IT’S (almost) FRIDAY SO IT MUST BE………POM POM TIME!

[Beachcomber66]

After what seems like endless rain and wind …and mud….I thought that this little fellow would brighten up the morning. He was a frequent visitor to our table in a nice cafe garden at our favourite holiday spot (I could tell you but ……) and obligingly he sat still long enough for me to nearly get him in the frame! We do get sun sometimes!

Enough! This post is about races and racers. Four of them this weekend. The weather looks warmer (over 10 degrees), maybe the odd shower and a bit of a breeze, but hey, nothing to daunt our HU warriors!

All of our runners are racing on Sunday 17, which is of course St.Patrick’s Day! So we cannot do better than say:

🌟UP FIRST is    Irishprincess who is running the Bath Half. Cunningly designed around the two sides of the Avon Valley, the course is described as “pretty flat”; although peoples’ definitions of “flat” can vary of course ! A big challenge for IP; she is recently recovered from injury and is “fresh” from an eye watering physio session on Wednesday, so don’t spare the Pom Poms; look out for the bright green streak emerging from the pack!

bathhalf.co.uk

🌟NEXT UP we have    Dendev75 who is tackling the Liverpool Half Marathon. 9000 entries this year!“Fairly flat” again, the course includes a long “finishing straight” (about 4 miles by the look of it!) along the bank of the River Mersey to the Pier Head start/finish point. In fine form after defeating Plantar Fasciitis last year, Dendev75 has recently run a 10 mile PB to which we expect her to add a shiny HM badge on Sunday.

btrliverpool.com/lhm-and-10...

🌟AND THEN we have marathon runner    Comfortnotspeed who is running in the Nantwich 10k. This is the next stage in her comeback from surgery last summer, so let’s give her a long loud shout out. Another “flat” course, in fact described as fast and flat, through the scenic country lanes of Cheshire, starting and finishing in Nantwich.

nantwich10k.co.uk

🌟AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST (we don’t do least) we have    Katnap running 20 miles in the Milton Keynes festival of running. Apparently this is the next stage in what seems to be his plan to circumnavigate the planet before November! Yet another course described as “fairly flat” and offering PB opportunities. You have a lot of miles to run over the next couple of months Katnap, so maybe save the afterburners!

mkrun.co.uk

Irishprincess   linda9389 and me x

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🎽 For races/events in March head here to give us all the details:

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

🎽 For races/events in April head here to give us all the details:

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

🏅For a shiny NEW BADGE for a new distance, head here: 10 miles, Half Marathon, Metric Marathon (26.2K), Marathon, Ultra (50K and beyond)

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[Annieapple]

Beautiful photo!! Well that Thrush is certainly keen to sing 🎶 out some go well, run strong messages. Do what you have to do runners to run the race you can! We are proud of all our HU runners taking part!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annieapple. The birds are comparatively tame because they are used to tourists who treat them kindly.

These runs are big occasions for the runners. I am with you; taking part is something to be applauded. 👍

[Katnap Marathon]

🤣 thanks BC!

I'm sure I'll get in a nice long nap after the Manchester Marathon!

Best wishes to Irishprincess . I hope you find a suitable zorb type bubble to keep you safe until race day. Finally, finally, finally getting the BatHalf done! 💪💪

I hope you don't get a breeze on the finish straight Dendev75 !

Good luck Comfortnotspeed 🍀

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

I had to look up Zorb bubble! Vocabulary extended 🙂, thanks. I am genuinely amazed at your mileage. Phenomenal! 👏👏👏👏

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Katnap 🙂 I’m off to look for one of those right now….

Good luck to you too 🍀

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Amazingly I know what these are 😂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I’ve just walked around the garden and pruned ONE plant…. Oh, the restraint…😬

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I’m not much of a pruner, preferring the blousy look 😀 However, I’m shortly going to be continuing the ongoing vinca and bramble take-over. They’ve laughed at all my attempts so far 🤨

I’ve got Sally forth into the veg garden as OH is in there doing “some work”. I daren’t look 🫣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I prefer the blousy look too but some things still need to be controlled. With all the rain we’ve had, the garden could become a jungle very quickly 😬

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

yes I’ve noticed my hedge encroaching on both sides. Time to dust off the hedge cutter.

[RunWillie Metric Marathon]

Cheering for you  Irishprincess  Dendev75  Comfortnotspeed &  Katnap

Zero Guinness has at last made it to Western Australia so I’ll be raising a glass to you on Sunday as well ☘️❤️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Good idea. It actually tastes good doesn’t it!

[RunWillie Metric Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

TailChaser was tempting me with her pint of post run Guinness & now I can indulge again 👍🏻 It’s so good!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

😋

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Fabulous RW! Cheers 🍻😋

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

What a handsome fellow! Was he after your brownie BC? I’d probably cave and give him some!

Woohoooooooo! Go racers. Warm and rather moist West Country pom-poms shaking wildly for you all. Irishprincess gets an extra shake as I know how long Bath has eluded her. Report back IP as I WILL run it with you!

Bring back the bling you epic heroes! 🏅🏅🏅

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

He was certainly after my brownie CC. I carelessly left a few crumbs on the plate…..🙂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Aw bless 🥰. I love them. They remind me of my dad who adored them, and always called them “throstles”.

A rare visitor to my garden, sadly. I think they get crowded out by the big bullies

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Very very careless BC! 😈

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Better confess to this too then!🙄

Blackbird

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

😅 I would do exactly the same BC! 😂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Munks! I’ll be thinking of you on the way round 🙂

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Have amazing runs Irishprincess Katnap Dendev75 and Comfortnotspeed ! Waving pom poms from here on the south coast 🎉🎉🎉

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Here I am, and what a super little chap he is!! Just beautiful.

Hooray for everyone, running this weekend... and Maj!! How good to see you up and running,Irishprincess at Bath !!!

I shall have pom poms waving wildly, from what I really hope may be a somewhat, drier and warmer weekend.., it will be good to wave un-soggy pom poms!!

Everyone, Run Safe, Run Well, RUN HAPPY !!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🎈🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

You will probably remember the very first sad tale Floss 😢 but here we are. I hope 🤞

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

I’m sure the organisers claim their races are flat just to get more people to enter. Or maybe they all live in the Highlands 😂😂 Anyway, pompoms shaking in “flat” Lincolnshire. Good luck everyone and bring back that bling. Special shout out for Katnap who is making the trip to Lincoln at stupid o’clock tomorrow to help me celebrate my 100th parkrun (and to globetrotting cheekychipmunks who is coming from Bristol today 😳🤪)

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

True ARB’s Sandie! Have a fantastic day tomorrow; Pom Poms definitely waving for you too.🙂

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Absolutely BC! Precious friendships 🥰

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Not forgetting TailChaser , who, of course, is also making the cross country trip here 🤦‍♀️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Definitely don’t forget the unforgettable TC. I thought that she must be committed elsewhere, so I didn’t ask! Sorry TC; should have known better! Have some flowers 💐x

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Sorry BC, we can’t make it after all, so probably best to keep the flowers 😭 x

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Oh, that’s a shame; flowers for everyone I think 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Congratulations on your 100th parkrun Sandie! Have a brilliant day 🥳

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP 😊 Going to have to buy another t-shirt now 😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

What a lovely pic! So glad to see Irishprincess is doing the Bath Half after many attempts over recent years. The luck of the Irish to you 🍀

Pom poms also waving for Comfortnotspeed , Dendev75 and the lovely Katnap . Look out for the concrete cows Katnap!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. I think there might be a quite a few leprechauns on the route to keep me company ☘️

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

It was very dark last time I was at a running event in MK Dexy5 so maybe this time I'll spot them!

[over61andstilltrying 10 Miles]

Pom poms will be waving in Derbyshire. I do hope all goes well in every way and look forward to reading about your adventures. 😊🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🎉

[Cmoi Marathon]

Pompoms waving forKatnap , Dendev75 and Comfortnotspeed , with an extra flourish for Irishprincess !

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi 🙂

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Good luck racers, here's hoping the weather is kind and the legs are strong. I'll wave my pom poms madly ,😁

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Thanks BC, what a lovely photo. Definitely a model in the bird world 🙂 And big thanks to everyone for their lovely well wishes 🥰

Good luck to my fellow racers Dendev75 Comfortnotspeed and Katnap . Let’s get to the start line and go get some bling 🏅🍀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

👊 looking forward to admiring the bling 🙂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Today, take in the atmosphere and the sights; and cruise your way to the finish. That shiny medal is waiting for you, together with that feeling of “I did it”. 🍀🍀🍀

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

You're so right 🏅 xxx

[misswobble Marathon]

Good luck everyone 😀. Have fun out there. May the bling be dazzling and the cakes plentiful 🤩🏅🧁🍰👍

I hope the weather is kind too 🤞

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Good luck and pom-poms aloft for everyone running this weekend! Here’s hoping the weather stays kind to you all and you bring home the coveted bling! 🙂🏅

Lovely photo too Beachcomber66 🙂

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

A great line up for Sunday. Waving green pompoms and sending good luck toIrishprincess Dendev75 Comfortnotspeed and Katnap ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[TailChaser Marathon]

I have to wave the biggest, fluffiest, brightest Pom poms for Irishprincess . I’m keeping everything crossed that you make both the start and finish line IP, I know how long and how hard you have worked for this. I hope it is the most fabulous feeling to finally be running it!

Massive Pom Pom shaking for everyone this weekend, I hope the only rain appears to cool you down when you need it. Well done and good luck to Comfortnotspeed , Dendev75 , oh and I’d better not forget Katnap 🤣. Have fantastic runs everybody ☀️☀️☀️💪💪💪🙌

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thank you TC! It’s within sniffing distance now 😂 and I’m starting to get some butterflies 🦋 and the weather looks pretty perfect so that’s a plus.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

😍 looking forward to reading your report IP, just keep the cotton wool wrapped around yourself today!

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Pompoms raised!! Good luck racing people. I hope you all have godlid races and that "fairly flat" turns out to be just that!!!🎊🎊🎊

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

well done all , you’ve got this far. Enjoy your runs and the bling too. I have little people (grandkids not leprechauns) to help me wave Pom poms from deepest Surrey. This weekend xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's a fabulous turnout right there! Only problem I see is having to go easy on the sauce with the rugby today! Wishing you all bon courage, enjoy!!!

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Irishprincess I'm so pleased that you are getting to go to Bath HM at last! Hope you have a brilliant experience! 😘🤞🏃‍♀️💪xxx Good luck to Dendev75 , Comfortnotspeed and Katnap too, hope the weather stays good and you all have brilliant races, pompoms waving from the Isle of Wight xxx

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali 🥰 Even at this stage, Im trying not to think too much about it. In my head, I’m just going for a long run 😂 xxx

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Love the photo! Good luck to you all - Bright green pom poms waving from Wales for you 😀

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Gorgeous photo, beautiful markings.

Im late to the party with my pom pom waving, so hope you had a great race Irishprincess & Dendev75 in your HM's, Comfortnotspeed in your 10Km and Katnap , wow 20 miles, just amazing!!🏅🏅

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I am awaiting news 🙂

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

hopefully they won't be as late as me!!😂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

They will have opened a bottle I should think 🙂

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon]

Thank you so much for the Pom Poms and cheers! I hope everyone enjoyed their running at the weekend as much as I did. Nantwich was a lovely friendly run and so flat 😍

Just a little spoiled by the bed kicking adventure I had on Saturday. With a very black little toe taped up inside my new wide fit Brooks, I hoped that the magic pain free brain switch would turn on when the race started. And it did.

Thank you again for the support.

Happy Running 🌸☺️🌸

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

The last time I injured my toe was in a bare foot football game on the beach….a rock got in the way! Taping the injured toe the one next to it usually works, fortunately. Glad it didn’t spoil your run. 👏👏👏👏👏🥂