Sorry folks.... it has been a long time since I rambled... I simply had to
Thick fog and a chill in the air... not the most auspicious beginning for my first solo park run... A real change from the first week, when my son in law ran with me, and last week when I ran in the company of several Bridge to 10K friends thanks to Flaraflarkin .
A slow drive, but arriving in time to see the fog slowly lifting... and just in time too, to locate the lovely lady who picked up Jay66UK 's glove last week..
I am, as many of you know, a solo runner... I have run on my own for over three years... but I have never run alone.... I have friends on the forums who have been with me from the start. Friends who are still here, still supporting me encouraging, cajoling, sympathising and inspiring...
I have those old friends, they know who they are, and I have new friends, recently made, friends, who are taking me forward to yet another level in my running.
But with my first HM coming up.. time to get used to people and running... so third Park Run this week... getting used to the folk and the flat.... I am improving on both counts!
Starting line and not too many folk... standing on the grassy sideline, I chatted with a young lady from London... folk around, chattering and laughing... that frisson of excitement, this morning, sharpened with the cold air... breath rising into the mist above us... The welcome chat,the instructions and notices, and we were ready. Determined to start slowly, I tucked in at the middle and we were away.
Within the first K.... the runners thin out... I was already, comfortable... slow and steady, and able to begin to look around... In three short weeks, the countryside is changing... those first tentative hints of Spring... the sound of the birds ; hidden choristers in the vaulted branches of the canopy above me.... out of the narrow tree lined pathway, and to the left, The Doxey Marshes stretch in silent, wetland wonder, away into the distance... No evidence at this time of the birds who inhabit its many hidden haunts. The sun, now finding a little strength, touching the pools and the mown walk-ways which navigate the floodplain of the River Sow.
I am running easily, breathing gently and the legs are clearly finding that they remember some of this run... trying to take my own advice, landing lightly, kissing the ground with my feet. Rounding my ankles, un-clenching my fists and relaxing as I run...I am enjoying this... moving on, and overtaking folk. I tuck in behind a chap and his daughter... she runs with the wonderful enviable joy of the young...long legs, like an excited foal... bounding and abandoned... Father reining back and keeping pace with his delighted child... The pace is steady... children move quickly, and it is enough for me until I am almost at the turning point.
Taking a deep breath now, the air is less like iced wine, and I turn to the,
“ Well done”, from the Marshall at this point... and I am, much sooner, than the last weeks, on the way back... The runners have spread out.. the speedy runners have all made it home in record time I know... and now I am one, on the return journey, passing folk still heading outwards.
The views this side, are so different, the backs of industrial buildings with sounds and scents to match... my feet echo on the pathway as I move onwards. Time now for some glute work.. courtesy of my lovely friend Bluebirdrunner ... I do find the 5K a difficult distance, as it is 6K before my legs start finding their truly happy pace..but I am improving.
My breathing is steady and even my feet are landing gently. I overtake several folk and I am on a stretch, with no one ahead of me...This is fun... the pathway is opening out again... the sunlight is pressing through the larger branches...of the winter trees... touching some burgeoning buds and gilding the tips of the twiggy fingers with a pale golden filigree. I can tell my pace has increased.
I determined this run ,not to look at my Garmin... I see the marker for the 4K and I pull in tighter, using my arms and my glutes to take me forward... the marshals on the final stretch encouraging, smiling...as I round the corner to the finish line... a final push for a sprint finish... plenty left in the tank... chipped and scanned and hardly out of breath ! No one more surprised than me.
So.... another run done... after my 12 K on Thursday... this was a welcome flat leg stretcher... and I am learning all the time. My friends, as ever, you all ran with me...and, aliboo70 , the waistcoat. keeps me so snug... and Sassy Sali snail sits in the car waiting for me... My beautiful snail brooch... Dexy5 ...pinned to my tee shirt along with Runningroni 's Team snail badge, thank you. I feel good.
Thanks everyone for keeping me running ...
Flossx
PS
I retrieved Jay's lost glove and wore it as I ran...
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Oldfloss
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Thank you, lovely Floss, more the other way round I think......my first HM of the year is next Sunday (3rd March)...(don’t ask me why I’ve signed up for two more 😱....!...)
your description reminded of the lovely parkrun I had this morning, in the gorgeous sunshine., around a lovely park, through woodland and past lakes.....nice and relaxed following my last long run, last week.....it has boosted my confidence....
What a wonderful lyrical post Floss. You do have such a lovely way of describing things. Congratulations on your 3rd parkrun - sounds as though you are chasing those running in crowds demons away!
I am getting the hang of it and surprisingly, I am enjoying it... it is a small number run generally and not too far from me.. and folks there are lovely! Thank you x
Awww Floss what a beautifully descriptive post!! It felt like I was there!! Was it really only a week ago?? Pleased you had a great run 🤗 Sprint finish! Hardly out of breath ~ you and these Parkruns are doing great Floss ❤️ xxx 🦋
It’s a lovely parkrun, I hope it will always be that friendly. Most definitely have to do it again, we all look forward to it 😊 I missed you with Alex tbh, you distracted him and kept him running. He wouldn’t run today as he ran last week and he wanted to get back to his one running/one volunteering routine. X
We have been missing your ramble-run reports so much Floss, and this one is very exciting and as enjoyable to read as always. I really missed not being able to join the snail party at last weeks Isabel Parkrun, but you have described it wonderfully, we were willing you on to the finish!
Well, no Parkruns for three years and now suddenly three done! ( bit like buses😉) Well done for running solo, was it part of Jay's plan to *lose* his glove, knowing you would go back for it😆...
I am so pleased that you had such a great run (and in awe of your 12k on Thursday too!) All your strength training must be paying off...💪😊
You really are a poet! I was there, like reading a book, I could feel the fog lifting and hear the people! Well done on a brilliant run! I think I’m going to do my first park run next Saturday ... I hope I don’t chicken out 😬
Thank you so much... and.. please, don't chicken out... no one could have been more concerned than me... It took me three years to get to this point.. you will do it
Be careful Oldfloss, you might get hooked on parkrun if you don’t watch out! That was a beautiful description of your run as always, and I really felt like I was running it with you. So glad the silver snail got out to play again too.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5
The snail enjoyed the run... and we did enjoy it... hope you are having a super time too xxx
“I overtake several folk and I am on a stretch, with no one ahead of me.”
Well, that’s business in my book. I’ve never done an organised run and l don’t think l ever will but having read your post l at least had to sit down and think. You tend to push the right buttons when it comes to motivation.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to mrrun
No one could have been less keen than I... but I needed to do this and finding the right run, with not too many folk was paramount...I am very surprised that I have enjoyed it as much as I have... I will always be, mainly, a lone runner, but I do now know that I have this as another option...and it gives me confidence to take part in some interesting trail 10Ks that are happening this year. Once I got over the number of folk in a small area on the first one I did,it was fine...
Thank you for taking us on your parkrun with you...wouldn't have wanted to miss out on that one. You're on a brilliant, new adventure in so many ways...some of us are running along beside you, others waving and cheering from the sidelines...whatever our circumstances, we're all with you!! 😀🏃♀️
I’m also a solo runner for two of my three weekly runs (I do Parkrun most Saturdays) but never feel alone. Your words are with me every run ... ‘slow and steady’ ... ‘feet kissing the ground’ ... they’ve helped me many times from the start of C25k to my 10k runs now.
Good luck with your HM training ... happy running!
I love it... and I love running with you... thank you.
I am getting there... and I am enjoying my training now... the weather has improved and my good friend Bluebirdrunner reminded me that the runs are for enjoyment.. even training runs...since that is back inside my head... I feel good
That is why these forums work,, we all need support and help and we all need those special words, in our heads, that carry us forward
Lovely to hear your early spring ramblings and that you're getting into Parkruns. It's good to get out of our comfort zones and have new challenges for our bodies and brains a like. Good luck with all the HM training! 🌱🏃♀️🌼
Thanks you...yes.. we all need a shake up and I am all for giving things a go.. although doing a park run took me three years! I just felt I had to take that step.. if only because davelinks would have given me up for lost if I hadn't
Lovely post Oldfloss! Happy running, parkrun & half marathon training!
I think it’s so great you collected Jay’s glove... & wore it! 😄💛
Wow floss! Great ramble as ever and sooooooo impressed with you doing a solo parkrun,it looks beautiful there! Glad the waistcoat is snug and that Sassy Sali snail was a good luck mascot! I had a lovely surprise as C3PO was at my parkrun yesterday all the way from Norway again. We waved as we went past and had a little catch up at the end.... maybe i will get up to your parkrun one day! 😆xxx
Yeayayyaya... it was fun and the snail trail is getting crowded with my snails... I am getting used to the folk and I have got better at flat running too!
How brilliant to meet C3PO !!!! I loved the get together, some of the forum friends had here last week...we will get together one day.. either here...or somewhere down near to you!!! xxxx
Lovely post. I felt like I was back there with you. It was a truly amazing morning. Look at you overtaking and sprint finishing not bad for a lady who does not do running on the flat with lots of other folk.
I was a tad please.. and I did have fun...thanks ! I have to miss a few now as I have small one for an extra day next Saturday and am back at the coast the next week.... which will be glorious... coastal path running!!! Bliss!
Well I regularly run down the coastal path to Pwhelli... the run is on sand , which I am not keen on... too much calf strain, even on dry firm sand...but only 55 people I may just bob down, when we get there back there.. just to take a look you understand x
I may never get to a park run but after reading your post, I felt like I just did (and did very well, I must add. You have to love the feeling of overtaking people and feeling good enough to take in the sights and sounds around you!). It looks like you might be getting hooked on this Parkrun lark 😊
I am having fun... and although running as a lone snail will always be my choice, I have learned that there are other enjoyable options and other facets to my running...only serving to prove that you can teach an old snail new tricks xx
Wow, this sounds amazing. As one at the start of the journey, I can only just get to the end of 5k, wheezing and panting. I do hope I can have an experience such as this one day.
I am sure you will find increasing happiness as you move on... when I remember how I felt in 2015...I can hardly believe where I find myself these days..
Well done you! I was photographer at my local Lloyd Parkrun on Saturday in thick fog, which made the event interesting, and Co-op were there in a big gazebo choc a bloc with goodie boxes containing healthy food, a tin of chopped tomatoes, chick peas, and a bottle of extra virgin oil given out to all of the runners and volunteers, so, 3 cheers for the CO-OP!
I'm fine apart from a niggly knee, been doing more walking than running lately, and more volunteering at Parkrun, looking forward to Spring and hoping knee will be OK for running, or will have to see a physio, may try a support strap support first and see if that helps..
Sue is fine to, she has just had her annual MRI checkup/head scan and is all clear..😊
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