This day

[SueAppleRun]

7 years ago was the worst ever, I’m not going into details because I’m not after sympathy but as that day neared midnight one of Willows daughters said “Let’s make a pact to always be together on this day every year” Last year that wasn’t possible.

So I booked today as leave from work and we woke ready for whatever it throws at us.

I think we are done with 20 minute runs so moved on to a 25 minute one, then included our 5 minute warm up walk. Parked the car a little further from the circuit around the industrial estate, I’m not sure why anyone would want to go there it’s not pretty but it is quiet.

Off we trot, Ive started eating half a weetabix for breakfast and for the first kilometre all I could think about was that on run days I will save it for after as I prefer to run on empty. Ive left Willow behind so run down a side road and back and get back on track behind him.

9.19 minutes and onto the second kilometre. It’s warm today, glad we are in shorts and tee shirts.

2nd k nearly done and I see when i get home it’s 9.13 so fractionally faster, I’m calling that negative splits and not mentioning the last half k which was slower.

We get back to the car run a little further and Coach Bennett says we’ve finished so brisk walk back to the car.

I am thinking to try a fartlek run next time,

Later we will drive to meet up with the whole of Willows family to keep our pact and enjoy that we can be together on this day.

The photo is another from our river walk the other night

Enjoy Sunday whether you run or not

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

So the 20 minutes runs are over (W5R3) and you are now running for 25 minutes (W6R3) well done,😊🏃🏾 I am sure you enjoyed it just as much as the 20 minutes runs, that is a lovely photo of the river and trees in the distance.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Glad you had a good run 👍So is it half a Weetabix before you run and the other half afterwards ? 🤔

Enjoy your family gathering 👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

No it’s half a weetabix full stop! I’m not a breakfast person and so been trying to build up to one weetabix but half seems to keep me full for ages, I had a pear when I got home and there’s raspberries in the fridge 😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I wish I could fill up on half a Weetabix 😬

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

😀 half a slice of bread does it too

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Wow ! 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

🤪

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Bowl of salted caramel and stem ginger granola followed by large bacon butty with brown sauce for me after my short run this morning 😋

I went for a 25 minutes nrc this morning but ended up doing a slow 30

Enjoy your family gathering

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, ours was a 25 min nrc run, I can’t wait to try fartleks

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I'm drooling at the idea of salted caramel and stem ginger granola Birdlady64 ! I consumed a bowlful of Lidl's maple and pecan granola after my run today.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi]

All your breakfast sound way more exciting than my half a weetabix

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I used to eat Weetabix decades ago, not sure I can even buy it here. I often make my own muesli variations: I buy a basic muesli flake mix, then add stuff like dried fruit and seeds. I like fromage blanc and fruit compôte, or chestnut purée (mmmmmm) for breakfast as well. Would never have dreamed of eating that in the UK though.

Have a lovely time with the family SueAppleRun ! 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I have a half eaten packet of weetabix in the cupboard. I haven't touched it for ages. It must be stale as I think it's been there since before lockdown.It was a quick easy pre commute breakfast but I think I decided I don't like it that much after all

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I’m so pleased you can all be together this year.

I seem to need to eat an inordinate amount before I run! I’ve even got 5 minutes into a run having really eaten an hour beforehand and my tummy starts rumbling, so I envy you preferring to run on empty! Shorts and T-shirt’s definitely the way forward today, well done on another great run, and a lovely photo. 😊🏃‍♀️🦶🏃‍♂️👍👏🏼

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Frenc]

Thanks, I just can’t run full and i can’t even go for a long walk after dinner without feeling uncomfortable

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

I hope your “pact day” is a special time. I love the way you two share your running. 👍🏻😄

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you, being with family is special, their mums garden is the only place we can all get together and be outside in a private place, we are slightly stretching the two household or bubble rule but we are all vaccinated and tested and it’s important

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Sounds thought through & sensible to me. 👍🏻😄

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Glad you got to see family to mark the day together. Another happy run for you both by the sounds of it? I can't run empty at all so there is endless potential for procrastination on timing of the run - too soon after eating/too long and need a snack/time to settle down the snack....... 🤣🤣🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Fionamags]

Ha ha yes that’s it for me, I’m fine empty but once I’ve eaten the procrastinating starts

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to Fionamags]

Oh that’s me!! 😂

[CBDB Graduate10]

Loved reading that. A reminder that the time we spend together is so valuable. Loving your runs and reading about them! 👏👍🏽🏃‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🎉

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

Thank you, we’ve really missed seeing them, 3 times in a year for brief cold outdoor meets didn’t quite do it but they will be all there,

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Hope you had a wonderful day with your family, saw my son today as well was first time for about 6 months for a meal and a sneaky wee cuddle 🤗 for his birthday tomorrow. You seem to enjoying your smaller runs your doing . Enjoy the rest of your day 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Doris8]

I briefly saw my grandson too today, his birthday is tomorrow and he’s so grown up now

[Comfortnotspeed Graduate10]

Sounds like the runs are moving along. Hope you enjoy the fartlek run. Glad family can be together. Sounds very needed 🌸

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Very needed thanks and the one no longer there we agreed would be proud of us all together

[Comfortnotspeed Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

🌸🥰🌸

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

I prefer to run fasted as well, it’s only on the longer runs that I have half a bowl of porridge at least an hour before I run. Sounds like a good run for you! I was planning a run, but had my second vaccine yesterday and feel awful. Running will have to wait.

Great that you can keep to your pact this year and spend time together 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you, I hope you feel better soon from your vaccine, it’s important to us all and a lovely afternoon spent in the garden with memories

[Hidden]

Well done on your run and I’m glad you had your family time today. Such a lovely afternoon to sit and spend time with loved ones. I am counting the days until I can see my parents, who I haven’t seen since last July, and my in-laws, who I haven’t seen for over a year..... 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

It’s been a painful year, we no longer have parents and have missed the children hugely, I’m always honoured that their mum makes me so welcome we are lucky that we’ve joined the families together even though they don’t live locally

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Sounds another good run, and we should all make the most of family time together, as we dont know what's round the corner, especialy with what's been going on in the world recently!!! ☺☺

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Peter44]

Covid has certainly brought a heap of sadness with it, and not seeing our children much has been tough but we are lucky in these days of video messaging and Zoom, we spent Boxing day as a Zoom meeting as we couldn’t be together

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Bless you Sola sending you a big bear hug 🐻🥰, you are doing so amazing. Take care xxx

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to 9weeks2Run]

We are doing ok thanks Rebecca, hugs back to you xxx

[grumpyoldgirl]

💗💐 to all of you, supporting each other through a difficult day. Last year must have been extra tough, thank goodness we are able to meet up again.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Last year was awful but this year was better, just by being together, and thank you

[LottieMW Ambassador]

So pleased you managed your get together this year...sending 💕🤗

I like Fartleks with Coach Bennett...I think you will too 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to LottieMW]

Thank you, oh a recommendation that’s encouraging

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to SueAppleRun]

👍😉