the gorge too - they were wonderful! 🐐
Thanks Hedgehogs123 . It would have been great to stop to take some photos too, but my legs don’t often go fast and I didn’t want to break the rare momentum! 😅
Thanks linda9389 , I was telling my friend I’d be content with 1:15, thinking there’d be no way I’d achieve that after my recent lack of proper running, so I surprised myself with surpassing that! 🙏
Thanks misswobble , it’s just so much fun. Last year was their inaugural one and they had so much positive feedback it’s now firmly on Relish’s calendar of events. 😀
That sounds great fun! Well done 👍 maybe I should give out a go 🤔 I prefer a bit of rain, don’t like it hot. I’m running a 10k Canicross event tomorrow - yellow warning for thunder & lightning ⚡️ !!
Oh you must skysue16 , definitely worth the trip. 😀
I wonder how wet you were/still are today? Hopefully you avoided what we currently have here …… 💦💦💦💦 Bet it was fun nonetheless, and I can’t wait to read your race report.
Torrential rain, thunder & lightning and severe flooding here in West Somerset!! Got ready, dressed, dog organised then driving in the crazy weather decided to turn round and go home. A few mad folk did run though! Report will be short 😂
Thanks lexi6 . I must admit I surprised myself with that time. I’d told my friend I’d be happy with 1:15, thinking fat chance I’d achieve that. I felt great yesterday and just went for it! 🙏
That was a lovely race report there cheeky and I enjoyed reading it. I still love puddles too but I’m very precious with my running shoes so used to actively avoid them. How sad is that? 😂 That’s a a very respectable time too so well done. PS I have long post syndrome too so fully sympathise. 😂
Not sad at all RunBrianRun ! Shoes are expensive (yours probably way more so than mine!), and I’m precious about mine when they’re new too. Not for long though, and I love a good splosh! 😅
I’m relieved people seem to not mind my long posts. I do try to rein myself in, but even my quick replies go on a bit! Your posts are something else, and worthy of reading more than once! Love them. 👏👏
Congratulations on a great race and a super time! Your posts are always a joy to read so no apologies please. Lovely happy photo too. Thanks for sharing.👍👍👏👏🥳🥳🎉🎉🥰
Sounds like a fantastic run Cheeky. I might have to think about doing it one year especially as I’m a cheese-aholic and would of course need to stay in the area for a few days 🤷🏼♀️🧀😋. Congratulations on the fast time too 👌🏻
Hahaha, I daren’t do aeroplane arms Irishprincess , I needed all my limbs to be under control at the end as it was ridiculously steep! Falling flat on my face over the finish line wouldn’t have been a good look! 😅
The photo was before. Believe it or not that’s how bedraggled I looked just picking up my number and popping to the loos! 😂
This sounds such a fun race and a that's a great time you ran it in. I wonder what those goats made of it all? 🤔 they always seem to be stood in strange places, just chomping away 😄
Goodness me, I've seen your post several times and read it twice, didn't realise I hadn't said how in awe I am at your speedy time. And you look simply full of glee. And of course now I want to do that....you make it sound such fun
You do have a point there JonathanP ; they should give out little cubes of cheese for the runners! Cheddar is awash with cheese shops - no surprise there! I must say though, I do enjoy a Mini Cheddar! 😅
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