(Another) New Forest 10k Race Report 💦☀️🥵🥰

[cheekychipmunks]

Long post alert (not like me eh? 🤥) What a fun weekend, with crazy weather and wonderful VRBs! ❤️

I drove down to the NF yesterday evening, a) to avoid an early start, and b) to meet up with the rest of the overnight staying contingent, namely Dexy5 , UpTheStanley , Sandie1961 , Mr Sandie, Shake-and-run Mr Shakes and David_G . We’d arranged to meet for a meal, and very jolly it was too 😀 Of course, with a race to run the next day, we all behaved, with just a glass or two of wine each 😇

A shocking night’s sleep followed, but I got a few broken hours under my belt, and I was fresh enough this morning. The weather on the way was dry …… until I arrived at the event village when it absolutely hosed it down. 💦💦💦 We all met up, soaked to the skin, but it wasn’t cold. In fact I secretly hoped the rain would continue as I love running in the rain! It stopped however and everyone else was thrilled! 😅 We also met up with Mudita11 and aliboo70 , so our clan grew! 🥰

After a vigorous warmup we lined up at the start. I was with Dexy5 , but I knew it wouldn’t be for long! My one-trick-pony “same speed all the way” trot is too slow! 😅

What a lovely course it was! So picturesque 😍 A few gentle inclines, but mostly flat. It was hard work for me for some reason though. Definitely too humid, and possibly because of the semi trail footing - my legs felt really weary. A sedate 1hr 30, but my run it all mission was again accomplished. 😀

We all reconvened afterwards to compare notes and don our bling and tees for photos before heading our separate ways. Definitely one to revisit.

Congratulations if you made it this far. Wish I could be concise! 😂

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Loved reading that, maybe next year I'll make it

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SueAppleRun , it would be so wonderful if you could make it in 2025. Hope you’re doing ok. 🤞🥰

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I'm better than I was thanks and still out of hospital 😁

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

That’s the best news. I saw on Strava that you had a little walk. Bet it felt great. ❤️

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I felt a bit silly as I walked along the top looking out to sea crying tears of happiness to be out, on my own and it felt wonderful

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Nothing silly about that at all SueAppleRun 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Fabulous, fabulous post! A meet up and a half.... , so jealous!

A great run, your run....but with friends. Just super ! Well done you !

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Ahh thanks Oldfloss . We were all discussing the next monster meet-up in April …… even bigger than this weekend by all accounts! So excited (already!!!) 😅

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Me too...! Can hardly wait! X

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Lovely to meet you cheekychipmunks !!! 😊 it was a very tiring run ! But great to see everyone! 😊xxx

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Brilliant to meet you at last too aliboo70 ! What a wonderful course, but yes, such hard work and I really can’t work out why! 🥵 I didn’t find the footing bothered me unduly - in fact I embraced the puddles - but my legs were less than enthusiastic. 😂

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Great result and report from you CC, pity about the rain, however, it doesn't seem to have bothered you, lovely photos too✅✅✅✅🏃🥇

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks AlMorr . Yes the rain came at just the wrong time (for me), as we got drenched before the race - and poor David_G had to start his HM in the deluge. It stopped by the time the 10k set off, and personally I’d have loved it if it had stayed a bit longer! It would have kept me cool. 🥵

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Chipmunks are clearly waterproof! Such a lovely gathering and another never to be forgotten day; perfection. 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

You must be right Beachcomber66 ! This chipmunk doesn’t like being cold, but on a warm, very humid, day like yesterday I’d have been thrilled to be sploshing through puddles in the pouring rain! Weirdo? I expect so! 😂😂😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Wasn’t it fun? It was great to run with you for the first few kms as a steady start was just what I needed to test my hip/glutes. That was just like a tropical rainstorm. 💦💦💦

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Loved it Dexy5 ! I can’t believe how wet we got - wasn’t it a hoot?! 😂 Tough course for me and I can’t pinpoint why as I didn’t find the footing affected me, but my legs would have rather stayed in bed! 😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I blame the storm on you doing an enthusiastic rain dance cheeky.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Me Dexy5 ? Never! 💃💦 😈 😇

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Great to see you today cheekychipmunks . You looked really good after the run, not red-faced and sweaty like me 😬🤣 xx

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

You’re very kind Mudita11 , but believe me, I was sweating all over the shop! You always look so glam, and yesterday was no exception! Wasn’t it fun? See you in a couple of weeks. 👏

[Mudita11 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

😃 can’t wait to see you and Flossie x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

She’s looking forward to seeing everyone too Mudita11 ❤️

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on your run Cheeky 👏 (especially with lack of sleep 😕). I find it hard work running when it is humid. Lovely to meet up with HU folk 😊👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Thanks skysue16 . I so agree about humidity. Every ounce of energy is sapped from me, which it why I’d have welcomed a lovely cooling deluge whilst running. Never mind, it was amazingly good fun, and I’ll definitely return. 🥰

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Sounds like a lovely friendly splishy splashy day out! T-shirt AND bling -perfect.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

Too true Week7 ! Some people were dodging the puddles, but there were so many was a pointless exercise so I embraced them! My feet were already soaked from the pre race deluge anyway! 🤣💦💦💦💦💦

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

You may have found it hard, but you always have a smile on your face 😁 Beautiful course with wonderful friends. What a great weekend 😃😃😃

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Aww thanks Sandie1961 . I found it ridiculously hard and I really don’t know why. But as I run to enjoy myself I can’t help but grin! 😂 So lovely to see you and Mr Sandie (and Ryan of course) yesterday! ❤️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That does sound a soggy one Munks, but happy smiles and those sunglasses ( love them ❤️) make for a cheerful look.

It is humid at the minute so running feels harder so well done for making it and getting that fab looking t-shirt and bling 👍👏

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks Irishprincess . I must admit I immediately thought of you when picking up my glorious hefty hunk of bling! Such a fun weekend. 🥰

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

What a wonderful weekend - especially if you don't mind the rain. Great photos too 😍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks linda9389 , yes it was wonderful. Running in the rain would have been so much fun bearing in mind how wet we already were, but never mind! 😀

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Sounds like a lovely get together cheekychipmunks . I agree, the humidity takes a big toll and feels harder to run in. I love running in the warm rain too!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

I’m getting less and less tolerant to humidity too Decker . The rain would have been amazing! 💦🥰 We had a fabulous time regardless! 😀

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

it was a rather special meet up, but I still blame you for our very soggy weekend!! Next time please be more precise in your request and keep it within the parameters of the race itself 🤣🤣🌂🦆🦆!!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

I do apologise profusely Shake-and-run 😂 Next time I shall order an exact 10k run length spell of lashing warm rain, sandwiched between beautiful warm sunshine. Deal? 👊

[misswobble Marathon]

A lovely read! It’s great to hear about meet-ups, etc. sounds like fun 😀

you could have done without torrential rain but it seemed ok in the end 😀 It made it heavy going I bet. Leaden legs when shoes weighed down by mud 😕. Can’t do much about it though 😀🏃‍♀️

I hope you’re nicely recovered and planning your next adventure 🙂👏🏅🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble , but the footing wasn’t a problem at all, and there was very little mud (except when I nearly slipped over after the race had ended!) In fact I loved the puddles and managed fine in road shoes, so I can’t use any of that as an excuse for my very weary legs I’m afraid! The humidity, plus the fact I’d done next to no exercise since last weekend probably had more to do with it.

No matter though, I enjoyed it all! A fabulous weekend, and more to come soon. 👏👏👏

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

Sunglasses? sunglasses? Glad it went well for all of you. It had been on my to do list for 2020, but didn’t happen for obvious reasons. It also hasn’t happened since for obvious reasons, but at least the New Forest is reasonably close to us and I can still enjoy the environs. Hope to see you at GSR.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Coddfish]

They were ironic sunglasses Coddfish , the freebies they gave out! It was pelting down at the time, but the photo had to be taken! 😎😅

Looking forward to seeing you at the GSR! Can’t believe it’s less than 6 weeks away. 😀

[Oldgirlruns 10 Miles]

Crikey that looked wet cheeky, I hope you’ve dried out by now! It looks as though a good time was had by all despite the weather!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Oldgirlruns]

It was wetter than being blasted by my grandson’s super soaker Oldgirlruns 💦💦💦💦💦💦😅 But a ton of fun! I stuffed my drenched waterproof jacket (newsflash: it’s definitely not waterproof!) in my backpack and was astonished how heavy it was when I picked it up after the race. It had drenched my hoodie whilst in there - good planning! 🤦‍♀️

See you in a couple of weeks. 😀

[RunWillie Marathon]

What an awesome weekend. Well done cheekychipmunks 🤩

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you RunWillie , we had such a wonderful time and lots of laughs! 🥰