Barely managed to get up at 7 for breakfast this morning, but having promised Oldfloss we were going to do Parkrun, I wasn’t going to let my running buddy down! Despite packing jackets and waterproofs in the car, we arrived at Birkenhead Park to find the rain clouds clearing and the sun trying to come out. So shorts and my new C25k Graduate Tshirt were all that were needed after all.
It still amazes me how an almost empty park with just 5 minutes to go before the intro talk, suddenly becomes one packed with 400 runners milling around the starting line! I had Oldfloss comfortably tucked into my phone case with my barcode, and off we set...
I’m sure I could hear her slow and steady advice coming through my headphones as I set off a bit too fast as usual. We soon settled down to a steady pace, though, which slowed some what when a viscous headwind kicked in for one shortish leg. We waved and thanked the volunteers as they clapped, drummed, and made other encouraging noises.
3 laps around the park means we got lapped by the top runners on the second lap, but we didn’t mind that. The slight uphill seemed harder today, as I’d started off rather tired, but I don’t think Oldfloss was too cross with me for striding out for each of the downhill legs. Time to catch a few of those speedsters who’d overtaken us going up! The third uphill bit always seems toughest, but I know I just need to make it to the corner with the kind smiling volunteer clapping, then it’s all over as we stride out downhill towards the finish. Couldn’t resist sprint finishing to overtake another runner at the finishing line - I think Oldfloss forgave me, and my speedier husband even took a photo of us coming in. I’d asked him to try to, as I know Oldfloss likes photos.
No PB this week, but another 5k under my belt and just 14 secs slower than last week. You’re still tucked up in my phone case, Oldfloss, so I hope you will join me for my 6k run planned for Monday. We’ll be going properly slow and steady then. 🐌🐌 😊❤️😎
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mountaindreamer
Graduate10
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Well done 'mountaindreamer', I love those photos, especially the one of the snail with "slow and steady, floss", I am sure Oldfloss will be very pleased with you and forgive you for that final sprint, enjoy you 6k on Monday.
Thanks Alan! I don’t think she’ll be too cross...my 10k plan longer runs are all going to follow her slow and steady mantra exactly, but sometimes you just have to have a bit of fun with Parkrun! 😊❤️
Thanks Brian - I want to wear it for Parkruns as my club Tshirt! A bit of C25k advertising. Mine only arrived in the post just after we got back last week, so this was its first outing. 😊
Well done mountaindreamer and it’s great that Oldfloss had a chance to run with you too. You are looking really professional in the photos. The Parkrun photographer snapped me approaching the finish line but it’s yet to be published. It will need vetting before I decide to share! Is that no 3 for you now?
Number 4 now, Eileen! 😃 It will be sometime before I progress to a Parkrun 50 T-shirt! It’s funny, because my husband accidentally did photoburst videos of me sprinting in, and I just looked at them and thought, “My, look how much I’m still moving my arms in front of my body. Laura would never approve!” 😂😂😂❤️
I love them Forestgrump. I’m using them as my weekly 5k for Juju’s 10k plan, but I want to start volunteering to help once I’m up to 10k. (I’ll need to buy a tambourine or drums, though! Most of the course marshals have something to make noise with at this one!)
That’s great, we don’t have that but I might find something for next time I volunteer. We did have 2 people sitting on a bench with drums today doing brilliant rhythms, but not volunteers.
Glad you approved, Floss. 😃❤️ I can’t resist a last sprint to the finish! It’s pretty wet here this morning, so we may be taking that new Ronhill waterproof top out for a trial tomorrow! See you at about 7...😊🏃♀️🏃♀️❤️😎
That’s a great idea, Forestgrump. We had a professional photographer who kindly did that a couple of weeks ago, on our Parkrun’s 3rd Birthday! She put all the photos on Flicker, I think, so people could download any they wanted.
Thanks Mitch! 😊❤️ Here’s the link for the T-shirts. Mine took a while to come as I wanted a colour that was out of stock. The guy selling them is lovely, though, and apologized and congratulated me on graduating!
There’s also a pin badge, but I wanted the Tshirt to wear as my “club T-shirt” for Parkruns. It’s synthetic and good quality. Not as thin as the top I’ve been wearing in the hottest weather, but still pretty well ventilated.
Like you I’ll wear it on park runs as my club t-shirt
Thanks so much - you might want to create another post with that link in it (advising that you’re not affiliated in any way of course) it’s such a good idea!
It rained torrentially then hailed here later, Lexi (and is again now!) so we were lucky yesterday. I chose a picture which didn’t clearly show the “Star Wars” wording on the elastic waist of my favourite comfy gym shorts!! (I’d not realised this T-shirt was a bit shorter than my normal one, so with my running belt yanked around a few times I’d ended up displaying this usually hidden detail! 😂😂😂)
Many congratulations to you mountain dreamer, dead chuffed for you. One question for you. How did you obtain the C25k tee shirt? I would like one as I graduated in June. Keep going and many thanks.
What a lovely post, very well done 😀👍. I love the C25k shirt, looks really good and the colour is great - perhaps I should get one! So kind of you to carry Floss along with you, I bet she enjoyed herself 😉
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You have really made my day :)x
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