Parkrun with Oldfloss 😎❤️

[mountaindreamer]

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. 🐌🐌 😊❤️😎

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

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.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

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! 😊❤️

[Bridget007]

Well done! Sounds like a lovely run. I’m sure Oldfloss will forgive you 😊

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Bridget007]

Thanks Bridget. It was lovely to just get out running. So glad we weren’t hit by the torrential rain and hail that arrived later on! 😊

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

Gosh you really look the part there mountaindreamer. I nearly wore my nhs c25k t shirt today.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

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. 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

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?

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

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!” 😂😂😂❤️

[Forestgrump]

Well done . Only done one park run so far but the atmosphere is brilliant and everyone’s so friendly 😁.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Forestgrump]

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!)

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

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.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Thank you...thank you... thank you!

This was a great run and I really, really enjoyed it!!! The wind was a bit of an issue but we got going didn't we?

I have to be honest.... (and I can do this here on Bridge)... I do love a burst of speed!!!

Overtaking that runner was amazing... and the photos are absolutely excellent.. we shall employ your husband as our official photographer ! )

I love my snail picture.... You have really made my day :)x

You did so well and you look fantastic...thank you for taking me with you... xxx

PS

6K.... sounds good to me.... I will be ready !!!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

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...😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️❤️😎

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

I will be there.. with my Ron Hill on too xxx

[Forestgrump in reply to Oldfloss]

As a photographer I shall volunteer myself to take shots for my local park runs 😁

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Forestgrump]

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.

[LoungeLizaard Graduate10]

Firstly - fantastic effort and great photos - loving the snail & note to Oldfloss. Great write up too.

Secondly - there is a C25K Grad t-shirt??? How do you get those??

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to LoungeLizaard]

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.

completerunner-online.com/s...

[LoungeLizaard Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thanks, and ordered! That’s brilliant!

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!

❤️❤️❤️

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to LoungeLizaard]

I think the link keeps floating around in multiple posts on the C25k forum already - that’s where I got it from! 😊❤️

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Brilliant! Love that you took Oldfloss with you. It looked like a lovely day for a park run, also loving the tee shirt and shorts 👍

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

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! 😂😂😂)

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

You clearly had the force with you! 🤣

[Agelesslass Graduate10]

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.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Agelesslass]

Thanks, it’s my 4th Parkrun now, and I really enjoy them. 😊❤️ Just posted the link above, but here it is again...

completerunner-online.com/s...

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

That's nice, you don't often see running tees with a v-neck

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thank you so much for that

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

That's just lovely! I hope you enjoyed it too Oldfloss xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

I did... loved that sprint at the end too

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Pssst! Did you get my email?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

I don't think I did???

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I'll resend it... xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

X

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

I certainly did..loving everyone's runs whilst on this blinking injury couch

[sallenson Graduate10]

Well done both

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to sallenson]

Oh no, Stephen...your JBs have gone down a black hole again...😔

Think me, Oldfloss and the upset JBs need to carry you back to that Physio and demand that they help us fix you. Sending hugs ❤️❤️

[sallenson Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Yeah. Black hole time again. Still dead sore and work has been a nightmare this week. Leave the house at 5 and back at 11. Ouch....

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to sallenson]

No good at all...hang on in there, things will get better again at some point xx❤️❤️

[skysue16 Graduate10]

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 😉