What a wonderful weekend! I’ve only run in London once before, and that was the Vitality 10k a few years ago (don’t ask when, I’ve forgotten the year) 🙄 When TailChaser said she and Katnap would be running several months ago, I immediately signed up.
And I’m so glad I did! The event is fabulous, the weather was kind - high winds and rain had been forecast earlier in the week, but today was next to perfect running conditions.
Vest and capris for me (and a few kms wearing sunglasses too). 🙏
Now not only did Mr Cheeky and I get to meet up with TC and Katnap in a restaurant near London Bridge last night, we were accompanied by the legend that is Irishprincess ! We had a hoot, lots of laughs and a lovely carb loaded Italian meal. 😋 We had a great time. 🥰
I felt awesome on the run today. My cross training/circuits have definitely paid off and not once did my legs feel tired. My time was ok at 1:24 something. Way off my 1:13 PB, but it felt lovely running along being able to really enjoy the landmarks and jolly atmosphere. I high fived huskies, yetis and penguins, loved the choirs/drummers, and the finishing straight was fab, with Big Ben in the background. 😍 Shame Mr Cheeky totally missed me putting on my tiny afterburners for my sprint finish! 🤣
The medal is incredible. Beautiful with immense heft. IP and I commented on the difference it felt taking it off!
So runners, if you fancy a really good fun 10k, I’d highly recommend this one. ❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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well done Cheeky, it does sound like a lot of fun. I was with you last time you ran London I think. It was the last time I was running there also. This run with its winter theme has always sounded like a lot of fun. May be another year I will get organised with the hotel booking and can come too.
I’d happily do it again Shake-and-run , it was great fun, although I suppose it’s a bit sketchy with the weather in February. Today we were very lucky. 🙏
A great Race report cheekychipmunks and as you say , lovely bling. The photos are super , especially the podium one with the snow science. Thank goodness it wasn’t like that. Every year we have such good reviews of this race! A HU meet up is always a good reason to travel too, especially if it includes royalty. 👸🏽
The Vitality London 10k was May 2022, when I also got my best ever 10k time.
I have to admit Dexy5 , that was a very cheeky podium pic. Mr Cheeky suggested he should snap me on it, so on I hopped. It was only afterwards I noticed the massive queue! 🤦♀️ Luckily, as runners are so lovely, no one seemed to mind! 🤣
Thank you Stephen_UK , yes I thoroughly recommend this race. It’s huge, with 25,000 runners by all accounts, but the mood was very upbeat throughout, and I really enjoyed the course. 😀
To be honest Stephen_UK , I don’t know whether it’s the exact same route each year as this is my first time running it. This year it was basically flat with a few inclines, nothing more. Let’s just say they didn’t feel bad at all, even for this 🐌😅
What a great time you had Cheeky. That had everything you value most 😍 Wrll done you! The only time I entered this one it was cancelled for wind! I got the medal for a virtual run though 😍
Know what though TailChaser , I didn’t have cake this weekend at all! I know, preposterous! But the Belgium Chocolate Raisins from M&S at Paddington went down a treat! I hope you had cake on our behalf? 🍰
That sounds like the perfect running weekend cheeky! Wall to wall smiles, good dinner, good company, good weather and a superb setting…oh, and a medal the size of a dinner plate! Cheeky heaven!🙂
It really was Beachcomber66 . So much fun and the good weather was a bonus indeed. I know, that medal! 😍 It weighs a ton. All the better as far as I’m concerned. Hefty medals are the best. 🥰🏅
It goes without saying that the HU meetup was fabulous as ever. ❤️
It was so good to see you, Mr cheeky and Irishprincess cheeky! Can’t believe we gone all this time and we’ve never met up with her. Well done on your run, it’s amazing the difference a bit of cross training makes.
Katnap was a bit disappointed that he didn’t get sub 45 but I’m very happy with my sub 60. Didn’t expect that after yesterday. We’ve had a fantastic weekend, I wish it didn’t have to end but we’ve got some brilliant memories and a nice bit of bling 😍
Thanks TailChaser , I was chuffed to bits with how my run felt. A real Forrest Gump pace, and I’m hoping to continue that trajectory in the lead up to the Bath Half. I always get cross with myself when my hip flexors give me grief on a long run. Hopefully they’ll feel better at the tail end of the HM. 🤞
You guys did amazingly well, especially after your epic mileage yesterday! How you do it, I have no idea. 💪
It did hit me mid week cheeky. Work has been a mare. But running helps run off the madness of work, so it’s all worth it. Monsal Trail is going to be amazing, even more so now there’s going to be such a big HU contingent!
Hi Mudita11 , yes I was so surprised with the totally upbeat atmosphere. More so than the others races I’ve done somehow. I loved it, and I’m seriously considering next year too. 😍
Ahh thanks ReyC , you’re right, it had a whole different atmosphere to the Vitality. Both enjoyable, but today felt more lighthearted. did feel for those enthusiastic yetis, huskies and penguins, bouncing around offering high fives for hours on end - must have been baking in those outfits! 😅 I’m glad you got your fair share of high fives with the 🐧🐧🐧 😅
Congratulations to you CC on completing the London 10K Winter Run, great photos and a lovely medal, just as well the weather wasn't snowing as in that photograph, lol if the weather had been like that the race would have been cancelled., once again congratulations ✅🏃
Ahh thanks AlMorr yes that medal is something to behold! 🏅😍 Haha, I’m mighty glad the weather wasn’t like the photo. Beautiful, but not conducive to running round the streets of London! ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Thank you lexi6 , I can honestly say it was of my most comfortable 10ks and I was able to enjoy every step. 🙏 Always made better still by a meetup too. The next one is going to be the biggest of them all! 👏👏👏
So glad you had a great time and a fab HU meet up ! They're lovely medals!( I've only done this once, on the 1st one in 2015 on a freezing day!)Lovely photos too! 😁🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♂️⭐💪 xxx
Thanks aliboo70 , we had a blast, as always! Yes I can imagine the weather would be make or break for this one. We were so lucky yesterday, and I was imagining how it would have felt with that easterly wind we had a week or so ago. 🥶 Stayed dry too. Soooo fortunate 🙏
One of my best memories of this whole thing was how much we laughed 😂 I’m still giggling about the look on our faces when the tube doors closed separating us from your hubby 😱
I loved having a mate at the start too 😍 It gets a bit lonely when you are wandering around on your own at races.
Well done on a great run Munks and keep up that strengthening 💪
Bravo Cheeky! What a lovely time you had. I entered this one year and it was cancelled because of strong winds. I still have the hat, neck scarf and t shirt. Glad you had a lovely time with Irishprincess , TailChaser and Katnap
I’d really recommend entering again if your sprinting legs would allow RunBrianRun ! It was a lot of fun, and we were so lucky how the weather turned out. 🙏 Lovely to see my pals too. 🥰
Great report Cheeky, thanks for posting it. I was so inspired I have signed up for 2026! My nephew has completed the London Landmarks HM a couple of time which has an awesome route, but I’m currently training for my 2nd Bristol HM and thinking that I’m not sure that I’m up for another next year and then reading your post immediately thought this sounds perfect, the thrill of running in London, only 10K and no risk of baking heat, which I’ve experienced on my Great Bristol runs. It will be interesting to see how I manage the cold weather training runs!? ❄️🥶❄️🥶
How wonderful GoNanna ! You’ll love it I’m sure! Definitely no chance of it being too hot at least! 😅
I’ve done the Bristol HM, but I’m doing the 10k this year. I’m only good for (max) 2 HMs a year, and I’m doing Bath in 3 weeks time, then Cardiff in October. Have fun. Great Runs are ….ummm …..great (funny that!), and the atmosphere in Bristol is always electric isn’t it? 😀
Thank you CC! The Bristol 10k 2023 was my first ever “Run”, the atmosphere around the route was incredible and why I thought I’d try for the HM last year. Enjoy Bath HM, is that quite a hilly course? I imagine Cardiff is a flatter route… I’m terrible at going up hills. Would you mind me asking if you might have any advise /suggestions on how transport was getting to the start of the Winter Run, I’m wondering how close I need to be looking for accommodation? With Bristol I usually catch the X1 bus which has a stop very close to the “Runners Village” very convenient and cheap! 😉
Hi GoNanna , actually Bath is pretty flat by all accounts. Just some inclines, but nothing compared to how it could be in that city! 🥵 😅 Cardiff is lovely and flat for the most part, with just a couple of doable hills.
We stayed at the Premier Inn, Leicester Square. Not crazy expensive for London, and super convenient for Trafalgar Square where we started. 🙏 We went by train from Bristol which was easy enough (had Mr Cheeky with me, as I’ve never travelled in London alone!)
For Bristol I use the Park & Ride in Long Ashton as we live that side of town. I’ll do the same for Bath and use either Lansdown P&R or Odd Down. Newbridge is on the route, so not operating.
I’m considering the London Winter Run 2026 too; it was awesome. 👏👏
Hi CC, thanks for your really helpful reply, I will definitely investigate the Leicester Sq Premier Inn. Wishing you all the best for the Bath HM, you always sound so prepared in your posts. I have never managed to maintain a consistent routine of running and found myself having almost start from scratch with C25K 3-4 months before last years Bristol HM and am doing the same this year! I really hope that this time around by May I will have an established routine that I can keep up 🤞.
I’m already excited for the London Winter Run, so pleased I opened the HU email and read your report 😁🏃🏻♀️❄️ I wonder if you’ll soon find yourself entering too?
Btw apologies for not knowing how to do whatever is to make your cc in blue which I think notifies you of the message, I tried typing cheekychipmunks several times but didn’t appear to work??
You’re very welcome GoNanna . But really the only reason I’m so organised with entering races is the lure of the bling and, meeting up with buddies on lots of them too. I don’t want to miss out. 😅
I went back through C25K at the beginning of last year. I’d lost my running mojo and needed structure - and it worked a treat! You have plenty of time before Bristol - good luck! 🥰
Oh, to “tag” someone, simply type @ before the name, and it’ll pop up. 😀
Thank you @cheekychipmunks for your kind words of encouragement ☺️. I think C25K is an incredible programme, so good that it gave you the structure to regain your running mojo. I first did C25K in the very first covid lockdown, feeling that it would help me make the once day time when you could leave your home become a positive focussed time for me. I was absolutely amazed that I was able to complete each of the runs, it almost seemed like magic how I was able to do it, I have no talent for sports. I have just had a very special memory pop into my head as I wrote about starting C25K; I remember that as my runs got longer and I ventured further from home that I would be able to run past my mum’s house and my husband would let her know what time I had gone out for my run and my mum would be waiting for me and clap me as I ran past, lovely memories.Apologies for the rambling reminiscence. I wish come across C25K much earlier in my life, I had no idea it has been around since 1996! I try and encourage other folks to give it a go, because if I can become a runner anyone can. I think my next goal is to include a ParkRun every week once I get back to being comfortable doing 5k and try to make that a weekly target to maintain that all year round.
Aww GoNanna , what a lovely memory of your mum coming out to clap you! I bet that gave you a boost. 💕 Oh yes, C25K is the best, and I’ll happily get on my soapbox if people express even the vaguest interest in starting running. I started 6.5 years ago and never looked back.
But I do need something to look forward to, whether it’s a race, a meetup with friends or a milestone. It’s why I lost focus in the winter of 23/24, along with having a hideous cold which meant I didn’t run for a while. C25K was just what I needed to kickstart me, and it worked. 🎉
Definitely try a PR, there are lots in and around Bristol. Maybe not Ashton Court for your first one though …… ⛰️ 🥵😅
So many good things: meeting up with friends, kind weather, happy legs, notable landmarks, high fives with animals of various types, bands and choirs sounds. What a superb way of completing your HU 10k 🏅🏃♀️👏🏁
What a fab run! And all those buddies too! I've always wanted to do this one, there's usually a lot of HU-ers, but there's just no way to get there in time.
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