“Thy friendship makes us fresh” “And doth beget new courage in our breasts.” (Henry VI pt1, 3:3)

[Shake-and-run]

I’m sorry but here is yet another Monsal Trail report! I will try and keep it brief.

My history of running events is chequered, I seldom ‘enjoy’ them and usually vow ‘never to return’. The exception being the Stratford 10k which, although I don’t ‘enjoy’ it, is right on my doorstep so it would be silly not to do it. Last year I ran the Monsal trail 10k and I loved it so when a HU meet up was suggested I was on to it straight away. Planning to take Mr Shakes to events during the football session is always problematic as dates of home games are never settled until very late on (Himself blames Sky TV). Monsal Trail sells out quickly so it looked like I would have to go it alone. Then the lovely   cheekychipmunks offered to share a room and wonderful   TailChaser and   Katnap offered me a lift. I felt truely loved.

As many have already reported, the meet up with over a dozen HU runners was a wonderful experience. Old friends, including my bestie   Sandie1961 who got me into running and HU in the first place,   Bluebirdrunner ,   Dexy5 and   UpTheStanley were there, and there were some new faces too. So lovely to meet   lexi6 all the way from New Zealand, the amazing admin that is   linda9389 ,   Cantstopmenow and   GTFC and   Tasha99 , such a lovely couple. It was delightful to find that, just as they are on the forum, these people were friendly and supportive and a pleasure to be with.

Whether it was the company, or the magic of Monsal, I don’t know, but I enjoyed my race. I was jeffing a 3:1 run/walk ratio and being ‘sensible’ to protect my dodgy calf. however I was faster than last year (when I ran it all) and it was my 3rd fastest 10k (the other 2 being years ago).

(This quote is from the battlefield at Rouan. Joan of Arc has persuaded Burgundy to switch sides and he is welcomed by the French forces. They will now defeat Talbot’s English army and change the course of history.)

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

I'm so glad you are all writing race reports, your race and day sounds great, meet ups are very special, and thank you for the quote explanation too 😊

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

Thank you Sue. Talbot is a particular favourite of mine. Where we live in France there is a memorial to him near the battlefield where he was killed on the banks of the Dordogne river. The original is long gone (French revolutions), but I think it is wonderful that the French had such a regard for their enemy that they put up a memorial to him (once they had defeated him of course).

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Shake-and-run]

It really is wonderful isn't it? There's huge gaps in my history knowledge so I enjoy reading snippets of the past

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

It was a pleasure to be your roomie Shake-and-run ! 😀

You did phenomenally well. Jeffing clearly suits you as your running segments are super speedy! 💥💥💥 Fantastic effort.

Wasn’t it the best weekend? 🥰

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

Thanks Cheeky, a fab weekend.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

I agree with SueAppleRun - it has been great reading all the reports from this day! What a turnout from HU and you clearly had a great time!🙂

Well done on tackling this despite a recent niggle - it sounds like that run/walk strategy really paid off - protecting your calf and also resulting in a great time!

Enjoy your lovely medal…and of course, the memories!🙂

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra, it is hard to embrace the fact that Jeffing is a legitimate way to run, I feel as if I'm cheating somehow. But the truth is I'm faster when I Jeff.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

I seriously would like to give it a go - I read a quote once that went something along the lines of “your heart can’t tell if you’re running or walking” and it stuck with me. Forwards is forwards and it’s all good for our fitness.🙂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

That’s a great pic of you on the trail Shakes. I would never have known that you had a calf niggle as you looked so strong both running and walking ahead of me. You must be really chuffed with your time.

I can understand why you love this one with the beautiful views and just a gentle incline. The tunnel is great too, even though we only got to do half of it on the 10k.

It was lovely to see you and the rest of the HU clan

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, it was lovely to spend time with you and UTS at the weekend. I always get pleasure from our encounters on the trail, even if you do put on the afterburners just before the finish and leave me in your dust! 😂😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Shake-and-run]

🤣🤣 I loved that phrase. That sprint at the end is what training with UTS does for me. But I do tend to start slower and then get faster towards the end.

There was very little between our chip times though 1:16:14 for me and 1:16:41 for you. That’s nothing over 10k. Good luck with the calf.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Brilliant report Shakes. I half expected “gentlemen (folk!) in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here!”. That would be about right 🙂. Accounts of this weekend will be remembered and passed down through generations for years to come …..ok that may be a bit over the top…..but I am sure that it was very special.

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC, the St Crispen's Day speech would have been a good choice, I agree. Did you know that Mrs Pethick-Lawrence quoted it and then adapted it in a speech in April 1909 to persuade Suffragettes to go to Prison. "Don't let one more go to prison without you being there. Don't wait until there are so many who go that your going will mean so little" she said. But then she was a bit of Shakespeare fan!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

She did end up in prison herself so she lived by her words. Looking at the judges or jury she might have resorted to Coriolanus “ common cry of curs”….. but she would have been locked up for a long time I think!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I love your leggings!! 😍 And you’re beautifully coordinated 👍

Lovely report and it sounds such a great day with everything working well and VRBs aplenty. Well done on a fab run.

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

Thank you IP, it's my club shirt (which I think I'm required to wear at competitions under British Athletics rules) but the rest just depends on what I grab from the drawer. I had 3 pairs of leggings with me, ones shorts, one capri's and one pair of longs as I couldn't decided what the temperature was going to feel like.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

What a fabulous report and what a run... the whole day was a perfect one for you all. Beautiful!

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

we missed you Floss, hope to see you next time.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Shake-and-run]

Me too!

[GTFC Marathon]

It was really lovely to meet you Shake-and-run and reading your post made me smile so much. You are absolutely right when you said, 'these people were friendly and supportive and a pleasure to be with' because I definitely founfmd that. It made my absolute day.

I was delighted to read that you enjoyed the race and also put in such a great performance with your 10k time. So much to look back on and be proud of 🏅😊

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

Thank you GTFC, I enjoyed our little chat on the course very much.

[Time_Lord Half Marathon]

Congratulations Shake-and-run x

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

Thanks Time Lord. I think you would love. this one, so different to pounding the streets of Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

I am so enjoying reading the Monsal Trail reports so thank you for writing yours. So very pleased to read that you both did well and it seems enjoyed everything about it.

😊🏃‍♀️🏁🏅👏🎉

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank you, it was a wonderful experience.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

At least you didn’t have an unscheduled stop this year 😂 No rest for the wicked eh? Onto Cannock Chase. It’ll be a bit quiet after Monsal

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Yes, and I believe there is rain forecast. Going to need trail shoes I think.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Should be dry while we’re running (well, if one of my weather apps is to be believed!) I’m definitely going in trail shoes

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Lovely report of an excellent weekend, glad it all went so well 😁💪xxx

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you. Special memories x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It was wonderful to meet you at last Shakes. You had a fabulous run. Great that you successfully managed your calf niggle too 🥰

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I enjoyed it last year and was unsure it would be so good again, but it was even better. Your running was super impressive, and well done on winning an award.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

I had the same worries about going back being a possible disappointment - but it was quite the opposite 😊

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

It was lovely to meet you at Monsal and share the fun and excitement of such a great event. Well done on jeffing and a great time too 😃

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

Thanks, so good to put a face to a name. Xx

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

What a stirring quote, I enjoyed that one very much! Sounds like you had the most wonderful day out in fine company, great weather and lovely scenery!

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

Thanks R&P , it was a magical day xx