And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all....

[Equi-geek]

... It’s time to see what I can do,

to test the limits and break through,

no rights, no wrongs, no rules for me!

I’m FREE!

On a beautiful sunny morning, hundreds of runners in all sorts of fancy dress at Parkrun! Emily the 40min pacer wore an inflatable Santa suit, one club turned up as elves, there was an astronaut, JC himself, Santa riding an inflatable reindeer, LOADS of antlers and even one brave soul dressed in a large wrapped cardboard box, complete with big red bow and ribbon.

I wasn’t fast, but I passed the parcel 🤣🤣🤣.

Happy running everyone, a very Merry Christmas and here’s to a healthy and happy 2019.

[Empem Graduate10]

What a hoot.You look lovely.Glad Jeremy Corbyn was there, we've been wondering where he was!!!!!

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Empem]

🤣

[Irish-John Graduate10]

You look wonderful Merry Christmas EQ

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks IJ - it was a great laugh!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

This has made me smile😊...and I'm not feeling very smily😷

Sounds wonderful.. Good on you, you look fantastic!

Merry Christmas.🌲🎅xxx

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

🤗🙌YAY! Glad I made you smile Bluebird! That was the idea. Loved seeing everyone grinning - and I even sang bits of ‘Let it go’, badly, at the end which got a laugh 😂

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Love it! What a fab run and you look beautiful. Happy Christmas to you and yours 🎄

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks princess! Glad you like it - Merry Christmas to you too 🤗

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Fantastic! You look great too Merry Christmas x

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda! Merry Christmas! X

[Tartancat Graduate10]

What a wonderful start to Christmas!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

You look great Equi . What fun and no purple! You do look like you could fly with that cloak. I wore a Santa hat which would not stay on so it ended up tucked in my flip belt. Wow wasn’t it mild? I was definitely overdressed today. Gloves and jacket came off after 1 k.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5- yes! Very mild, and those sleeves were quite warm too. No purple for once 🤣 The cloak looked ace when I was running, I think, looking at my shadow. Loads of comments on the way round and runners that were walking started running again I noticed. Whether it was the embarrassment of being beaten by a 50 year old in a dress, or something more positive, I’ll never know 🤣. One chap said his grand-daughter would be so jealous that he was running with Queen Elsa 🤣

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

You look stunning EG! 😃⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️Happy Christmas!😊🎄🎄

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thanks Mountaindreamer, you too 🤗

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Brilliant! Just brilliant! Happy Christmas to you! 🎅🏻🎄🏃‍♀️

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank yoooooo!

[Wimborne]

Wow what a fabulous way to run..... gorgeous outfit. Bet you looked so lovely and floaty with your cloak flying behind you.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

Thanks Wimbourne - it was joyous! Very liberating - and I could wear my pocketed capris underneath too

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Brilliant Equi! 👏👏👏 Happy Christmas! 🎄🎄🎄

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

And you cheeky!

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Yay! That is so awesome EG! You look amazing. I'm glad to hear you embraced your inner Elsa and belted out some tunes as well 🎶😁

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Oh, yes, had to be done! Thanks Sask!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

You look fantastic Equigeek. It must have looked great with your cloak floating out behind you. Happy Christmas 🎄

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Hope so Sandie! It was a bit blowy so carried the cape nicely I think

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

and I wasn't the only nutter dressed up (thank goodness!) - we got into the spirit of things youtu.be/-Tbym16K7c8(Not working as expected?)

[Flaraflarkin Graduate10]

Oh my goodness! What happened there?? Your post title and that photo of you looking so sweet just got me welling up Equi! 🤗🤗 I've been reflecting on the past year, and I think your title just hit the nail! Lots of us have come so far in all sorts of way this past year, and the connections I've made on here I hold very dear ❤️ Have a lovely, lovely Xmas ❤️🦋❤️

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Flaraflarkin]

Thank you Flara - what a lovely thing to say! Yes, this Christmas is very different to last year for me and running and everyone on this forum has been a massive part of that. I was just looking back at Strava - I've taken 90s/km off my 5k pace since 2 weeks after graduating C25k, and today's 'easy jog' would have been a PB in mid-October. I count myself very fortunate indeed to have been surrounded by such a positive group of people in reality and virtually. Have a wonderful Christmas yourself 🙋🏼‍♀️🦋⛄️❤️

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Excellent Equi! Merry Christmas to you too!

[Ang33333]

You look lovely! We did fancy dress today too. Lots of hot runners at the end! I marshalled in my Christmas jumper and antlers! 🎅🎅

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Ang33333]

Glad you had a great time yesterday Ang! Merry Christmas!

[Hidden]

Wow. A running fairy godmother. You look beautiful 👍

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Paulanoo!

[Sybilw Graduate10]

Great outfit! Love it 💕!! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Sybilw]

Merry Christmas Sybil, hope you all enjoy the festivities 🥳

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Lovely running outfit!

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie!

[DebJogsOn]

You looked fantastic.

Merry Christmas to you too!

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

Thanks Deb! All the best to you and yours 😁👍

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

What fun! You look most fabulous! Love the video clip & parkrun carol too. Was that Lydiard Park? Up in Cirencester it was fun too - lots of hats, antlers & costumes. I didn't run as I have an inflamed tendon on my foot but hubby ran in santa hat (and overtook the incredible gingerbread man) and son did time keeping in Santa hat.

I will give some serious thought to my festive park run costume next year having seen how amazing everyone looked in Swindon! Merry Xmas! 🎄x

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Thanks Slinky! Glad Cirencester was fun too - shame about your tendon, hope it settles down soon? I am timekeeping on New Years Day and doing a freedom run instead. Not done it before, hope I do a better job than when I did barcode scanning 😬 merry Christmas to the family and I hope to come up to the RAU ParkRun sometime next year 😁👍

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

I've done barcodes before too. When the runners come in big batches it's hard to keep up & scan the right code first! My son's hot tip is to press the stopwatch button very firmly! Good luck!

I had a 30 min sport massage on my foot & it's made a real difference. Going to take it easy today & aim for a little jog first thing tomorrow.

The Royal Ag parkrun is fairly flat although it can be very muddy. Nice atmosphere & college canteen for bacon butties etc after. Let me know if you're coming this way! 🙂

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Thanks Slinky! And thanks for the tip on the stopwatch - will do!

[Saartjie Graduate10]

Brilliant! And LOVE the outfit 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️ Here's to many more carefree runs in 2019 😊

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Saartjie]

Thanks Saartjie! It’s truly liberating isn’t it?! All the best for 2019 🤗