A run I wanted....😁🌞

[Bluebirdrunner]

I had planned out a new route, about 8k in total and was going to run it last week, but I wasn't well, so had to hop on the IC for a week. Feeling much better, I have been longing to get out and stretch my legs. Hubby playing golf this evening, no world cup today, so Friday night was my comeback run night...

I got up at 7am this morning and hubby said, it feels cool at the moment, why not go now. Why not! So excitedly get my stuff together, suncream on, hair up, hat on, shades on, and yes, running buff soaked in cold water around my neck ( great idea SaskAlliecat, thank you😊)

Actually heading out the door at 8.45am...so not ideal, BUT there is a breeze, and later will have to be much later...

I promised Oldfloss she would be with me in spirit ( as she usually is) and she whispered in my ear, as it's so hot, go for the distance, but if you need a walk break or two that's fine.

Through the woods on my warm up walk and onto the lane, start up zombiesrun! and press start on my Garmin. No gps signal on my phone so thank you Ted again about the tip to buy a cheap Garmin on ebay!

Start to run up the lane, hmm not much shade, and where is the breeze, I go slowly then turn at the top to come back and immediately feel cooler. The breeze is blowing, lifting the brim of my cap, so I tighten it and enjoy settling onto my run.

Onto the pavement beside the main road, it's quiet, the school run is over, there is not much shade, but I just listen to my mission ( a reccy run to pick up some games they want) and enjoy the shady bits. Round the corner and into running mode I feel fine, nice breeze but it is hard work and at 3k where I have to balance on the narrow kerb or cross over, I choose to walk a few seconds to catch my breath...that's fine says Floss, you are out running, relax and look around a bit... Into the shade and off again I run to the corner. Now, this is where my adventure begins. I'm not turning and retracing my route yet. I'm crossing the road and running up an unmade road that leads to a cricket pitch in the woods! The road is stoney and slightly uphill and yes, in the sun, and when a delivery van comes up behind me, I gladly slow to a walk to let him past and carry on walking to reach the car park for the cricket. Here I can run again through a horse barrier and onto a track through bracken at the edge of the common. There is the cricket pitch, only a few dog walkers around though no play today. Onwards over a wooden bridge, past some houses tucked away then onto the lane where our favourite local pub is. Not open, but lovely hanging baskets and flowers and...a sprinkler going on the front lawn😁😎... First I run past it though and onto the village green. I was planning to run around this large circle of grass with the Maypole in the middle. But only one side is in shade, so I run up that side then turn and run back. The garmin says 4.4k so it is an 8k route. As I run up to the pub again, go on says Oldfloss, so I nip across and stand in the spray for a few seconds..,very refreshing. The wet buff around my neck has been doing a great job though and every now and then I've been turning it a little.

Feeling better I run back past the houses past the cricket pitch to the stony lane. Still in the hot sun. I have a little walk break, and catch my breath. The zombiesrun mission is over and we are in DJ mode which is still quite entertaining, I let a bus past then cross back and start to run, its the return journey now and feels easier, I run past a postman and a man standing in his driveway eating toast ( strange) I run past the kennels and up to the big tree. I walk on that little narrow bit where there is no proper pavement then run on, I should be fine for a bit I think, but at 6.5k on the watch I woulder whether I will manage the 8k I had planned. Just run to the next kerb then you can walk for a bit and see how you feel at the main road.

Turn the corner and start to run, still feeling OK, but it is hard work in the heat. I put on a good spurt, then think, I will just run up to the garage then call that it.. not a bad distance. As I get near the garage I notice the garmin is saying 7k run, Well that's OldFloss' favourite go to distance..so I think she would be saying Good job Jan slow down to a walk. So I do. A 7k run/walk, a new route, a sprinkler shower and a happy me, starts my long cool down walk.

I got my run in earlier than I was expecting today. And it was the run I wanted. 😎

Happy running all...😊xxx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Yay! What a great run. Oldfloss was definitely with you, giving you great advice 😊. I’m glad the wet buff helped out, as well.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Allie, yes, it was great. I think I would have struggled a lot more without that. Definitely keeps you cool. I enjoyed that route and will revisit it, and next time do the loop of the village green hopefully. The freedom of being able to walk when I wanted was a treat too. It doesn't always have to be about stats...

Hope you got over your sons birthday sleepover...did they get any sleep? DId you?😄xxx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

The sleepover birthday party turned out great. We limited his number to 3 friends because the boat is only so big. 2 were able to make it. We had thunderstorms the first afternoon but the boys didn't mind. They ended up collaborating and creating their own comic. They worked hard on it until the thunderstorms abated enough to go swimming and using the slide off the boat. Then they were back at their comic again. They tried to complete the "3 am challenge" but ended up going to bed about 1:30 once they finished the comic. The next day was beautiful so we got the boys out tubing. Other than the sunburn my son ended up getting and the ear infection (he has tubes in his ears and got water in one ear), it was a perfect birthday party. Although he even took those like a champ. He put a lot of thought into who to invite because he has a fairly diverse group of friends and had an idea of what he wanted to do and it all worked out perfect. I didn't sleep until the boys went to bed, but not because they were being loud, just because I'm Mom and always had 1 ear open for them (and in reality, the space from my bedroom to the living room the boys were in is only about 30 feet and fairly open 😆).

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Hope your son gets better soon, something always happens doesn't it...

Sounds like he had a lot of fun😊xx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

He's back on track already, ready for another weekend at the lake. It's Canada Day weekend this weekend so it's a long weekend for us and school is officially out for summer. Bring on summer 😁🌞🌅!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Sounds like fun???

My Mum said she had an ear open for me all the time.. even when we stayed there and I was in my 50s!!!!

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

It really was a lot of fun. One of his better bday parties, I'd say.

I'm sure I'll be just like your Mum when my son is an adult. He's my one and only 💕

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

xx and he has one heck of a Mum xxx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

You're too sweet 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Nope... just honest x

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Sounds like a lovely run! I haven't run for a few days due to being unwell earlier in the week, plus we are heading up to Nottingham at the crack of dawn tomorrow, so am unlikely to get out before tomorrow evening or Sunday morning. Your post will keep me going until then as I felt like I was right there with you - thank you and well done!🙂

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra, hope you are feeling better, Have a good trip, and enjoy your run when it happens!😊x

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Sorry you have been unwell... xxx Enjoy your trip x

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

All better now thanks! 🙂 Have been looking at Uni's for my eldest, so all over the place at the weekends just now!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

I loved it.. I loved it... I was with you all the way through that beautiful run, and I saw everything on the way... ( I love cold toast.. and almost asked that chap for a bite).. and the shower was soooo welcome

What a super run and super distance and how glad I am that you got that run in and that distance too....my legs are a bit tired

Thank you for taking me with you my friend... xxxx

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

It was lovely, a no pressure, wasn't expecting to run this morning run. You did love that sprinkler!😄xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

You did wonderfully...mind.. I raised a few eyebrows when I took my top off😉😉

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Your strawberry shortcake bikini was very fetching!😄x

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

It is sasssy xxx

[TedG Graduate10]

Very well done Jan 👏 sounds like it was an interesting fun run 😊

Cold buff round your neck? Hmm, what would a fella look like adorning one of those 🤔😎

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to TedG]

Cooooool x

[TedG Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

😂🤣

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to TedG]

Yes...funny eh? Already... IC humour...it will get worse x

[TedG Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I’m trying to picture myself with one of those round my neck Floss 😊

With my bald head, sweat runs everywhere so it sounds like a solution...just not sure I have the bottle, got my image to think of lol

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to TedG]

You have! You just go for it... you've got it... flaunt it

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

You can get skull and crossbones ones Ted! You would look very cool😎xx

Garmin works so well.x

[TedG Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Now there’s an idea 🤔 I’ve got some neck tubes I wear under my leathers on my bike, they’d be suffice I’d have thought!

I’m thinking of upgrading my Garmin, I quite fancy one that works out your VO2 Max etc.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to TedG]

Boys....😉xx

[Jay66UK Graduate10]

Beautiful description of a lovely summer run.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Wasn't it beautiful She is awesome..my friend

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you Jay, I do enjoy my runs 😊x

[SW16 Graduate10]

What I wouldn’t give for a sprinkler??😉 Sounds a lovely run.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

It was...I wasn't going to step into the sprinkler, but Oldfloss egged me on😉xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Beautiful, Jan, just beautiful. What an inspiring post! Thank you and well done. 😘

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie, a long ol'post...didn't look so long on the tablet as it does on the phone! Glad you liked reading of my adventure😊x

[sallenson Graduate10]

Sounds just about perfect, Jan. A lovely gentle idyllic read xx

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to sallenson]

Ah thank you Stephen, no jokes, but the runner you are, ran with me!😊x

[Lorijay Graduate10]

What a lovely run. Great post to read, thank you. Posts like this are really encouraging!!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

The joy is still there. That feeling of freedom doesn't leave you.😊x

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

I think that is why I want to be able to run longer so that I can feel more of that freedom without having the pressure (self induced) to achieve. Determined to get there!

[Tbae]

Lovely post and lovely read.Just felt was right there with you descriptively.More importantly your awesome friend Floss was with you, and what an awesome duo.

Jan the kind, caring and giving and awesome administrator,always there to support everyone.WOW.You.

Your picture with your labs speaks a thousand words.

Sorry to hear you have been below par, but delighted you are back running again.

You have been a huge inspiritation to me with your kindness,knowledge and support.

Used your theory and tip on outward and homeward runs.

Applied that to boring circuits, outward is to half way diagonally opposite point, back to the start , homeward, repeat, repeat.lol.

Just to be clear you do not run the diagonal.lol.I do 4x1.2k + 200m. Do not do your bit on the 200 m lol.Thats supposed to be the Mobot bit.lol.

Running is the life’s blood of our soul.

It is because of your dedication on this forum, I and I am sure others, can realise Running is Truth.?

Stay well and take good care of you.

Got to believe that it’s magic.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Tbae]

Crickey Tbae, you are making me blush 😶 And blinding me with science🤔 ( still have all my emojis😉)...

I think you take MJ and Mo with you on your runs😎 you are doing so well and obviously having a ball😊..

I think you are right about the Magic bit....look at us all go!🌟

Happy running 😊x

My goldie is 15 years old now.

[Hidden]

What a great post. You have a maypole? So lucky!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Flick, not quite as epic as your cross country adventure, but we both enjoyed a cooling sprinkle... yours on a previous run...

Yes, they do the May queen pageant and then dance around it. It's the village just behind where I am. Lovely green with a duck pond, church and amazing pub!