My Monsal Magic ...

[linda9389]

I'll keep it short because you've heard so much already! I had a fantastic weekend. Meeting new and familiar faces is always fun and reinforces that this forum is full of fabulous people 🥰Two years ago I recorded my best ever HM time at Monsal. I knew I couldn't beat it, so opted for the 10k this time. After the self-imposed terror of Lisbon, this was the perfect antidote. I had no expectations of the run (although to get sub 60 again was definitely a vague hope in my mind), other than to simply enjoy it with friends. It's a super relaxed event with the simplest logistics. One minute we were all chatting, the next we moved to the line and were off. The weather was perfect too.

Straight out and back gives the opportunity to spot folk ahead and behind ... and I managed to spot all of our HU group bar cantstopmenow ...

Cheering so many friends over the line was a wonderful experience too.

Special mention to Bluebirdrunner - the first person to ever respond to me on HU - it is always a privilege to meet you; to GTFC who really is every bit as supportive online as he is in type, it was a delight to finally meet you; and of course

to Oldfloss who so kindly and selflessly transferred her 10k place to me; the only thing missing from the day was you 💙

And the sub 60? Yep. Just. Snuck in at 59m57s 😍😍😍, and was lucky enough to top my age category too.

A fabulous day that absolutely embodied the spirit of this forum. Thank you to everyone ❤️

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congratulations linda9389 !! 👏👏 It sounds like an overall great race and enjoyable day.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

It really was, one to remember for all the right reasons 😊

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Wow Linda, sounds just about perfect 😄

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

I'd have to agree Sue 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Our whizzy superstar linda9389 ! Amazing. 👏👏👏 I’m still buzzing from the weekend. 🥰

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I still have a lovely warm afterglow 😊

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Great report, Linda. Well done on your time.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thabks Stephen. I haven't looked back, but I know it's been a long time since I last managed under the hour, despite several hopeful attempts 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator]

What a perfect day... with perfect weather and wonderful friends...

What a race you ran...You did me proud.

Thank you x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

And, as promised, I smiled all the way 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

You did x

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Another great report of the biggest ever HU meet up ! So glad you had a fab day and winning your age group with a sub 60 time must have been the cherry on top of the cake!👍🙂🥇

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

It was lovely to break that milestone, definitely the cherry on the cake 😍

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

Wow, so happy for you achieving a sub 60 goal. I’ve walked that trail but never ran it. How lovely to see so many people you know there. 🤗

10k seems like the hardest distance for me - I definitely need to do more of this distance races.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

Thanks Dendev. It's a lovely trail with gorgeous views (and very little to trip over!). You only need to run more of the races you enjoy, that's the key thing 😊

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

I’m convinced there is magic at Monsal. Glad you found it too. Great to meet you and Mr Linda too.

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

I agree Shakes, definitely magic ✨️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Ever the professional! Target: beat 60 minutes, achievement; 59:57. Not an ounce of wasted energy. You got the job done, as always. 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Waste not want not, right! 😍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Exactly 🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I’ve loved reading all these reports. They just ooze joy and happiness 😊

Well done and congratulations Linda on a fab time and your first place win 👏👏 You are a star ⭐️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

It was the most positive and smiley weekend 🥰

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Our First Lady! Very well done to you linda9389 , and I think doing well in the 10k was just what you needed. What a shame you don’t get a plaque to match your HM one from 2023.

The Monsal Trail is such a special race, and we’ve been so lucky with conditions on the 2 occasions we’ve done it with you.

Lovely to see Mr L again too.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Haha Dexy 😍I received the certificate and voucher today, but not really a patch on the 2023 plaques, never mind! It's now hard to imagine the Peak District without blue sky and sunshine isn't it? 😊

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

Yes UpTheStanley got his yesterday too. He probably won’t even print off the certificate 😂.

Yes we have been so lucky in Derbyshire so far. We were talking about it yesterday, and wondered whether we’d like it so much if it had been cold and wet. 🌬️💨💦❄️ Perhaps not.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

I will screenshot mine and save it along with the photos 😊

[Tessie66 Half Marathon]

Congratulations 🎊 👏 and what a fantastic time ⏲️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Thank you. I was pleased on so many levels 😊

[GTFC Marathon]

A great reflective post to read linda9389 It really was great meeting you for the first time and making special memories with everyone from HU. You produced a brilliant run on the day and to get sub 60 is terrific ⭐️🙌 Here's to hopefully doing it all again 🙏

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GTFC]

I have very lovely memories of the day. It would be great to do it again 😊

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Brilliant sub 60 result and a really lovely weekend linda9389 ,sounds perfect! 😊xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

It was a great weekend Ali. One of those where everything comes together 😊

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Wow, fabulous Linda! Your sub 60 is, as others have said, the icing on the cake on what sounds like a marvellous meet-up 😃 x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

Thanks Mudita. It was a wonderful weekend ☺️

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

It was lovely to see you and Mr L again. So much to smile about, I’m not sure how we’re going to top it 🥰

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

And to see you too. So many smiles all round ☺️

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

It was lovely to finally meet you Linda. I'm not surprised you didn't see me. You were way in front, I did try to catch you up though! Well done on your sub 60 and a great race. X

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

I don't think I was far ahead at all CSMN; I suspect we passed in the dark chaos of the tunnel 😅 It was lovely to meet you too.

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

Fantastic, well done on the sub 60. What a lovely day out this must have been. The ghost of Lisbon has been properly laid to rest!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

It was indeed the perfect antidote to Lisbon! ☺️

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Wow to you Linda! Various troubles and here you are running a sub 60 minute 10km, even though you said that it was just a vague hope. Well done to you! Do you manage to run at that pace and actually enjoy it?

Interesting that you mentioned  Bluebirdrunner as the first person who replied to you on the forum. I hunted for my first post 7 years ago and Bluebirdrunner was the third person who replied to me (thank you Bluebirdrunner), the first and second folk seem to have left the forum ages ago.

Many congratulations to you and so very pleased everything went well with the multi meet up and your running too. 😊🏃‍♀️🎉🏁🥇👏

[Katnap Marathon]

Hero!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Nope. Not me!!! 😅

[Katnap Marathon in reply to linda9389]

🤣

[TailChaser Marathon]

So satisfying to get a sub 60 10k, and especially after all your injury issues recently. Absolutely lovely to see you again, I hope it’s not too long before we meet up again x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Agreed TC! Yes, hopefully not too long 😊