Fabulous450 & The Uncertainty Run 🏃🏽‍♀️❤️

[Fabulous450]

Hi Runners!

I woke up this morning with my mind churning away with questions that there are no answers to. What does the future look like? 😐

It’s unheard of for me not to have a job and as time goes on, that uncertainty feels pretty scary. I’ve been travelling far & wide to do my line of work for nearly 30 years. Now, I’m just travelling from my bedroom to my living room, oh...and the supermarket to line up! 🤓

So, I decided to get up and get out for a run today, because I know I’m not alone in uncertainty and there are no answers for anyone right now 🤷🏽‍♀️.

Daily exercise of various forms has been my saviour during this time. I can’t say I’ve lost any weight 🙄, it’s really just keeping the ‘extra pounds’ manageable!! But it has taken the weight off my mind, at least for periods of time. That has just kept me going! 😊

As I was on my way back from what was a pretty pacey run for me, (but I needed that pace today to run off some of those discomforting feelings🏃🏽‍♀️💨), I thought of the Gremlins 🧟‍♀️ that come up and try to persuade you stay still, don’t move, give up and I gave them a BIG virtual poke in the eye! 🧟‍♀️🥊 Because, life in general is a bit like that feeling when you’re faced with a choice, but if you can just move, you’ll probably get through it and it’s often easier than you thought it was going to be! It felt really good to do it too!💪🏽😁

Here’s to coming back strong, for us all! 🥂

Happy & safe running Runners! ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Perfect run and perfect advice from you Fab. You’re so right in everything you say. What a fantastic pace too, by the way! 🎉🎉 Speedy Fab! 💥

It would be so easy to turn inwards at times like these. I can’t imagine not being able to get out and do something, but I know it’s not possible for everybody. We runners are so very lucky, and a “blowing the cobwebs away” trot out is what gets us through. Here’s to more running and more feeling great because of it! 👏👏

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you so much Cheeky!! 🤗 So absolutely grateful for all of you amazing VRBs! 🥰 I feel very blessed being part of this amazing community of encouragement & support! ❤️

[ch3lsea007]

Hi Red

Well done on getting out there!

Being out in the fresh air on a beautiful morning will make you feel so much better!

You know you can count on your virtual running buddies to see you through these seemingly impossible days!

☔️🏃🏿‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️😘

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to ch3lsea007]

Aaah Blue!!

Thank you so much! 🤗🤗 We’ve kept it going and I’m so grateful to you for always.. always boosting me up!! Thank you VRB for being amazing!! Let’s continue to do this! 🏃🏼‍♂️ 🏃🏽‍♀️ ☔️ ❤️

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Uh oh! Tailchaser is also a blues supporter! 😃

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

I’m not a Blue supporter, except for running!! When it’s equally red & blue!! 😉😂😂😂❤️

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Not claret and blue? 😃😅😂🤣

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

😂 No Red & Blue!! Neither that successful at the moment, but always trying! Isn’t that right Chelsea007? 😁

I’m not really into football 🥅 ⚽️🤫, but support keeps us all going!! So I cheer on the home team (and I don’t have to get too upset if they’re not top of the league 😉🤓)!

And Chelsea007 even wears my shirt for running! 😂😂😂❤️

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

😃😅😂🤣 well hopefully when parkrun starts again we can arrange a VRB meet near you.! Until then, ...

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

🤗.....we shall run on!💥 ❤️

[Hideaway3]

Hi , you will achieve what you want just keep strong and positive as you indicate to me !! Persistence is the key / keep climbing those obstacles / raise that optimism as your not the type of person to do nothing !! Good luck 🍀🤞that job will be waiting for you ! You will get there !

H

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Hideaway3]

Thanks so much H!! 🤗🤗! See... we all have those days with doubts, but we now have a new way to literally run with it!! And that’s a pretty powerful tool to have in your arsenal! 🤩!

And with Virtual Running Buddies too, well.. we’ve got everything we need to win!! 🏅

Let’s keep going!! 💪🏽❤️

[Hideaway3 in reply to Fabulous450]

Agreed ✅👍👌❗️

[Hidden]

Love this, well done. I always think if inviting the fears and gremlins around the table and saying 'Ah! I was expecting you today' then letting them know you are doing something about it. Like today with your run you got out there and left them behind! Well done.

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much! 🤗 It’s great to know the perfect filler for the space that can get filled with too many useless thoughts! Give them the boot with a run! 🥾 🏃🏽‍♀️ 😂❤️

[limberlou Graduate10]

You are so right. Now I’m retired fully I feel at a loss sometimes. I have lots of hobbies but my main focus has always been my kids and sister and spending time with them, which obviously I’ve not been able to. My sister is 76 so I’m not sure when I will get to see her but at least now I can socially distance my kids and meet for a walk albeit only one at a time but so much better than not at all.

I think if I hadn’t made myself a routine of Pilates and running or walking I would have had some issue with living alone.

Unfortunately my cats routine has gone right out of the window. They used to be fed at 7.30am and 4.30 pm and that was it and now it seems to be everytime I go through the utility room 🙄🙄. THEY will be the ones with the weight problem as mine is coming off at the moment ... slowly but still coming off. I’ve had to introduce a lot of toy mouse throwing and chasing games to keep my felines at their slim peak.

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

Thank you!! 🤗🤗 That’s brilliant limberlou!! I’m so glad you’ll get to see the kids! Both my boys are still at home and I have a crafty cat too, so I know what you mean!! 🐈 😂!

I’m still doing my daily exercise! I would definitely feel lost without it. Great job on the weight loss!! Keep going & stay safe! 👌🏽😃❤️

[Sybilw Graduate10]

Uncertainty is very troubling for everyone and even if your routine was chaotic at least it had a label and purpose. My childcare was very variable (Mum on shifts but occasionally dad available - shifts too). However it sounds as if running is giving us both a bit of an outlet. It’s a new world so 🤞🏻 there’s a plan for us all! Until then beware of the 🍞!!

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Sybilw]

Thanks so much Sybilw!! 🤗🤗! Running and exercise is definitely proving to be a God send! I’m so so glad, I did this programme!! Come rain or shine, we can get out and go for a run! How amazing is that? 🤩❤️

[AliHC Graduate10]

Hi Fabulous450 😊

Your post resonates so much with me! My life /career has ground to a halt too also after 30 years.

I have ventured from the bedroom, kitchen and cellar 😊 and have turned my hand to making things out of wood 😂 and I've been loving it! I have so many questions about the future that cannot be answered and questions that I keep asking myself about what I want to do in the furture. Maybe even a complete career change!

The one thing that has kept me sane is running and I'm doing it more than ever! 🏃🏼‍♀️

Who knows what the furture holds but what I'm certain of is that I whatever I do next my running will come before my career 😂

Sending you lots of good vibes ❤️

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to AliHC]

Thank you so much AljHC!!🤗 I’ve taken on a few little projects too! Today it’s sewing! 😂! I’ve not used this mini machine for a long time though. And it was only something I used to take up some long curtains, many moons ago 🥴! Still, it keeps me busy!! 😂

Sending you equally good vibes back!! 😃 May we emerge better for the opportunity to slow down and notice so much more!! 🏃🏽‍♀️💥❤️

[AliHC Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

How's the sewing going? Have you been watching the Great British Sewing Bee? I'm obsessed! I used to make and alter so many of my clothes as a teenager and into my twenties 😂 I'm now panicking that I won't get through all the projects I want to take on before lockdown is over! 🤣

Hope you're well xxx

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to AliHC]

😂😂😂!! Hey AliHC! 👋🏽 I was never that adventurous with my sewing. Though my Mum used to sew a lot. I thought I’d give it a go, but mine is a little ‘mini sewing machine’ and what I’ve discovered is.... it’s more like a toy!! Very unstable and inconsistent! I had to re-thread it a million times! 🤯😆! I did manage to finish one small item (took all day!). I think I’ll have to adjust my ambitions or buy a proper sewing machine!! 😂😂

But...I was back out running today 🏃🏽‍♀️! So more success elsewhere!!

It will be great to look back and see how many projects we did complete! Keep going! Enjoy!! 🤩❤️

[AliHC Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Oh that's just made me really laugh 🤣 I can so see that if I had your toy sewing machine, I would be trying to wrestle the thickest material through it and being so determined that it wasn't going to beat me! 🤣 As for threading the needle! I'd be getting something to make the hole bigger to make it easier to thread!

Good to hear you were out running! 🏃🏾‍♀️ It's a bit of a head cleanser for me 🤯 When this is all over I might put an exhibition together of lockdown projects 😁

Keep on being FABULOUS Fabulous450 ❤️ xxxx

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to AliHC]

Oh AliHC! 🤗! I hope you do that! 😃 It would be fabulous to see your completed projects! 🤩

I’ll tell you what...let’s make a deal! 🤝 You post a pic of your completed projects and I’ll post a pic of my “toy sewing machine”!! If it’s still intact 🔨🔨🔨!! 🤣🤣! ❤️

[AliHC Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 You're on Fabulous450 😍

Hold on, aren't we supposed to be taking it easy during lockdown? I think we've just created another project! 😂

Have a fabulous weekend xxx

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Hi Fab! I think you summed up what all of us have probably gone through at some point in the last 2 months. I retired fully on 30 April, intending to spend summer on the road and then on Monday after hearing we can only see 1 person and at a distance, it really hit me, but today I went out and had a really good 10k. Stay positive - we have to come through this and we will hopefully be stronger for it 😘

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Thanks so much Sandie1961!! 🤗! It truly is about making the most of opportunities while we have the time to do it. 😃 Your 10k is absolutely brilliant! Well done you!! 🤩🤩❤️

[Evol Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Hopefully this will be a short blip in a long and happy retirement, congratulations 🥂

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic effort all round. You show those gremlins and unwanted thought where to go. Happy running 🤗

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks so much Grannyhugs!! 🤗😁😁! They do like a battle, but I’ve got the tools! 🛠 🧰 🏃🏽‍♀️!! 😂😂❤️

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

Thank you for your post Fab, it's great that you were able to kick those gremlins to the curb today, well done. I need to try and take control of them more often and not let them control me, the running certainly helps though doesn't it.

Like you say, so many questions and very few answers at the moment but we will get there and with any luck, be stronger for it.

Keep smiling, stay safe and as always, happy running ☺️🤗🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Thanks so much Forest_Run_Beginner! 🤗 Running is the perfect way to show the gremlins who’s boss!! 😂 Very happy running to you too!! ❤️

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Well done. Sorry to hear about your job. I think there will be lots of opportunities opening up again once we're allowed out. I also think we should campaign for a universal basic income. No one should go hungry.

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thank you so much BTP!! 🤗🤗 I had one of those days where it’s difficult to place yourself in the way forward and a wait and see thought just wasn’t that comforting this time round. But the run was a great release!

The main thing is to be healthy and I can keep doing that for myself AND for others! You’ve all been so amazing too! Thank you!! 🤗🤗❤️

[Evol Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Totally agree!

[Mum22boys Graduate10]

This 👆 is why we run. I'm still amazed what it can do to our state of mind, well being, outlook... I'm sure when things settle down there will be a suitable job out there for you and in the meantime keep going with the PMA, not always easy but that daily exercise will be doing wonders 👌 🤗

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Mum22boys]

Thanks Mum22boys 🤗! Running is great for staying in the moment and stop trying to think a way through a maze. Right now, we’re safe and well and I’m very grateful for that. The daily exercise is doing a lot of good! That is something that I am certain of. 👌🏽🤩❤️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I was thinking of you and your regular trips to the Channel Islands and wondering how you were coping

Fabulous. I do hope you are getting assistance to carry you through to when you can work again. Well done for getting out and running and keeping busy. You’ve battled the gremlins before, they know they don’t stand a chance.

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you so much Dexy5! 😂 I’m certainly not used to standing still, but I’m holding on. The gremlins do appear, but I think they do know that I am a not an easy nut to crack. 😂 Especially when I get my running shoes on!😉 🏃🏽‍♀️😁❤️

[Evol Graduate10]

I love the idea of running away from the gremlins in your mind, I think that's what I did today! Happy and safe 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ to all!

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Evol]

Well done Evol!! 🙌🏽💪🏽!! Job done!! ✅❤️