Hey up, it's Friday again, and we have a super busy weekend coming up; take yourself a deep, deep breath, shake out your arms, gather your strength ... for we have work to do!!!
Our wonderful HU running community will be out in force this weekend, come rain or shine, so grab your finest pompoms and let's go on a journey to give our most enthusiastic support to the valiant VRBs venturing forth this weekend.
All our wonderful runners will be hitting the start line on Sunday 20th, so spend Saturday wisely!!! At time of posting we have:
🌟First up, (well down) on the South coast, we have the Great South Run, a firm favourite in the HU racing calendar. Billed as 'probably the world's best 10 miler' this event is run in Southsea - through the Naval base, along streets lined with amazing supporters and finally back in along the front. Praying for some gentle weather (that final stretch is very open), but preparing for the worst (have you seen the forecast?), we have a fabulous group of runners: the dynamic duo Dexy5 and UpTheStanley (who live locally) will play host to the brilliant Beachcomber66 , the cheerful cheekychipmunks , the ever determined David_G , the magnificent Mudita11 , the stellar Sandraj39 , and possibly more that we don't know about just yet!A fabulois GSR posse - grab that bling!
🌟A little further North in Somerset, we have a delightful duo, shaking off their lurgies and steaming along the Bath & Bristol Railway. This event is billed as 'the flattest of all the races'; the courageous Cowladyrunning will be taking on the 25k while the marvellous MissUnderstanding conquers the 10k. Go smash it ladies!
🌟Next we head up to the Midlands, where our terrific trio - the tremendous TailChaser , the kick-ass Katnap and the tenacious Time_Lord - will be taking on the first of five 10k runs in the Tempo Winter Series , and all for sausages!!! Beat those hills in style guys!
🌟Travelling further North, we head to the Yorkshire Marathon Festival of running where the remarkable RosesAreRed777 will be tackling the 10 mile event and the relentless runningdad will be smashing the Yorkshire Marathon, chasing a PB as he runs this event for the second time. Promising 'a fantastic experience', this should be a great run!
🌟Finally we travel a good deal further afield, all the way to Canada, to support the laudable Lavender1962 who will be running the Toronto Waterfront HM, fuelled by memories of the area she once lived. This one is billed as nothing less than 'the best race experience in Canada' . Enjoy!!!
Phew! What a fantastic turnout this is!!! HU won't let me tag any more runners!!!
I think that's all from the events list for this weekend, but please do let us know if we've missed anyone so we can add your name to our shout out too!
We wish the very best of luck (and some reasonable weather too) to all of our awesome racers; the training is done, all that remains is for you to have a fabulous time, enjoy.
Whether you're racing or simply running ... or not ... whatever you are have planned, we wish everyone a wonderful weekend.
From your team Beachcomber66, Irishprincess and me xxx
GSR Day...... it is here... eeeekkekekek.... GO, GO, GO, everyone there and then.... what a Loooooooooooong list of other folk...and all over the place. !
Hoping each and everyone has a wonderful🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃 time and that the weather....is kind!
Run sage, Run well, RUN HAPPY !!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Fingers crossed for the weather 🤞 and really good luck to you all, pompoms waving madly from the lsle of Wight (which will definitely be visible from the Great South run!!! ) xxx
thank you linda9389 and everyone for the pom poms!! I’ve woken up with a cold-argh!!! Hoping it’ll pass for Sunday-I think I’ll be gentle jogging rather than going all out for a PB as planned. Doh!!! Either way, I just hope I can get my medal, which will be the same regardless of how long it takes to get over the line!
Waving Pom Poms back at everyone running this week-good luck all!!! 💪🏃♀️🎉
Many thanks linda9389 . We GSR runners are glued to every change in the weather reports. We are not talking sea breeze and drizzle, but being in the edge of named storm Ashley! Having had a bad cold over the last week, I’m not in top form and was puffing like a train in my 2 short runs, so not the best conditions for 10 miles. But Hey, we will see what happens. There’s no doubt, this one will be a whole new experience for many. Please do lots of sun dances for us!
Good luck to all those who are running this weekend in Toronto, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Bristol and in Portsmouth. Bring back the bling 🏅
Thanks Linda and everyone for the Pom Poms and good wishes. At the moment the forecast I use says 30 mph winds gusting to 48 at the start, plus rain 🥴. Temperatures predicted to be from 14c to 15c, which would be good on its own. Storm Ashley apparently. The impact further north is forecast to be rather worse. I am forgetting about any ideas of a PB. I will settle for running, finishing, picking up the bling (of course) and arriving home safely on Monday!
Good luck to everyone running over the weekend. Take care 🙂.
Hi BC66 Dexy5 asked me to run the Great South Run virtually on Sunday morning, however, with Storm Ashley being at it's strongest near to where I live and with heavy rain forecast for Sunday morning I have decided to run that 10 miles run on Saturday afternoon after lunch, probably around 1.15pm when the weather forecast is for sunshine and a light wind, on Saturday morning I will be a marshall at Springburn parkrun.
I decided to run the Virtual South Run on Saturday afternoon due to storm Ashley arriving on Sunday, The Great South Run has been cancelled due to the storm , I was marshall at Springburn parkrun this morning, after lunch I intended to run 16K/10 miles but at 12K my back and legs got sore and I stopped running, nevertheless that was my longest run this year and the 10K split was 3 minutes quicker than my 10k time two weeks ago at the Great Scottish Run.
As they are always saying on this forum "listen to your body" I knew if I had continued I would have had a very sore back and my legs would have been like jelly, from now on 10K will be my longest distance.
They’ve just announced we get a free rollover or a refund minus £5 admin fee, plus we can claim T-shirt and medal with proof of 10 miles. Guess I’ve got to get out there tomorrow then while the weather is nice.
Oh wow - many of us! Good luck one and all! 👏👏👏 Regular weather checking doesn’t seem to be changing the forecast for Sundays Great South Run!😱 and I have been a bit under the weather (again) over the last couple of days. Enjoyed a short, gentle run this morning however, so am now crossing everything for Sunday - especially having seen this mornings email from Great Run!🌧️💨🌧️🤞🤞
Bag packed (just about!). I have used magnets to fix my number to my shirt rather than safety pins; my number was somewhat mangled last time……never mind the storm, these details matter 🙂.
Just make sure to fix it in place before you get outdoors, and to keep the magnets away from the very esge kf the bib! I tried to use magnets in the wind at Southsea for our Virtual Vitality 10k a few years back ... it was a traumatic experience!
See, that is what a leader is for! Thanks boss!! Maybe both safety pins and magnets! The magnets will hold the number straight whilst I pin it. Belt and braces !
I checked our windy parkrun when I did my 100th - it was just 24 mph then. 😂. Be ready for another bad hair day cheekychipmunks ! We will do this together no probs.
Heads up re M4 closure between J18 and 19! It's meaning I'll take a route through Bristol tomorrow to get to Bath - just hoping the Severn bridge stays open!!!
Arghh what is it, roadworks? The motorways round here have been horrific of late Cowladyrunning ! The other day the M5 had 2 accidents, and I literally took 2hrs 40 mins to get back home after having my nails done - usually 15 minutes max!
Not sure the M48 will be open over the old bridge tomorrow, but surely the PoW one will be? Otherwise it’s quite a long detour isn’t it? 😳
I had a severe case of FOMO because I can’t do GSR this year, but, as each successive weather forecast has pinged into our WhatsApp group, I am rather pleased I will be shaking pom-poms from SW France where it is due to be dry and 21c with wind speeds of 4-7 mph 😃😃 Bon courage to all you brave runners. May the wind be behind you and the bling be shiny and heavy. Can’t wait to read all the reports 😁
FOMO from me too Sandie, til I saw the weather. Was happy with the Vancouver weather until we just drove through thus (and all for a bit of parkrun tourism tomorrow 🙈)
Woweee! What a busy weekend! I have big FOMO for the GSR but the Winter Series calls. I hope we both have good weather, and if not then the wind pushes us in all the right places 😁. Have wonderful races all!!! 😍🥳🥳🥳😍
Good luck everyone! The weather looks like not being kind to us but hey ho. The finish line, bling and Erdinger zero beer at the end (apparently) will taste all the sweeter.
We all received an e.mail from the GSR organisers last night saying that they will make a decision by 12 noon today on whether tomorrow’s 10 miler is to go ahead. In the meantime the forecast up here in the North East is now looking rather worse than Portsmouth! So I have decided not to hop on the 8:30 am train this morning in favour of manning the fort here!
I am very sad to be missing out on a lovely meet up with some very special people, but I think it is the right call to make. Molly on the other hand suddenly seems very happy! She saw that my suitcase was packed…. Wonder if she reads my e.mails !!
Disappointed here too😟 but I know they have to make these risk assessments. I would love to be able use last weeks 10 mile run as some kind of virtual equivalent but so far it looks like refund or entry next year. We will see.
What will they do with all the tshirts and medals? It took Bath a while to decide to allow a virtual option back when covid spoiled things, so it may happen here too 🤞
At first I was going to choose the refund option, but the more I think of that delightful medal, the more I want it, so if they do capitulate and allow a virtual option, I’ll take that Sandraj39 . Don’t care about the teeshirt, but the thought of that medal going to landfill ……
I think the weather is going to challenge everybody this weekend. I have another leg of the Cotswold way to walk on Sunday and am quietly expecting it to be cancelled if Storm Leslie (or is it Ashley, hard to keep up!) has her way. I hope all our runners stay safe, don’t have their plans disrupted too much and have a good weekend.
Formal confirmation of the cancellation of the Great South Run came through at 12:23. Weather must be going to be really bad for that to happen. Full refund or roll over is on offer. 25,000 disappointed runners, performers etc etc, but safety is paramount. Sorry to miss out on a run with lovely people.
What’s the betting the winds won’t be as bad as they fear - although I completely understand how they have to risk assess these things. I kind of guessed it was cancelled when I saw on their Instagram that Chris Thompson had won the 5K this morning. He was due to retire after tomorrow’s 10 miler and there had been no mention of him running the 5K as well, prior to today. And I don’t think you’d go out for a sub 15 min 5K the day before your final bite of the Great South Run cherry! Real shame for him but what a career …and what a lovely man.👏👏
So I can put my disposable rain ponchos away for another rainy day….will probably head for the soggy trails tomorrow afternoon, once the rain has eased! Hope it’s kind to you further north Beachcomber66 .🙂
Thanks Sandra. It looks as though things will be pretty dire up here tomorrow too. It is just really bad luck for everyone. Having a huge storm right on run time is ridiculous. Lovely day today, Monday looks good too ….mayhem sandwiched in between! Just a freak event.☹️
How’s it looking this morning Beachcomber66 ? You’re meant to bear the brunt more than us. Has it ramped up yet? Not too bad here in the SW I must say.
The rain has just appeared; not heavy though. The wind is fairly constant with strong gusts, so as advertised really. I have experienced worse up here. I keep thinking “this isn’t so bad” and then the stronger gusts appear.
I would not be running in the forest in these conditions for sure, but I was expecting it to feel worse. The forecast here still looks worse than Portsmouth; but I guess meteorology still isn’t a precise art! I too would like a medal, but I would have to do a 10 mile run to earn it or it would mean nothing.
Yes, I wouldn’t want the medal without completing 10 miles. Hopefully GSR will offer the virtual option. Otherwise 2024 medals and teeshirts going to landfill. Feels very wrong.
Stay safe. Blustery and wet here, but like you, I’ve seen it wayyyy worse. Never mind. 🤷♀️🥰
I’m looking out the window now, and it’s not a very nice day, but I’ve definitely run in worse. Still, we’re not directly on the coast here, and 23,000+ runners being put even the tiniest risk isn’t worth it. But I’d love that medal!🏅🥺
It’s 25000 runners over the weekend BC. The 5k runners and family runners had a fantastic day in the sunshine yesterday, which is great. Lying in bed listening to the rain pelting the windows, and wind howling , I’m pleased I’m not running 10 miles. However disappointing, it was the right call, for the safety of not only the runners but all the volunteers and support workers. The tents and race infrastructure might not have survived either.
Wow, the busiest of weekends! I am mentally transposing some of our fine weather to you all. I am cheering for you all. A special shout out to my fellow Canadian Lavender1962 Go get what’s yours! 👏👏👏🎉🎉💪
Such a shame that the GSR is off. I imagine there are insurance concerns if there's a weather warning in place.
The département where I live has just had several days of yellow, amber and red weather warnings, the latter complete with texts heralded by shrieking sirens sent direct to mobiles. We're fortunate to live up a hill and several km from the nearest river, as there's been serious flooding: tinyurl.com/25h3y6dy and tinyurl.com/9w9bura2
I cancelled my hotel on Thursday linda9389 . I had a feeling in my waters, confirmed by hubby’s many many experiences of rowing events being cancelled in the past due to public liability concerns. So I was lucky and all I’m missing out on is my meetup with my pals and the beautiful bling. Hoping for a virtual option. 🤞
We are only about an hours drive from Portsmouth, so always drive down on the day. I am sure many will lose money which is a shame. When we travel for an event we always use Premier Inn flex rate, which allows you to cancel up to 1pm on day of arrival. 👍
I was gutted to not be able to run the GSR this year but am now thankful that we are in warm, sunny, SW France instead. I feel so sorry for those of you who aren’t able to run.
It’s a Did Not Start for me unfortunately 😞 I’ve been floored by a rotten virus for the last week and I’ve been doing everything I can to try and get well, but I’m still not well enough to safely run a marathon. So I have to be sensible and sit this one out. I’m very disappointed as my training had gone so well. But there will be other runs. Good luck to everyone running a race or for fun this weekend, looking forward to being back out with you very soon!
Arrgghh! I'm so, so sorry to read thus. That has to be the toughest if decisions to make, but as you say a marathon requires you to bring all your strength to the start line. Take good care, recover well ... and enter for 2025!
Thanks all, I’m not gonna lie, it was a definite case of FOMO when the family and I went down to cheer on the runners that were able to start. I had a few running buddies taking part so I wanted to support them. But I know in my heart it was the right decision. I’ll have a hunt for another event when I’m well enough to get back to it, or I’ll do something virtual.
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