I think this is the biggest HU meet up we’ve been to. We met our hosts Katnap , TailChaser and the 2 kittens, cheekychipmunks and Flossie the lab, Sandie1961 and her friends Nikki, Clive and Julie, Windoze , Oldgirlruns and me and UpTheStanley . TailChaser gave us badges with the Bard on as momentoes of our visit. We are getting quite a collection now.
I hasten to add, UTS and I did not drive up from Southsea this morning, but are making a weekend of it. We strolled around the beautiful parkrun area Friday afternoon and were worried that the Avon had overflowed onto some of the paths and if it kept rising that parkrun might be cancelled. Luckily the water level dropped a little overnight , and we woke up to a frosty morning.
Warm layers and gloves required for the first time since Last winter. After hugs and introductions We gathered for the obligatory pre run photos and then listened to the new event briefing and Directors briefing. Us 3 southsea runners finally managed to make ourselves heard when asked about tourists by shouting Southsea in unison.
It was a bit of a slow start due to the narrow paths but I started the run fairly well and I completed 2 of the 3 laps ready to increase the speed as overtaking became a bit easier. Then disaster struck. My zip up bra became unzipped and I had to stop, turn my back and try and resurrect the situation. Zip jammed and I thought I had sorted it and started running but then it unzipped from the bottom, and I couldn’t unjam it. Decision taken I would just have to walk the rest of the last lap. I explained to a fellow runner and she said it was the only thing that had made her laugh on this morning’s run. Every now and then I would jog a little while supporting my assets, luckily I had a running top and my Poppy T-shirt on so it wasn’t too obvious. I ran past some finishers going home and one lady was very concerned as I was holding my chest and thought I was having a heart attack. She looked relieved that she didn’t have to rush for the defibrillator . Walked again until I ran the finish and got cheered on by my lovely friends.
Negative splits for first 3k, 6:37, 6:16, 6:11 but total garmin time 35:50 and 36:56 parkrun time. The great thing is that cheeky ran a PB time and was faster than me for the first time so is very happy. Sandie PB’d too.
We marched off to the Pantry for coffee and cake and had a good chin wag with those we hadn’t met before, and those who have become friends as a result of this wonderful forum. Windoze also handed out homemade chocolate brownies- yum yum . Thank you Windoze’s girlfriend.
Just love this parkrun and will return to get a proper time one day. The swans were swimming, the fishermen fishing and the autumn leaves falling. I am envious of the Kat family living in such a beautiful spot.
Another bonus is UTS and I were extremely lucky to acquire 2 returned tickets for the premiere of the Boy in the Dress last evening and had prime seats for the musical , attended by David Walliams. It’s at Stratford for 3 months before moving to the west end and we can thoroughly recommend it.
Now where and when will the next meet up be?
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Dexy5
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Beautiful guys! Sounds like you had a great morning, if you ever come to Upton Court parkrun (Berkshire, by Windsor Castle) make sure you look me up! I often do the first timers briefing for them! Xx
Congratulations Dexy5 on that time of 36.56 despite the rather awkward situation you got into during your run today, that was rather unkind of that "fellow runner" saying that was the only thing that made her laugh today, she could as a woman have helped you.
Lovely photo of all of you, this morning I ran my 10th parkrun, not a PB, time was 31.42, nevertheless I was quite pleased with that, also, for the first ever I met a VRB, namely Buddy34, very nice person to meet, I was looking for her among the runners but she introduced herself to me when I was talking to other runners before we set off, a good parkrun for all of us. 😊 🏃🏾
When I passed you Dexy (after you’d passed me!), I assumed you were shedding a layer and that you’d soon trot merrily past again. But no, your “ladies” were free! 😩😂
It was a lovely morning. I enjoyed it immensely, and yes my PB (33:03 Garmin, 33:31 PR) was surprising and welcome. 🏃♀️🏃♀️ Flossie enjoyed running that course too. 🐕🐕
Home now, and waiting with baited breath for the next VRB call. I’m there. Anywhere. And of course you know you’re all welcome to run at Eastville or Ashton Court any time! 👍
I would love to join a meet-up CC 😊. It is only a question of the right opportunity and me getting my ass in gear! Life interfering with running..outrageous!
What a fantastic trip you are having and great to meet up with so many. I'm sorry I really did giggle at your unfortunate mishap, poor poor you. Hope you do indeed get to revisit the area. Happy running
How brilliant is that? What a great photo of you all, this is getting bigger and bigger!
Dexy, I feel for you about the bra thing. I’ve read before that this happens with front loaders so I’m not going to visit that road, EVER 😂🙀 But I did giggle about the lady thinking you were having a heart attack 😂
Hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable. Well done everyone, you all look absolutely fabulous!
Well I’m glad it’s not just me who has had that sort of wardrobe malfunction at Parkrun. I had to hide behind the marshals! But it demonstrates just how important those bras are. 😂
I don't feel competent to comment of your wonderful post Dexy. But has always you and UTS, and the whole gang have my prayers. I just laughed for 10 minutes before I could type....
Anything above Watford is north to me Tasha99. If ever we are in Yorkshire, we’ll let you know for sure. Have you tried a shout out for runners on the forum? 🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Only 1 thing to do Dexy, switch to a ShockAbsorber. I wouldn’t run in anything else.
Well done on the meet up. Southsea was cold but sunny and still this morning, marshalled by the RNLI dressed in yellow kit with red reindeer antlers, advertising an RNLI reindeer race on December 8th.
I had intended to do that Coddfish but haven’t quite got round to it yet. It’s now become more vital. I did manage to sort it out in the ladies eventually, so was ok for coffee and cake.
Yes I saw the RNLI were volunteering today. That race will clash with lakeside one I think. Is it at Stanstead house again?
Another fantastic VRB meet-up Dexy and a great weekend for you and UTS! Glad you all had an enjoyable time.😀
Sadly all is not well here - I was out for my 10k on Thursday and 3k in, swerved to avoid a lady and dog who seemed undecided which way to go. Bit of a twinge to my right thigh - what's that, hopefully it'll clear if I carry on....
Big mistake - 25m later, big twinge, forced stop and lengthy limp home! Diagnosis: hamstring pull/tear - blast! Hoping to get physio advice soon.🤕
So....marshalling today at Lakeside. For info, revised course due to work on tarmac path - now 2 laps of an out and back alongside the lake which had its challenges due to faster runners overlapping but all went ok in the end😀
No justice JP. Probably we have got to the point where we don’t expect to pick up injuries and then an unusual movement tweaks something. All of my encounters with physios have been positive (sometimes painful as well). Give me treatment, recovery plan and estimated return to running date and my equanimity is restored..because I have something to work on. Hope it is not too bad🤞
Yes this is the first time it’s happened on a timed run and I probably jammed the zipped in my rush to get it sorted and get a good time. Yes they are a good bunch.
Fantastic....just down the road from me. Love that your time is about mine without walking and lit malfunction!! Love my little corner of the world....glad you did too.
Lovely to read this. What luck to get those tickets to the Boy in the Dress too - hope it was amazing! Commiserations on the zip incident - luckily there are not too many people on my balcony (as the French would say) so I can get away with a pull on job. Happy shopping! 🤗
Oh Dexy, I'm sorry to laugh at your misfortune but that is so funny 🤣😂, I didn't even know they did zip up sports bras...though it would stop the almost shoulder dislocation when putting them on!
I hope you managed to see the funny side and it didn't spoil your fun coz I'm sure it was actually really annoying!
Glad you enjoyed your weekend, I love a good musical 🎶🎤🎵
No not the best and would have slowed you down, willow took some photos of me running on the beach and i was surprised at how far parts of me travelled from where i expected them to be so now i wear a really good sports bra for running
That really made me laugh as I could just imagine your predicament. I was also glad you didn’t have heart problems 🤣🤣. So envious of your get togethers.
It was lovely to join the Kat family as they have travelled to many other parkruns to meet others. We always think you’re there in spirit with us over61.
Aw! That's very kind of you. One day in body perhaps! I am up to 7km now. Still in awe of your 10miles! And cheekychipmunks 's HM! One day at a time, hoping for 7.5km tomorrow, ideally avoiding the rain. 😊🏃🏻♀️
Thank you! Brilliantly seems far too strong! I find that I am seeing running as an investment in my health and fitness. I know at my 'peak' that my stamina was up and I seemed able to garden without it occurring to me to take a rest. I am also mostly enjoying it, although not always when I set off, then I just go with, "this is what I do", no discussion allowed! 😊🏃♀️🌸
So sorry about the wardrobe malfunction messing up your time but it does sound 😂 - and the incidents that followed. Well done for finishing in that condition!
Thanks Alison, at least I can be fairly confident of getting a PB next time I go there. It was so funny, and once I’d decided that I couldn’t change the situation I just flowed with it.
Thank you dear Floss. Your snail badge was pinned on shirts to join the Bard and others and you were very much in our minds. You would certainly have had a good laugh at me trying to fix my underwear 🤣🤣. I’m glad you got out- I thought you might have snow.
Your Isabel trail parkrun is on our list of places to go, so we will run together .
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
