The first win was getting the grandsons and mummy into the car just past 7:30am. Never easy!
The next win was courtesy of a big Bristol City Council and/or First Bus (who run the park and ride) blunder, always open especially on Sundays for the race each year. Except this year whoever had the one job to unlock the gates didn’t! 🤦♀️ Lots of queued up cars and buses, some people aerated, others cool and calm.’ I was silently the former, as we had to get Tiny Chipmunk there for his 1 mile Family Race with mummy, and it was first off. Long story short, I turned tail and the eventual win was finding a 2 hour limit spot closer in, and hoped I wouldn't get a ticket. Daughter extended the parking session after 2 hours on the app, so hopefully I’ll be ok 🤞
After a cute photo shoot outside the Grand Appeal tent, Tiny nailed his mile! Around 11:37 (quicker than me!) and he had the biggest smile on his face. His first medal, and he’s proud as punch. 🏅🥰
My turn next, and it was heating up. 🥵 The first 5k was hot but easy enough. The 2nd 5k was hotter still, and hilly. I was seeking out shade wherever I could and was wilting massively towards the end. The hills didn’t bother me unduly (thanks to Ashton Court), but it was 24 degrees at the finish with several casualties.
My time was somewhere between 1hr 24 and 1hr 25 (no official result yet), which is way off my best, but my goal was to run it all, and I managed that. 💪
Sadly Spotify didn’t link to my NRC app, so it was just me and Coach Bennett! I was hoping to play the HU playlist. I did earn the bling though, so I’ll be ordering that this afternoon! Thanks again linda9389 and Irishprincess for another epic event. 🙏
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cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Epic achievements from the Chipmunks brigade!! Huge congratulations to your grandson on a BRILLIANT achievement...his first ever running medal 🏅 and to you too cheekychipmunks for inspiring others (even when you don't realise it) all the time. Well run on a really hot day. Enjoy your evening after a really positive day 🏅⭐🙌
You’re so kind GTFC , thank you! It was incredible watching Tiny flying over the line; he really enjoyed it and is already talking about next year! Might even get mummy running this year too with C25K too, so who knows, she could be joining me! 🥰
As for inspiring others, well I hope I can show people that it’s fun to run without the pressure of the constant need for speed. 😀
Excellent run for you and your grandson CC despite the heat, lovely photos of you and the children, you will look forward to getting the bling, medal 🥉 ✔️
Oh, well done! Not sure I could have coped with the stresses before the start - and the heat - but you nailed it. And look at Tiny Chipmunk’s proud smile! Congrats to all ! 👏👏👏👍
Oh I know Jools2020 , it was very stressful and worse still for people arriving later as the queue was snaking back a long way. I think it opened eventually, but I’m glad I found a place to park, despite numerous road closures.
The heat wasn’t welcome, but I’m happy that I pushed on through even when I was desperate to take a walking break. People were walking around me, it was baking! 🥵
Well done the chipmunk family; I don’t think that I have ever seen a more joyful set of photographs…ear to ear smiles all round. I am sure that the mini munks will be hooked on running after this!! Well done on your 10k too CC….adjusting pace to the conditions; pure genius 🙂
Thanks so much Beachcomber66 ! Tiny did so well - you know what 4.5 year olds can be like; sometimes they dig their heels in - but no, he relished the occasion, and loved sprinting to the finish! Mummy intends to take up C25K too, so who knows, she could be joining me next year! 🥰
Yes the heat slowed me hugely in the 2nd 5k, but mountain goat style, I kept going on the hills! 🐐 It wasn’t about pace yesterday! 🥵
It really was special dijep ! In fact my oldest daughter (Tiny’s mummy) intends to start C25K this year, so who knows, she could be joining me next year in the 10k! Tiny definitely wants to do it again. 🥰
OMG cheekychipmunks - that must have been so stressful waiting to get into a locked car park. Well done for finding a space though.
First of all well done to little grandson for running for a mile that is no mean feat on little legs.
And very well done to you for running 10k in that heat. It is so debilitating, especially as we haven’t worked up to it this year. We seem to have gone winter to summer. But you did it in your own city, which is special in itself. Hope your bling is lovely, did you forego the T-shirt?
I know Dexy5 , my heart sank. You know me, I’m always early for things, so I was relieved to get them all out the house in good time. Still, it all worked out ok. 🙏
The heat wasn’t welcome. My running felt great, but by the time we’d hit 6k my energy was sapped. That and the cruel hilly bit. But I stubbornly continued and was happy to cross the line and grab that bling! 🏅🙏
Oh, meant to also say I did get a teeshirt, as I assume I forgot to not order one (if you know what I mean Dexy5 )! It’s lovely actually, but massive as they’d run out of mediums. I doubt I’ll wear it, but it’s nice to have!
OMG Irishprincess , no way could I have run the HM yesterday! They set off after us so it would have been warmer still. 🥵 One day I’ll do it again though. 😀
We were a happy bunch afterwards, that’s for sure! 🥰
Well, lots of reasons. I think Bristol has more starting waves. I had to queue for about ten minutes in Bristol to get to the start line whereas in Bath there were only three waves and it took me about half an hour to get to the start!
Apart from the obvious gorgeous streets, there was quite a lot of Bath where you were running on dead ordinary roads, boring and nothing much of interest. In Bristol’s outskirts you’re running beside the gorge and bridge and the surroundings are much nicer.
Then at the finish line I had to walk quite a bit to pick up my bling whereas in Bristol it’s just there!
The crowd support in both is superb but I guess the Great Run organisers have been doing it for so long they do it spot on! Having said that, The London Marathon organisers have taken over Bath so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with it all!
I bet you’re sorry you asked! Can we try and do both next year? 🤞🤞🤞
Tiny’s mummy (my older daughter) wants to start C25K this year too, so she could be joining me next year aliboo70 . We all had the best time yesterday! ❤️
Well done both of you, especially in the heat.I always relax once I have my parking sorted in good time for a parkrun, especially if we are in the van. If possible we check it beforehand to look for height and width barriers and those dreaded words "No campervans or motorhomes"We always arrive early to allow for a change of plan.
Me too RunaroundSue , and I always leave plenty of time too. My family always groan, but they know I’m always right! 😅 Lucky it was the case yesterday, otherwise I wouldn’t have got that parking spot in town. 🙏
Geoff says I am always too early, but I think secretly he has come round to it, especially when we are in the van or when he had an appointment but would have been late due to unexpected traffic problems.
Our old van was just under 2m but we didn't always trust it, sometimes it looks as though resurfacing has reduced the height available. But our new van is over 2m so we know for sure.But some park and rides have barriers!
Haha misswobble , yes they owe me one for making them leave home in plenty of time! I wouldn’t have secured that parking spot if we’d have been much later. 🙏
The family run was joyous, and the warmup itself was tons of fun too. Some little speedsters out there for sure (just over 5 minutes for the winner! 💥). Tiny chipmunk had a blast and can’t wait for next year! 🥰
Thanks Cowladyrunning ! I’m so relieved we found the parking spot. It would have been such a shame to miss the family run, the pre run group photo and warmup. All good though! 🙏
Haha Bluebirdrunner , the accolades definitely go to him, he was fabulous! It was the best day, and next year is already being planned, maybe even with non-running (yet!) mummy! 😀
Congratulations on a super race!! So lovely to have the support crew out and for your grandson to be running too. A real family affair! A wonderful achievement 🏃♀️🥇❤️
Thanks Shake-and-run ! Hopefully we’ll have another little recruit before long with Tiny’s brother! Team Chipmunk will be ever growing, especially if Mummy goes through C25K too! 🥰
Loving the photos, so many happy faces and wonderful memories there. I bet you'd already run a marathon - or at least felt like you had - before you even got to your own start line! The tech gremlins were out in force yesterday it seems. Hopefully normal service will soon be resumed!
Congratulations on another successful, hot Bristol 10k and another fine piece of bling 😊
Tiny chipmunk was still talking about it today linda9389 . He took his medal and race number into nursery to show his teachers and friends! And when he got home he was running round the garden practicing for next year! 😅🥰
Aw well done on getting to the start on time. Three generations how precious!A delight to see the joyous photos of Tiny Chipmunk. Well done to you too, mission accomplished 😊🏃♀️
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