Seven years ago...on December 17th... the week before Christmas, I graduated from C25K.
This year, a tad like, The Way through the Woods, “...weather and rain ( ice,) have undone it again, and now you would never know....”, I am a runner.
I have not run for a long time...since 11th December to be exact. The ice and the freezing fog did their worst... the ice melted, the fog dissipated... the rain came … and so did a positive Covid test!
On Sunday evening, as I closed the curtains on a world bereft of white and chill, I placed my winter leggings, my runder-wear, my long sleeved T shirt et al, ready for a run on the morn. The morn dawned following a broken night, punctuated by a slight cough, a rasping throat and an endless stream of nose tissue... the thought occurred to me... I wonder... and I was! Positive!
How, where and why... I have no idea.. the ice had kept us housebound, any venturing out had included sanitization and masks... caution is my middle name, alongside, slow and steady. But... the lines do not lie.
Disconsolate, disappointed, yes...but mainly really mad! I really wanted this run , I was already two days beyond the runni-versary date and now !!!
Sat here, I just thought... I cannot write a run post, because I haven't... so what is the next best thing... why yes! Of course... a poem ! ( I can hear the groans from here) !
So I am reviving a golden oldie... just for the heck of it !
This was written for my Two year runni-versary.... and here it is again with TWEAKS!
...With apologies to Lewis Carroll
*******
“You are old, Mother Oldfloss”, the Young Runners shriek,
“And your hair has become a tad grey
And yet you incessantly do three runs a week-
Do you think, at your age, that's okay”?
*******
“At the start”, Mother Oldfloss replied to the crowd
“I feared I might drop on the spot
But now running HMs out there and so proud
Each week I'm out there like a shot”!
*******
“You are old”, said the runners, “we mentioned before
But speed up, when you run up a hill
Plus, you run on the fields and on the sea shore
Pray, do you not think it could make you ill”?
*******
"Seven years years past” said OldFloss as she shook her long hair;
“C25K took my eye ,on line;
By slow and by steady – I, in nine weeks got there
And now I am doing just fine”.
*******
“You are old, said the runners, and your legs must be weak
“You run, and you surely must rue it
Yet you'll run for 10K, with a flamboyant streak,
Pray how do you manage to do it”?
*******
“ Seven years past”, said Old Floss,”as I said once before,
The running just freed me from strife;
The running has strengthened me, made me more sure,
And really has enhanced my life” !
*******
“You are old”, said the runners, “we would hardly suppose
That your pace is as steady as ever,
You still run on the fields, or trails or on roads
What made you so awfully clever”?
*******
“I have answered three questions and I think that's enough”
Said Oldfloss, “and the answer's quite clear
The reason I do it, all of this running stuff,
Is because of all you friends, right here”
*******
I may not be running for a while but the runs will wait.
I have over these seven years, made so, so many friends...different locations , different ages, different levels of running. Many I have never met, a few I have , many are still here with me, and some, not x
The message here, is the same as it was years ago.
All of you... you keep me going....thank goodness.
Thank you .
Floss x
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Oldfloss
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Thanks you... The family celebrations are all on hold and may, if we are all feeling up to and all five days clear after two negative tests, make it for the New Year weekend!
We keep each other going Floss, that’s why this wonderful forum has grown so big!! Happy runniversary Floss, take good care, as you say, the runs will wait xxx
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve tested positive and feel poorly OF, I know you’d tell anyone else in your position ‘the runs will wait’, and they will. I hope you feel better soon and enjoy that comeback run more than ever x
They will, they are so good at it. and I am glad of it!
I feel like I have a really heavy head cold! No aches or pains at present, third or fourth day today...the cough is annoying but not constant. I feel that the four jabs have made such a difference! We are so lucky to have had them!
Congratulations on 7 years. Sorry you haven’t been able to do your runniversary run - yet. Wishing you a quick recovery and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your poem, which made me so happy.
You can always post about running even when you haven’t run because, as Coach Bennett says, “This is about running, this is not about running.” Every milestone, every plan, every cross-training session and every interaction on this community makes us a better runner and a better person. We’re all stronger and happier for it.
I’ll be here cheering and celebrating the posts. And the runs, whenever they’re ready for you and you for them.
Thank you so much and you are completely right.. I shall be in the Catch-Up Corner... by ZOOM obviously, tomorrow and on the Quest scene too!
I do as you know love my rambling and this is a perfect time to do it. It is about running and not about running... oh gosh ... I hope CB does not forget about me !
I know CB will be there waiting for you and cheering you on. As he says, “You do the run you can, and sometimes that’s no run at all. And that’s ok”. Sending healing vibes. Hope you’re better for the Christmas break.
And so sorry to hear you’ve come down with Covid! So hope you’re feeling not too grotty and that you can dream blissfully of running.
The outside running will come again, meanwhile run on in your dreams, and definitely in your poems.📝🖋️ 👍🏽😊🏃♀️💪🙏
Runniversary card
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to CBDB
Thank you and that card is lovely!! Clever you!
I feel like I have a really heavy head cold, a dry cough has emerged which is tiring but I can rest and taking the advice , when it is dry enough to step outside in the garden and take a few really good deep breaths just relaxed and...blow those pesky bugs out! It is therapeutic even if it it does not help that much!
I am sleeping and that is great... just glad that I had four jabs.. Mr OF had five !!
Oh Floss, you are only old to the youngsters, your poem brought tests to my eyes, tears of joy for your running and tears of sadness for your COVID, what a rotten thing to catch, we know not where it comes from but it sneaks in and strikes. Rest well my friend and get better soon, here are healing thoughts and a hug running your way xx
Wow, that hug ran so quickly!! It's here... and thank you!
Yes... it is a sneaky big and whatever folk may think it is out there and finding new ways to get at them!
I am resting and enjoying some really relaxed reading and crafting, A spot of watercolor today maybe... we are all sad that we cannot be together at the weekend but we shall make our Winterval celebration at another time. Mr OF and I will have a quiet day together... a tad like when we were first married
Thank you so much for your friendship and your support xxx
So sorry Oldfloss to hear your woes. I really hope Christmas is good for you and Covid bugs off. I really hope I'm still running on my 7th runniversary and I'll read your (great) poem then. Take care of yourself and cwtch down and start another poem😁 Just for you
That is fabulous, thank you so much. It is so good when we get running poets appearing! That has made me smile this morning!
The timing of this is pretty annoying, but this blessed Covid is still out there and still laying folk low. Thank goodness for the vaccines.
I think you will be running, you are making so much sound progress. I never thought in 2015 I would go any further than the odd 5K run... well ! It just shows where this running takes you! x
Dear MOF. I am so sorry you tested positive- and hope you soon recover and your family stay well. Loved your poem- thank you! The runs will be waiting when you are ready. Xx
Oh no Oldfloss , you’ve avoided it all this time and it happens now! I hope your daughter will be able to provide you with some meals on wheels now. Get well soon.
You are still a runner, whenever you are next able to get out. So hold that head up high and feel proud. Pom poms are shaking for your runniversary.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5
I know.... and I still have no idea where from... Mr OF is still testing negative and we are inseparable!! Jen has had two negatives now,... S-i -L still positive, they had it, including small one, but we have had no contact with them for three weeks!!! Small one bounced back like a new ball!
It has messed this time of the year up but we will get together as soon as we are all clear...being together and all feeling better will be just perfect.
Yes, the runs are so patient and even if it takes a while they will be just as sweet when I reach them! Thank you my friend ! x
Brilliant poem Oldfloss - I'm sure Lewis Carroll would have approved, after all its exactly the sort of thing he did! So sorry about the covid - hope you recover quickly.
So sorry to hear you have succumbed, especially when you have always been so careful, but hope you are not feeling too grotty and recover quickly. Happy Runniversary. The celebration run and your family festivities will be just as enjoyable, even postponed by a few days xx
Aw, Floss, so much to celebrate here but a big boo to the Covid reading 🤬 How could it???? But that reading won’t put off our Floss for long. And just think how glorious that run back will be 🤗
A very Happy Runniversary to you, it seems like yesterday in some ways since you graduated 😍 This evening I’ll toast you another seven years 🥂
The poem is fab! Happy Christmas to you and yours xxx
Oddly after my bout of covid in March I went back to work feeling the most rested I had in an age! I think I was sleeping 12 hours a night, then about 2 hours every afternoon in between bouts of Netflix 😁. Glad you aren’t too uncomfortable - I believe you need to buy yourself something nice and running related as a runniversary/Christmas present 🎁. Take care 😊.
It is a complete nuisance but like so many , I feel lucky to have had the vaccines... I shall, have no fear, be taking it extra slow and steady until all feels well again You cannot rush an Old snail... Thank you for your good wishes.. and the same is wished for you x
Oh that Covid is a rotten sneaky thing, creeping up on you out of nowhere when you least expect it. Sending hugs 🤗I hope you're not feeling too rotten and you recover quickly enough not to totally miss out on all the festivities.
That's a lovely poem 🤗. The runs always wait for us, and are there when we are ready for them
Thank you.. yes...I have no idea where it sneaked from!!We'll all get together as and when.. as long as we are all well.. then that's the important thing x
Caution - I had Covid in March, and after four days of headache and cold, I felt fine, so I went for a short run on a treadmill indoors. The run went fine, but I then ended up in bed for four days, totally wiped out - and months later still not back to normal. Bide your time before your returning run......
The rule applies to us all but maybe as we , season a tad more we need to listen a little harder
We ignore it at our peril. I shall be a while getting back to runs and when I do, it will be a run that pays homage to my famous mantra on here.. or should that be infamous... ( slow and steady ) !
Thank you for your support and advice
Now you are here with us again... maybe pop into Catch-Up Corner later today... I shall be putting a new one up later, and let us know how things are going with your running..
Wonderful post!!! This is just what the doctor ordered for me, as I was feeling the effects of no sunlight lately and the attendant blues. And yet I ran yesterday so how could that be? Well, I did the oddest run ever: I ran back and forth in the house to Stepping Stones--front hall through the kitchen, dining room, and back hall and back again. I actually liked it better than the treadmill in the basement. My running son, who thought it was "too cold" and "too snowy" thought I was nuts, but he didn't get HIS run in and Laura says that a bad run is better than no run at all. I had to dodge some furniture and I think that was good, too--getting some different muscles exercised in my sidestepping.
Yeayayayayay. Go girl... You showed that weather who is the boss. I have this wonderful image of you trotting around the house.. like Wee Willie Winkie, upstairs and downstairs...
HUGE well done to you.
Thanks for your good wishes, I am on day four, I think and not feeling too bad. The tiredness is the worst, in the afternoon. But I sit and read or craft.... so it is making time for me to just enjoy the things I love doing without feeling any guilt at not whizzing around.
There are no medications to shorten it... it just runs its course...for some it is five days, for some much longer... it is the vaccines which are there to hopefully, alleviate the symptoms.
Thank goodness that I had my three and then the Autumn Booster. Mr OF has had five as he is over 75...you can simply take painkillesrs for aches and pains and soothing things to stop the cough... but that is it
Oldfloss, you are YOUNG! I think Paxlovid is somewhat routine here if one is over 65. I may find out soon because I took Molly for a bath and the store was packed. Even though I was properly masked, there was a long line to pay and then another long wait in close quarters to get Molly. We have not received the latest booster so I am a little worried.
Hello, thank you for those lovely flowers...they will brighten up a grey day!
I am not sure where this sneaky virus got me...but got me it did, and four days on, I am counting myself fortunate to just feel like I have a very heavy head cold! The worst bit for me is the tiredness that washes over me after lunch!
The runs may be a while coming but they will come, and lots to do when I am recovering.
oh what a pain OF! Many have said that it’s the tiredness that is the worst…and it tends to linger long after…Rest, warmth and fluids should help...and a virtual hug! 🤗
On a happier note…Happy Runniversary! 🙌🏼👏🏼💐🎊🥳🌟 Seven years of running…well done! Your celebratory run will be there waiting for you when you have recovered fully. 🎂
Happy belated runniversary, Oldfloss ! I hope you're already on the mend from Covid by now! That Rona goes so many places it seems harder and harder to hide from...
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
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