I’ve reposted this from the Marathon forum, as I realise lots of my well wishers are only on B210K - thanks for the heads-up Jell6 - I want to thank you all ......
I’m not going to lie, I’ve barely given running a thought since our VRB meetup last weekend. Not like me at all, but I was preoccupied by Mum’s funeral which took place yesterday. It went absolutely perfectly. I’m so thankful for that - and also to everyone who sent me condolences over the last couple of weeks. You’re all wonderful. ❤️
So today I shook myself up, donned my tutu and went for a run - like you do. The sun came out and the sky was a beautiful blue. What a bonus. ☀️
It was Eastville Park PR’s 100th event and its 2nd birthday coincidentally, so we were encouraged to don two-twos! Good old eBay to the rescue. Flossie had her harness adorned with 2’s too! 🐕 One of the regulars had brought along a bottle of fizz, so I had a tiny glass! Rude not to I thought! 🥂
After all the usual announcements, some awards were handed out for various good doings - and blow me down both Flossie and I got one! 😀 Mine was Volunteer of the Year, and Flossie’s was Bark-Code Scanner! It lifted my spirits 100% after a sad week! It’s also testament to how much volunteers are valued, as we often get panicky emails and FB messages on Fridays. Step up those who don’t - it’s such fun and you’ll be greatly appreciated. 👍😀
So yes it was a fantastic morning. Flossie and I had a lovely run and I feel human again. A lot of that is thanks to PR.
I think I might do a 10k this week - it’s been a while. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Happy running everyone. 💕
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Graduate10
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Thanks Buddy. I’m so relieved yesterday went well. It was something I wasn’t looking forward to in the slightest. Today was a lovely antidote to a stressful week. 😀
Aw! So good to read cheekychipmunks. It is a very hard time, so particularly good you had such a great time today and congratulations on your awards!!! 🎉🍾🥂🏃♀️🐕💃(Nearest I found to a tu tu!)
Thank you over61. I’d been dreading yesterday, but it was the perfect send off for my Mum. I’m happy it’s over, and this morning was the perfect antidote. ❤️
I think it’s because we’re regular volunteers. I make sure I volunteer at least once a month and as I always barcode scan with Flossie, she earned her Bark Code Scanner assistant award too! We were very proud. ❤️😀🐕
Just edited my last response to 'well deserved' instead of the typo of 'ell deserved'! I have still only been to two park runs. Oh dear! No volunteering yet either. Ah well, one day perhaps. My time is well accounted for at the moment. Take a day at a time and all the best with your running journey. I wonder whether you have begun to consider any future running aims. I'm just working my way back up to 10km. Reached 7.74km last week. It was meant to be 7.5km, but to see something that I wanted to see on the new route took me over my plan. 😊🌸
I fully recommend parkrun and volunteering. It’s a wonderful community and so inclusive. We had 580ish at ours today! The good weather brought everyone out - I took nearly a minute to get to the start when they said go! I’m always at the back with Flossie but I don’t mind. 🏃♀️🐕
Yes I have lots of races to work towards. My next one will be my first HM race, the Bath Half in March. I ran the distance in September so I know I can do it. Then in May I have two 10ks - Bristol and London Vitality. 😀
Do you plan to enter any races? I love them personally. 😀
Oh I’m so glad to hear that. This forum has got me to where I am today with my running for sure. There’s no way I’d have continued on as enthusiastically (or at all) without it, so I’m just paying it forward. 😀
That’s how i feel, there isn’t quite the fun just saying to someone “we did 5k today” but we put it out here on the forum and our VRB’s say something nice and we feel warm and happy inside
Thanks GTB, yes it was just what I needed. It’s been an emotional couple of weeks, getting harder and harder up to the funeral itself. But it was perfect and I can’t ask for more than that for Mum. ❤️
Sorry for your loss but glad to hear that yesterday went as well as these things can. And great to hear that you got to celebrate Parkrun birthday / 100 this morning. In a two-two no less! Sometimes I think the benefits of running are just as much for the mind as for the body. ☺
Glad all went well yesterday Cheeky - I think that really helps.
Also glad to hear about your double awards! Volunteer of the year is much deserved (as is Flossie's of course!). Having a good run is a bonus - parkrun works its magic again!👍 Enjoy your 10k.
Thanks Jonathan. The funeral was simple and beautiful. It couldn’t have gone any better and I’m so relieved. Yes, today was very welcome, and those awards were unexpected and so lovely to receive. Flossie and I were very proud! 🐕😀
What a lovely post Cheeky- I’m so glad your Mum’s funeral went off OK, it’s always such an emotionally draining occasion. Your PR sounds brilliant - congratulations to you (and Flossie of course!) on your award - that’s real recognition by your local PR! Happy running!
Thanks OGR, the funeral was just perfect and I’m so thankful for that. I think mum would have been proud. ❤️
Today’s PR was fantastic. There were over 580 running today, I assume as the weather was perfect. The awards were totally unexpected and so lovely to receive. Flossie deserves hers - she attracts lots of “customers” to me when I’m barcode scanning! 😀
Oh, lovely. Congratulations to both you and Flossie - well deserved awards for two fabulous volunteers. And so glad to hear your mum’s send off was a good one. We remember such moments so vividly that it’s a help when things go as well as they can. 💕
Thank you Granspeed. I’m so relieved the funeral went well, it was looming large and I was absolutely dreading it. So I’d been looking forward to PR knowing Friday would be over and done with, and the awards just made the morning even more special.’❤️
Lovely post Cheeky. Congratulations on your volunteer award and congratulations to Flossie too. Oisin will be delighted for Flossie. I’m also delighted that your Mums funeral went well and again I wish you all my best at this difficult time for you. Happy Birthday Eastville.
Thanks so much Damien! Yes, tell Oisin his buddy was very proud of her Bark Code award! 😀🐕
I’m so relieved the funeral went so perfectly. It’s a stressful time, but now that it’s over I can move on and carry mum’s (and dad’s) memories with me on my runs. ❤️
I told Oisin about Flossie winning the award. He was thrilled. Oisin formed a very strong bond with Flossie that day in Eastville. We even had to go out to your car in the car park after the cafe and wave goodbye to Flossie.
Thank you so much Franglaise. PR was a fitting end to a stressful and sad week, but as the funeral went so smoothly I can now get back to enjoying running again. I haven’t liked not running, but I simply didn’t feel like it last week - not be at all!
Flossie and I loved getting our unexpected awards! 😀👍🐕
What a lovely post. It's good to know the funeral went well. A good funeral really helps in saying our goodbyes. And how lovely to get your park run awards! Great recognition for what you give to others in volunteering.
I’m glad everything went well at your mum’s funeral on Friday. It’s a difficult time but it’s good to get those who loved her together to talk about happy times.
What a great parkrun you belong to that they recognise their volunteers in this way. It will also hopefully make those who just turn up to run every week think about giving something back. Your certificates are so well deserved.
Glad you enjoyed your tutu run with Flossie yesterday cheeky, and what lovely sunshine you had too. Enjoy that 10k; I’ve only got as far as 7 since the GSR.
Thanks Dexy. Yes, the funeral went without hitch. Mum would have been happy with it I’m sure. ❤️ I’m so relieved it’s over. It’s the waiting that’s so hard.
I had the same thought about volunteering. Ours is a huge PR - yesterday there were 580+, I assume because of the weather - and lots of those are regulars who never ever volunteer. Why not? It’s such fun. 🙄 Anyway, let’s hope our little award ceremony made them think twice .... 🤞
I think my 10k will be very muddy - but I don’t care I’m doing it anyway. Either tomorrow or Tuesday. 😀🏃♀️🐕
I'd been wondering how you were getting on. Congratulations! And bravo on getting out there... it's months since my father died and we've already given him a splendid memorial event, an obituary in The Guardian, a tree planting, and there's another charity event we're doing for what would have been his birthday coming up.... but this week was the university thanksgiving for body donors and my week has rather revolved around that (and also chickening out of going out in the rain, especially as Google is even less keen on wet weather now she can't see) And he was an obsessive runner who would shoehorn in a run anywhere any time!
Oh wow, what wonderful tributes to your father GM! You’ve had a busy week indeed. We will be sprinkling mum’s ashes in the same place as my dad’s - on their beloved Dartmoor. It’s my magical place too. ❤️❤️
Hope it’s drying up for you a bit now. I’ll head out for my 10k tomorrow or Tuesday, but I know it’s going to be extremely muddy. All the more fun to be had. 🏃♀️🐕👍
Thank you Maddee. Mum was 94 so a great age, and although it was very peaceful for her at the end, it’s still a massive loss. 💔 But the funeral was beautiful. ❤️
We had lots of tutu’s on Saturday so the atmosphere was great fun. Definitely a good idea. 😀
Thank you Alison, it was the perfect antidote to a pretty rubbish couple of weeks. I didn’t expect an award, nor did Flossie, so those were such a great surprise!
I ran 10k along the muddy sloppy towpath with Flossie this morning. The sun was shining and I loved it. Running is the ultimate therapy. 💕
Aah Cheeky, I’m so pleased to see this. It’s so absolutely well deserved. You are amazing! 🤩 I’m so pleased to hear your mothers funeral was a fitting tribute and went perfectly. 🤗❤️
Thanks GOG, it is a remarkably friendly PR that’s for sure. I didn’t know about these awards, so it was lucky I wasn’t on a tourism week somewhere like I have been of late. 👍
It definitely helped buck me up after a sad couple of weeks. ❤️
Hi Cheeky. I’ve only just seen this and I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. I’m sure it will be a comfort that her funeral was everything you wanted it to be.
How lovely for you and Flossie to be rewarded like that for your great support of ParkRun.
Thank you so much Rainbow. Yes the funeral was just as I wanted it. Simple, with her family there. I’m thankful it went smoothly and I’m relieved it’s over. Mum would have approved I know. ❤️
Running has been of great comfort and taking Flossie along has been doubly so. Mum adored Flossie and I used to take her to visit her at the care home. 🐕 ❤️ The PR awards for us both were so unexpected! 😀
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