So today was a novelty compared to the last few weeks. I ran my home parkrun, Eastville Park. ๐ณ Iโve been round and about a lot doing lots of tourism recently, but my return โhomeโ was made extra special with the presence of some lovely (V)RBs! โค๏ธ Yay! ๐๐
damienair and his charming son, Oisin, had chosen my local PR as part of their compass challenge and had flown over especially from Dublin yesterday, returning home today. ๐ฎ๐ช How fortuitous was that? Also joining us was Dexy5 , UpTheStanley and SkiMonday - SM was barcode scanning. ๐
The weather was kind/not kind. Kind in that running conditions were good - just a slight drizzle (perfect!), but not kind as it meant we had flooding down by our pretty lake resulting in us running the dreaded โBโ course. Dreaded? Yep, because it means running the long hill 3 times. ๐ฉ The lake section affords runners about a km of flat - but without it itโs all ups and downs, virtually no flat! ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
Still, it was fun nonetheless, and I think we were all pleased with our times considering. I know I ran the โBโ course quicker than last time we did it (Santaโs grotto by the lake last year!) ๐
Oisin made a friend. Flossie, my ๐ was most pleased, as she had a stick throwing buddy! Thanks Oisin - with that and her 5k, sheโs lovely and tired now and is snoozing happily on the sofa! ๐ ๐ค
Breakfast followed (naturally) and we were laughing at ourselves checking our results and stats on our phones! We should know better! ๐ ๐
It was a lovely morning, and I was proud to show off Eastville PR (well most of it) to my friends. Thanks for coming guys! โค๏ธ
Next up? GSR! Woohoo! ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ
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cheekychipmunks
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Definitely fun Rainbow. ๐ Iโve acquired a taste for tourism and meeting VRBs at the same time has been a bonus. Having them come to my PR was such fun! ๐
Weโll definitely report back on the GSR. ๐๐
It was so nice to return the favour and visit you at your home run cheeky. No chance of me getting a PB with all those ups but I did find I did a lot of overtaking on the downward slopes. I also met a lady who originates from Southsea and one whose daughter lives here. Just shows I was going conversational pace.
It was a pleasure to meet damienair and Oisin who had made the long journey from Dublin to do this. Where Oisin got his energy from to race Flossie afterwards, I do not know. And lovely to meet skimonday too, who definitely looks like a boarder rather than a skier.
Another successful VRB meet up and Tescoโs eggs royale were a pleasant surprise. Now for an afternoon on the couch, if we can get into the city with Pompey playing at home.
SNOWBOARDER!? I guess that, having never met myself, I'm not really aware of what I come across as. Although the boarder image could only be maintained as long as I don't get on a snowboard.
What a great photograph of all of you CC at Eastville Parkrun, a special welcome to our two friends from across the Irish Sea, Damien and his son Oisin.
I had a sort of PB this morning, I wasn't at a parkrun today, however, I did run a 5K near to where I live on a slightly different route to avoid the worst of the puddles and mud, I ended up having the first sub 32 minutes run I have ran locally in a time of 31.45, I have only had one other sub 32 minutes 5K, that was at Drumpelliier parkrun three weeks ago in a PB time if 30.55
Lovely post Cheeky! Glad those Southsea tourists behaved themselves! Look forward to meeting you hopefully at GSR next week (as chief supporter, not runner!).
Our friend the former Thundersloth wants to join our meet up too! Mind you, as I said to him, he will have time to have finished the run, run home, showered, eaten and run back in time to meet us at the finish, as heโs so fast๐ฅโก๏ธ
Wow what a busy and an amazing weekend we have just had. Oisin and I were up at 3:45 am yesterday morning for a 6:30 am flight to Bristol. Spent half the day in Bristol Zoo, visited the Clifton Suspension Bridge, visitors center and observation tower. Got drenched in the rain and went into the City Centre before walking out to our B&B in Easton. Had a beautiful evening meal and went early to bed.
The highlight of the weekend was meeting our forum friends and doing Eastville parkrun. SkiMonday , cheekychipmunks , Dexy5 , UpTheStanley and flossie the gorgeous dog ๐, thank you so much for making us feel so welcome. It was such an absolute pleasure meeting you all and going for a post parkrun breakfast. We are in the airport now ready to fly home. Thanks again, it was amazing and hopefully we will see you again in October 2020 for a parkrun in Portrush.
Thank you so much again. We got home safe and sound and were back in our front door at 7pm. Iโm still buzzing, we had such a wonderful time and Oisin loved his first trip to the UK. He is planning on coming back in 8 years to Bristol so as to do a Zoologist Degree.๐
I hadnโt realised that this was his first trip to UK Damien. 2nd trip Southport then. Running just keeps giving. He wasnโt at all shy amongst us โold folkโ . I hope he got his gift so that he would remember this trip for ever. ๐
Thank you. Oisin is a very outgoing little man, he genuinely doesnโt see age, and is as comfortable around anyone. Thatโs one of the things I love most about parkrun is watching him mingle and converse at the start line. And he loves going for the post parkrun breakfasts at our local parkrun as he sits and chats to all the adults of all ages. Shy he is not! ๐ He got his game as a momento . But we were tight on time getting to the Airport so gave Krispie Kream donuts a miss. But he did have his first Burrito ๐ฏ in the Airport and he loved it.
As backintime said fun and fitness at the same time, just great! So lovely to read to read about it and see the photos! Thank you and all the very best for next week! Enjoy every milli-second! ๐๐ป๐โโ๏ธ๐๐ฝ๐๐ป๐โโ๏ธ๐๐ฝ๐
My legs arenโt sure they agree UNM! Hilly Lyme Park, a puddle filled 10k and a slippery 5k trail run this week followed by the demon Eastville B course? Theyโd have preferred a flat PR today I think! ๐ But it certainly was fun with my VRBs. ๐๐๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐
One thing Eastville isnโt is muddy thankfully. ๐ The paths by the lake were flooded, but thatโs the first time itโs happened since I started running there last autumn. ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ
Yes, definitely a good morning! I found it somewhat surreal actually meeting you guys, the virtual becomes real!
When I got home, my daughter persuaded me to go Pokemon hunting. Then returned to Tesco's (but armed with a shopping list this time), B&Q to get the bits I need to fix the loo then went out for what turned out to be a 6k run (my longest after returning from the ic).
Compared to what I've been doing recently, that's a busy day!
Funniest part was hearing Oisin chatting afterwards referring to you all in your online names. I only showed him your profiles the evening before at dinner.
Iโve got vrb envy......again.....I love it when you lot meet up, I want to do it, even if itโs just a couple of us! molly1973 ...we donโt live too far apart, fancy doing brighouse parkrun sometime? Iโll make a special cake????? Lol...really though, well done to you all, it all sounds fun and thatโs what this is all about right? X
Itโs always fantastic to see the VRBs having lots of fun together!! ๐คฉ Ups and downs sounds like quite a challenge ๐ฒ! But, thereโs smiles as always! Well done VRBs! ๐คโค๏ธ
Ooh yes, I know there are some fairly hilly parts in Bristol and that was when I just walked around. ๐ I imagine that it is a great place for a running experience. ๐คฉ! Thereโs a lovely community spirit in Bristol in general. Glad you all had a fantastic time. โค๏ธ
Yes Bristol is hilly Fab. Most definitely. Luckily the 10k and HM routes are classed as flat (theyโre not totally!) but my goodness you can get plenty of hill training in if thatโs your thing. I only do smallish hills (with the exception of Ashton Court which is massive!! ๐ )
Thanks Fabulous, cheeky has been driving all over the place to meet VRBs, so itโs only fair to let her have a lie in for a change. The ups and downs were a challenge for us prom plodders - the elevation map on garmin shows 3 Christmas tree shapes.
Ooh Dexy, I know Cheeky is amazing! ๐ฅฐ That course would definitely be a challenge for me. Once youโre there though, I guess you just follow the flow as best as you can and think about it later. Not like me today, I changed my course according to how steep the climb looked. ๐! Got to use whatever tactics I can at the moment. ๐ โค๏ธ
How lovely for you to have a lie in & be the host for a change! Sounds like you all had a great time despite course B which sounds like a bit of a slog!
Thanks again Cheeky for your most gracious hosting - have to admit I wasn't expecting much from Tesco's cafรฉ but my full English was excellent, and great value too .
I'm being hassled by Dexy5 to file a tourist report so that'll turn up shortly, as long as I can finish before Scotland kick off against Japan!
Me, calm down UTS? Sorry, thatโs not going to happen! ๐ ๐ ๐
It was lovely to be able to introduce you all to Eastville. Youโll need to come back to run the โAโ course which is lovely. Still hilly, but psychologically easier than yesterdayโs three long uphill slogs.
Yes, I agree, Tescoโs cafรฉ was really good wasnโt it? I must admit I only usually have a coffee or maybe avocados on toast, but my eggs royale was surprisingly delicious. ๐๐
See you again next week (have you prepared yourself for the excitement overload? ๐ ๐ )
Know it well. I usually run the Chippenham PR but Eastville is my Parkrun if I 'm due an IKEA visit! The lake is a lovely bit of the run so pity it was missed out.
That reminds me, I need to run Chippenham. Iโm on a bit of a tourism streak at the moment. The next few weekends are already accounted for, but Chippenham needs to go on my list! ๐
Glad you enjoy Eastville. For an inner city park, itโs pretty isnโt it? ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
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