Since a couple of weeks, hubby and I planned to “practice” a Parkrun route before they opened up for real. And several events coincided to make this 5k count more than once.
After the run, it’s now laughable to think of all my little worries, but worries they were. And if it wasn’t for both of us having planned this, it might have been so easy just forgetting about going out there for real, and running just the normal 5k from my doorstep.
What worries? Tiny ones, like what it would be like to run in public, amongst other runners? What would I need to take with me, money, water? What if I forget something without the ability to just “nip” back? Where would I do the post run stretches? Would I need to take a picnic blanket to make sure I’d do all my stretches? Should I take a change of clothing and how would I feel not having the ability to fall directly into the shower?
All very small worries which added to my anxiety but also excitement of doing “this thing”! “This thing” was of course 4 things, because why only make your run count once!?
★★(not)Parkrun
We chose our closest Parkrun route, which loops three times around a man-made lake, with picnic friendly lawns on the top end, and wildlife friendly woods at the other. In-between you find a lot of anglers, walkers and runners, on this smoothly gravelled path, with views over the lake, with its ducks, swans and bird life. We even saw a swan’s nest with ducklings!
Hubby and I decided to run in opposite directions (he has more than double my speed), and this was a brilliant solution. Thus every once in a while I saw my runner husband bouncing lightly (and handsomely) towards me, making me fall in love again, every time our paths crossed! 🥰 I think I rather look like an unlikely runner, but a woman with grit, but I’ll take that and run with it! 😃🏃🏽♀️
Once he had completed 4 rounds and taken charge of finding a picnic spot for the blanket we brought, I was finishing with my third round, and we stretched on a bench and on the blanket, watching the 9o’clock Parkrunner crowd start with their (not)Parkruns.
You see me in the picture wearing the COGH shirt, channelling Oldfloss , wanting to have a body like hers! 😄 (See healthunlocked.com/strength........
)
★★COGH
I of course used RunGo to listen to us COGHers run the last 5k of our Cape of good Hope Ultra-Relay! The moment we were in danger of loosing RunaroundSue to the TwoOceansRestaurant, I was passing our lakeside Italian restaurant. Luckily it was closed as I might have gotten “lost” as well. And I of course chose to ran in our COGH T-Shirt, to celebrate this joint event. Thank you Irish-John Charlies1 linda9389 and everyone who has chipped in to making, running and experiencing this ultra-relay!
★★LEJOG
Back at home, and after I hearty full breakfast (taking a (breakfast) page out of the book of LottieMW ), I put in my km into LEJOG, and seeing my home town coming into sight! This had always been my target, as I knew I was too slow to make it up to John O’Groats. But running from LandEnd to my hometown is a big thing, and I’m almost there!
★★EMF5k
And the 5k counted also towards my Edinburgh Running Festival contribution. This is the only medal for today, but honestly, COGH and (not)Parkrun was so much more significant than EMF. But I might change my mind once I hold that bling in my hand! 😃
Anyway, hope everyone had a brilliant run today, wether (not)Parkrun or COGH or LEJOG. Whatever gets you out there enjoying your body and your surroundings!
Happy running everyone!
