Half-term running 🚴🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[ktsok]

Pre-run faffage today included: prising my son away from Captain Underpants; getting him to put on his underpants and other attire; a bit of grumbling; pumping up bicycle tyres; raising the seat; administering first aid and comfort to child when he braked using only the front brake on a downhill with his bum off the saddle, causing him to spill headfirst over the handlebars; adjusting the brakes; having an impromptu braking lesson; getting the bike in the car... and we were off! 🤪

We went to a lovely riverside path that meanders from a village into the centre of Canterbury. Perfect for accident-prone child cyclists. The weather looked a bit undecided, as did the child, so I shelved expectations and just thought we would see how we went.

It was lovely. There were swans on the river and sheep on the path. The rain stayed away and there were no more accidents. There were a couple of short pit stops to put away a coat and to try to fashion some sort of bandana to cover his cold ears (cold ears?!) but apart from that we made steady progress, plodding along, him chatting merrily to me about everything from Star Wars to Lego to what swans eat and they aren’t gears, they are levels... it was kind of hard to keep track, but he didn’t seem to expect much of a response so it worked well enough... 🙃

He said his legs were a bit tired at the 3k mark, so we turned around and plodded back. My legs were in agreement - 20-25 minutes seems to be a toxic zone for me - but we hit 5k and I felt refreshed, so I kept going for the last 1k to bag my longest run yet. Then it was a nice cool down pushing child on the roundabout 🥵

I was pleased to have run 6k; even more pleased that there were some negative splits; and even more pleased that my son and I got ourselves out there. Now for hot chocolate, sausage and onion sandwiches and a movie! 🙂

And some ice for my left knee, which is just letting me know it’s there... 🤔

[O505k Graduate10]

The joys of half term. Well done for getting out there with junior cycling.

Great achieving 6k.

[ktsok in reply to O505k]

Thanks O! 🙂

[MarkyD Graduate10]

Brilliant run report, thankyou ktsok . It is great to demonstrate to the younger generation that exercise is part of a balanced life. And a negative split, well-done!

[ktsok in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks Marky. He enjoyed Junior Parkrun last week so he might just come for a little run midweek one of these days... 🙂

[E27M14 Graduate10]

You sound like you enjoyed this run. Well done 👍 Hoping for lots more happy runs for you as you increase that distance.

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

Thanks E! How is that dreadmill looking?!

[E27M14 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

It’s not happening! It is the world’s most rubbish gym 😂 so I did a “core workout for running” from you-tube instead. Busy tomorrow but should be home early enough on Wednesday evening to run on familiar flat ground, if I can remember how!!

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

Oh no! Didn’t they have a dreadmill? Was it just a mirror and some dumbbells? Or was it full of dodgy looking geezers?! 😂

[Jell6 Graduate10]

That is so much more than a run😊

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

Yes. It was lovely 😊

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Good work and well done on your longest run to date! And what a lovely thing to do with your son - warmed the cockles of my heart, reading this! 😘

[ktsok in reply to Sadie-runs]

He’s such a lovely lad. It was great getting out together. Now that the ‘structure’ of C25k is over I feel much more relaxed about stopping to admire a swan, or a caterpillar, if need be. Makes it fun 🙂

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

I stop quite often to take pictures on runs, or to watch the parakeets squabble in my park, or just to admire a view and drink some water- and I don’t give a hoot. I really don’t understand these people who believe a run is only a run if you don’t stop! x

[Knittingrunner Graduate10]

Well done. What a mission! But you both got out there. 👍

[ktsok in reply to Knittingrunner]

Thank you! Hopefully next time there will be less drama! 🙂

[JT489]

Very funny, I identify with faffage!! You got there in the end, nothing’s perfect but better than not at all! 😄

[ktsok in reply to JT489]

I don’t usually have child-related faffage; takes it to a whole new level!

[Bridget007]

That sounds like a lovely run with swans 🦢 and sheep 🐑 and chattering away 😊 well done on your 6k 👍🏻

[ktsok in reply to Bridget007]

Thank you Bridget. 8 years old, so full of chatter and enthusiasm. Precious times 🙂

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Lovely to be able to combine time with your son with a run (and your longest too!) 😀

[ktsok in reply to JonathanP]

I know! He turned into an excellent coach 😜

[Katiepops Graduate10]

Haha! Doesn’t get easier. My youngest is now 13. Faffage for me is dragging him out of bed to discuss why he can’t stay in his pyjamas on the Xbox! Well done on your run. You should be proud of yourself. Make the most of the daylight and mild weather. Summer’s coming - it can only get better.🏃‍♀️

[ktsok in reply to Katiepops]

At last!!!

[TailChaser Graduate10]

Oh this faffage does sound familiar! It is great to be able to do these things with our kids though, even if it does take twice as long to get out there, it is worth every bit of it😀

[ktsok in reply to TailChaser]

Yes it is. Hopefully we shall do many more 🙂

[Shelley2310]

Well done, sounds a lovely place too 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[ktsok in reply to Shelley2310]

You should try it Shelley. Start at Chartham village hall (free parking). It’s about 5km into Westgate Gardens and if you are really knackered, you can catch the train one stop back to Chartham 🙂

[Shelley2310 in reply to ktsok]

I’ll definitely give it a go 😊

[Sqkr]

Canterbury! I grew up in a village near Canterbury 😄 I must run round there one day, for some nostalgia tourism.

[ktsok in reply to Sqkr]

It’s a lovely part of the world 🙂

[grumpyoldgirl]

Wonderful post kt, I can picture the scene! Brings back memories of my son chatting nonstop, mainly about dinosaurs, all the way home from school. 😊

[ktsok in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Haha, yes, they do seem to love their dinosaurs! I’m still impressed at the way little tots who are barely talking can perfectly articulate ‘triceratops’ and ‘velociraptor’ and ‘pterodactyl’!

[Cloudbuster Graduate10]

That sounds fantastic kt. Well done on your 6k. I run with my daughter and she chats away but I just grunt now and again! It distracts me though and actually helps. Those times with your son are precious indeed. 😊

[ktsok in reply to Cloudbuster]

Yes they are. It’s kind of nice to have a purpose, too. One that can meander and adapt, but that initial reason to get out there and do it. So easy to just let the days slip by without doing much of anything...

[molly1973]

That sounds brilliant! Even the faffage is happily familiar... mine won’t ride bikes now, or at least my son will but not with me!

[ktsok in reply to molly1973]

Aw, bless you. They want to be with you, then they need to push you away, then come back again! As lovely company as he was, there is a lot going for us having our running ‘me’ time as well!