6k today in honour of my late dads birthday today.

[limberlou]

Cannot believe he’s been gone for over 26 years now. And I still want to tell him things every now and then. For example he used to have gun dogs- cocker spaniels and then springers- one time he was on a pheasant beat with “ some foreign guy who gave me his card and said if your dog has puppies give me a call”. Turns out when we looked at the card it was King Juan Carlos of Spain. And dad and his dogs was mentioned in a book about Filleigh Estate. Anyway I digress..... dad used to train his dogs impeccably. They would do anything for him and watched his every move for instructions. And I often think he’d have loved 2 of my current cats as they “fetch” and “sit” when told. And I’m sure he’d have had them doing other stuff.

So today would have been his birthday so I ran in memory of him today. I’ve decided it will be EVERY alternate day that I run this month. NO EXCUSES!! I have been a bit hit and miss through June after the madness of March/ April/May when I overdid things slightly. But I have set my self a target of at least 75k this month( preferably 81k - so about 50 miles). And to start it off I set off to do 5k this morning.

It had stopped raining but I did wear my trail shoes as they seem to be grippier ( is that a word?). ASICS Fujitrabucos which I love as they are soo comfy... little heavier than my usual shoes but still sooo comfy.

I couldn’t make my mind up which way to go but, as there was no wind to fight against,I thought I would do my original first 5k route. This heads out of town along the pavement at the side of the main road so I usually avoid it but it wasn’t too busy at 8.40ish so I was happy. No hordes of school kids to dodge as usual as I headed along Chaddiford Lane towards the “Comp”. This road is a slightly long slope which just seems to go in and on and ....and I usually struggle but this morning I just took it in my stride. I’m usually gasping and praying I’ll get to the end where it then slopes down a bit but I sailed up over it today so that was a pleasant surprise. I think because I was thinking about other stuff..... like dad and things we used to do together, when we would take the ferrets and go rabbitting .....and then my mind went off to when I used to go over my granddads house when I was a kid and collect his Jack Russell, Rosie, and we’d go for huge long walks all over Braunton together......... it was really nice reminiscing

And before I knew it my watch was beeping for the 5k Mark. And I didn’t want to stop so I carried on and did a circuit of Pilton Park and then headed home. So 6k run in total. No records broken but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Came back and did my stretches, gave myself a really good foot massage with my Pilates spiky balls and now I’m off to the shower.

I’m catching up with my sister later and dropping off a couple of little cardigans I have knitted for a friend’s little girls. And then the rest of the day is my own.

Hope you all have a run that feels that good 😁🤣💕💪🏃🏼

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Where does the time go limberlou, sounds like you had a great run with lots of lovely thoughts . Enjoy spending some time with your sister🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️❤

How is Loki🐱

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

He is getting better every day. Cabin fever I think now. yesterday when he had his dressing changed ( grey and white stripe now not shocking pink) they said it’s healing nicely and the patches where he lost skin are closing up but he did have a pressure sore at the top of his dressing, so they’ve padded that, and he seems to be getting about more easily.... upstairs onto my bed or up the top of his 7ft high cat tree.... but I think it’s itching now as it heals because he keeps shaking it and he sounds like Thumper.

And yesterday when my daughter popped round to see how he was he nearly escaped out the front door. Only just grabbed him. 🤣🤣

[Roxy71 Graduate10]

Hi Limberlou,

I do the same on my Dads birthday whilst listening to his favourite music lots of happy memories as I as sure that you did this morning, your Dad would be so proud of you.

Smiles

Roxy

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Roxy71]

Thanks

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

What a lovely post limberlou! Isn’t it strange how every so often we say ‘I must remember to tell Dad that’ ; I do exactly the same thing. Your Dad sounds like a cracking chap (like mine!) and I’m sure he’d be proud of you!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Aww LL, your dad’s birthday and a lovely run. What a lovely way to remember him, he sounds like a fantastic person, and I’m sure you miss him every single day, even after 26 years. 💔 I know I do mine, who passed away in 2013 and of course my mum, who I lost in October.

Our parents would be so very proud of what we’ve achieved wouldn’t they? The number of times mine have given me wings and enabled me to complete a tricky run. ❤️💙

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yes I often think they would be so proud of my kids ..my daughter the engineer and my lively boys

Edited : I meant Lovely but now I think about it .......

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

❤️

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Another lovely run for you - with your Dad alongside you every step of the way. Great to hear how much you are enjoying your runs!

[limberlou Graduate10]

I have stopped pushing myself to run fast - I’m just enjoying the run for what it is

[madmother Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

It’s a good place to get to. The other day I just walked out and ran where I ended up running. No plan. I’m such a control freak it was so liberating! That was my windy run. It was lovely!

[madmother Graduate10]

What a lovely story. Your dad sounds like a lovely man. X

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to madmother]

He was ... bit of a temper like me I’m afraid...and he could tell a tall tale and tell you the same story every day slightly changed and still make you laugh but always grinning and laughing about something.

[Hidden]

A lovely anecdote to match a thoughtful and inspiring post. Well done you. Hope you had a good time with your sister. Enjoy your evening with fond memories.

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I did thanks

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Well done Lou - lovely run in memory of your Dad and time to be alone with those thoughts on your run.

I have to ask though - how did you train your cats to "sit" and "fetch"? I don't think I've ever owned a cat capable of such obedience!! 😂😂😂

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Same way you train a dog . With treats. Every time I got the treats out I would say “sit “and hold it up and then move it towards her so that she would automatically sit back. And then “good girl” and give her the treat. And repeat for 4 or 5 treats. And then when we got the boy he learnt by copying her and the same with the 2 youngest. They line up and sit straightway now when I get the treats out. And they know what order they get them in. First Miriam, then Loki, then Luna, then Roma. I said good girl the other day, as I walked past one of them and she moved out of my way, and suddenly all 4 appeared and sat in a line waiting for treats 🤣🤣

Then Miriam taught herself to fetch. She does it with crisp packets. My son used to eat his crisps, fold the packet lengthways, tie it in a knot and throw it at the bin and one day Mimi leapt up and caught it and took off playing with it. Then she stopped and looked at him. So he threw it again and she leaps right up in the air and catches it about 3 feet plus high in the air. And then runs about playing with it for a bit.

Then everytime anyone has crisps she would wait excitedly for the packet. Then she started carrying it in her mouth and dropping it at our feet for us to throw it again. And she will take it from one to the other of us in turn so we all feel included. I think she trained US to play THAT game. She is 10 years old now so doesn’t play it for quite as long or leap as high as she used to but she still hears the rustle of a crisp packet and comes running.

Unfortunately she also learnt to jump for it and hit it back to whoever had thrown it which was so clever when we were playing crisp packet with her and she was very accurate ....not so clever when you have a cold and throw a used tissue in the direction of the bin and get it intercepted and hit back at your face. 🤢bless her!!

And now one of our young ones Roma plays it with her toy mouse and brings it back and drops it in your lap- she learnt watching Mimi but she also learnt , like the others, that you NEVER intercept Mimi’s crisp packet or attempt to join in.

One of our old ones Beryl learnt to jump up and flip the mixer tap on to drink from it, she taught Cosmo, and when she passed on and we got Miriam he taught her and eventually she taught Loki. But none of them learnt to turn it off again so we changed the taps for round ones. So now she just taps the spout till the bit that is left in it dribbles out and drinks that.

There are YouTube videos on cat training I believe.

[Sybilw Graduate10]

Great memory run! Your dad sounds a bit like mine. He had a spaniel he trained as a gun dog too and although I can’t compete with a king he did shoot with Jackie Charlton once. Later he went on to train (and run) sheepdogs for trials. The story goes he had one very good dog and someone wanted to buy it. He didn’t want to sell so named an astronomical price - and the guy said done! 😆 I don’t remember if he ever told us the number!! I was lucky just to lose him in 2016. Happy memories for us both.

[limberlou Graduate10]

Another funny story .. my dad worked in the telephone exchange for all my growing up years and I used to go to post office parties. Years later when I was 32 I met my 2nd husband and his dad used to work with my dad in the exchange. And we’d probably been at the same post office parties. Our dads used to get mistaken for each other except his dad was shorter, but both had early white hair. Also his dads birthday was June 17, mine was a week later on 24th, and my dads was a week later on July 1st. Coincidence eh?

[roseabi]

Lovely xxx