In my own particular way, I never make things easy. I knew I would be on for 50 parkruns by early September. What I didn’t estimate was my body rebelling over the HM training I’m trying to do, my mum having an operation the day before and the imminent 10k race the next day. So, I’ve been quite quiet about this as I wasn’t convinced it was going to happen today.
Thankfully my mum’s operation went well so I wasn’t needed and my body is behaving itself (if a little grumpy). Can’t say about the 10k tomorrow but I took parkrun as gently as I could...
Dressing up wasn’t as quite as bold as Dexy5 and co last week. I suppose we could have dressed up as characters from one of Shakespeare’s plays but they do that so much better the other side of the river. So we dressed as cats, nice and simple and runable in. I was the only one with a tail though (naturally!).
For once we all set off at the back of the field. I haven’t done that since my first few so it felt a bit odd. But it was nice to set off slowly rather than the bull in a china shop version I usually do and I was able to chat all the 3 laps. There were also about 150 less runners than last week - what a difference the end of the holidays make to a tourism town.
Not all parkruns have milestone bibs but we have these for the 10s, V25, 50, 100 & 250 and birthdays. I expect at some point we’ll have a 500 as well. They are presented during the Run Director’s talk at the start and they are a great opportunity to feel really embarrassed 😳😳😳. You can run but you can’t hide at Stratford upon Avon - they’ll get you if you’re on the list!! Simon the Event Director had had great fun totally embarrassing me a few weeks earlier when I got my V25, so I was prepared for it this time - but he wasn’t there! Nat the Run Director was lovely though!!
Because you’re running in this bib you get a lot of people congratulating you on your way round, which was great. I’ve never chatted to so many people at our parkrun before, I usually just quietly do my thing.
So, we ran round as much as a family as we could. Youngest kitten ran off on the last lap but Katnap and I weren’t far behind. We ran down the finishing straight hand in hand which we hadn’t done since his first parkrun late last year. That was really nice and he goes so fast down it now that I got a PB for that segment on Strava! Eldest kitten came in a few minutes later. He’s currently experimenting with Jeffing (5 minutes running & 1 minute walking) and it seems to be working for him - he had loads left in the tank for a very speedy last 100m and his times are coming down.
One more Stratford-upon-Avon run before a short break, then it’s Lyme Park for a VRB meet up with Pianism and more on October 5th. Who’s up for it?!!
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TailChaser
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Thanks Windoze 🤗 We had a really good photographer on the prowl today. I’ve yet to have a look at the main ones he took but I’ve a feeling there’s lots more 😳
Congratulations on your 50th parkrun TailChaser . The ears and tail look fantastic. My red 50 shirt has been despatched already, so it won’t be long before you get yours .
Good luck for your 10K tomorrow- we will be virtually running with you .
Thanks Dexy 😀 Brilliant! They aren’t taking long now. We’ve got Katnap , Youngest and Eldest Kitten’s V25s to send off for too so I’m hoping we can do them all in one go 🤞. It’s been quite a parkrun milestone few weeks for the Kat family.
I’m going to have to take the 10k gently. Katnap is aiming to break 60 minutes but I think he’ll more than smash it. I just want to finish it in one piece 😂, knowing you’re all there though will definitely help 🤗
Brilliant...so glad your Mum is ok...life has def been challenging for you but you've carried on putting one foot in front of the other and its worked! Congratulations on just being awesome!!
It’s not so bad MummyCav, it just always seems to do this when I have something I really want to achieve imminent. My mum had a much bigger challenge and we’re all very relieved, thank you!!! 🤗
Oh well done TC! What a wonderful way to celebrate your 50th PR! I love how you guys run as a family. ❤️
I don’t know if I can make Lyme Park - it’s the same day as hubby’s rowing club’s annual dinner. I really (really!) need to be back for it, which would mean almost no time to stick around afterwards. Shame it’s so far ...... I haven’t ruled it out entirely. I’d love to do it. 😩🏃♀️
It was great cheeky! We haven’t had a full family run since Pwllheli with Oldfloss in August. Maybe Katnap & I can make it a rule that we have to have one each month? That would work wouldn’t it?! We’ll all be together for Lyme Park so that will be October 👍👍👍
Much as it would be lovely for you to come to Lyme Park, it is an awful long way for you just for an hour. Have a look on YouTube at the video though, it doesn’t look quite as scary!
I’m going to look for a date for Stratford again now it’s calming down so I’ll let you know when I’ve sussed something out. Perhaps we could do something for Katnap’s 50th (which is about approx 3-4 months away)? 👏👏
It is isn’t it Coddfish! Our lives have changed so much since we started running and parkrun has been a big part of that. It’s done so much for so many people! I’m sure it will calm down. I think the creaky body might be as much to do about worrying about mum as the HM training. Thank you 👍🤗
Yahoo! Congratulations on your 50th parkrun. It’s great to see that 50 badge beside your name on the results page isn’t it. We both joined the 50 club today. Well done also for getting your V25 before your 50th. I’ve 11 Volunteer days done so far. I’m aiming to get my V25 and 100 in 2020.
Yes, looked at it on the results page and felt very proud! I’m lucky, my local is only a 10 minute walk away so I’ve no excuse not to volunteer. Feel very guilty if I don’t! Definitely up for the 100 in 2020! Congratulations Damien, it’s a fab feeling isn’t it?! 😀👏👏👏
Yes it’s lovely. It’s a good goal to try for the 100 in 2020. We should both be able to achieve it. I’ve 25 parkrun events completed so far this year. I’m aiming to get another 10-12 done before end of the year plus a couple of volunteer days.
Me too TailChaser, its been absolutely brilliant here, heading back to the North West tomorrow to stay with my cousin for a couple of days and then off to Ireland, where I’m hoping to run Enniskillen parkrun and finally Wilmslow parkrun. Its been magical. 🥰
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