The 12 Days of Christmas Part 2

[Dexy5]

It’s going to get a bit frantic when I finish this challenge (Christmas Day) so I will post runs 7, 8 and 9 now, while I have (make) some time.

16 Dec. It’s a Saturday, so it must be parkrun. Festive leggings and buff on. Lots of runners in fancy dress - it’s beginning a feel a bit like Christmas 🎵🎶🎵🎶. It threatened rain, but was just a passing shower. I had the pleasure (?) of   UpTheStanley running alongside me but thankfully he didn’t push me too hard. Wind was gusting to 25 mph in our face on the way out, but it was warmer than expected (13C) so I took my running jacket off and passed it to   Oldgirlruns who was marshalling. Fastest in my small age group again. Then four of us ended up in a cafe for coffee and breakfast while a Santa Run took place on the prom (I must do that again next year). So 5k and Run 7 complete. There must be a ✅ for seeing all the santas running. 🎅🏻

18 Dec - Another of my challenges was “We Three Kings “ - to run via 3 pubs with King or other Royal connections. I think Southsea may have 3 pubs to fit that category within a run, but I decided to visit 3 kings by running through residential areas to Albert Road where we called at:

🤴🏼 The Kings Theatre, currently showing Hook, the pantomime

🤴🏼 The Kings Public House, and

🤴🏼 Kings Estate Agents

I realised later that we’d both coincidentally chosen to wear Royal blue tops too - very appropriate.

Run 8 and another 2.3km done and another ✅

20 Dec - Today was to be Strava Art to make a Christmas picture. I was chatting to UTS about what I could do and thought a star might be easiest, having done a Christmas Parcel before. The next thing, he was on Google Earth and had worked out my route near the Skate Park. It was a chilly 9C, with a 28 mph westerly, so I was glad of my gloves and a festive buff. We did a run/walk trip there, and agreed the landmarks I would aim for. UTS stood at some of the points to give me something to aim at. What a star!

He then did an intervals run along the prom while I carried his tracksuit in a rucksack (the least I could do) and ran/walked home. Run 9 and 2.6 km in all. ✅

When I complete the challenge on Christmas Day I will earn a medal to put on the Christmas Tree. Now which one will it be? A penguin, an elf, or a bear? And will   Shake-and-run get the same medal? You will have to wait for the next instalment to find out……..

Merry Christmas Everybody, and a Happy Running New Year.

🎄🎅🏻🦌🤴🏼🎁🥂☃️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏻🌟

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

well done Dexy, I’m super impressed with your dedication to the naughty/nice list. I’ve now done 10 out of the 12 runs. Including a windy 2k this morning with my 5 year old grandson. He was very impressive, didn’t stop, didn’t complain, stuck at my steady pace and then beat me in the final sprint! I was dripping, he did not even break into a sweat. I have Parkrun on Saturday (full fancy dress for that one) and then have one other to fit in somehow. I’m away Christmas Eve and I’m out on the bike tomorrow so might have to double it up with a short run. I didn’t realise we could do Christmas Day , I’ll check the instructions cos that might solve my problem as hubby is on the injury bench so we won’t be out on the bikes Christmas morning as is our tradition. Good luck Dexy with getting to the end.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

Ooh you had me worried there  Shake-and-run , but I’ve checked and it says “ It’s oh-ho-ho so simple: between 1st-25th December, rack up 12 runs (or more) and earn yourself a special Christmas medal-meets-tree ornament”. Phew. 😥

Oh yes I love the challenges, my problem is getting the distance up to 30 miles!

Your run with your grandson sounds delightful.

[Shake-and-run Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yep phew! I can run Christmas morning!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Great work Dexy5. You get so much out of Christmas, and put so much into it too. Really uplifting to hear.

60 mph gales up here today. Not really promising for running. Good job they chopped down 5 dead ash trees this week. Planning to sneak Molly out at some point, although she is so sensible; crashed out at present. She recognises a dud day!

Merry Christmas to you, UTS and all VRBs. Hope Santa is kind.🧑‍🎄🎅🤶

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Retirement does help with completing this on top of everything else that needs doing. But the challenge has also got me out when it would too easy to stay in.

Wise move to stay in with 60 mph gales.

Enjoy your family Christmas, and I hope Molly gets a pressie from Santa too.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Great post Dexy! I have not been around much due to my enforced break from running 😱 but have been dropping in from time to time to read posts. As ever, you and so many on here remain an inspiration - and this is just what I need to read at the moment! Love those Great Run Solo medals - maybe next year for me!

I have been doing lots of hip/ glute and other strength work to combat my high hamstring tendinosis and it does seem to be settling at last🤞. I now plan to try and ease myself back into running - gently, so as not to aggravate it. I think the term is ‘progressive load’ or something like that!🤷‍♀️ I am, like  Oldfloss , redoing Couch to 5K to build up slowly - and hoping that things don’t flare up again.

Hope you and yours have a fab Christmas!🎄🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

So glad that you can see some light at the end of the tunnel Sandraj39 . Starting c25k again is a great way to return safely to run again. The school holidays is just the time to start. Enjoy.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yes, I am on holiday!!!😀 Plus, I’m reducing my days of work down to 4 days in January! So more time for me…!🙌

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

👏🏻👏🏻

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

What fun you are having with this challlenge Dexy!

Great runs, good luck with the next ones. That star is perfectly formed.🏃‍♀️🌟👏👏

xxx

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

This is super! My favourite is the star run…you should get a gold star for that one! ⭐️ Some brilliant inspiration here!!! That medal (whichever variety you go for) will be seriously well earned 🎄

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks MissUnderstanding . The star looks better on Garmin than Strava because of my pace variation. It was fun.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Goodness Dexy, that sounds like fun and you are doing a great job of those 12 days of Christmas runs. That wind must have been a bit of a battle. Have fun with the last few

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SueAppleRun . I’m going to have to run the next 3 days to make 30 mile and tick off those last few challenges. Thankfully there are 2 parkruns. 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

Enjoy, yes 😀 2 parkruns, I've got Southampton and Worthing, but will be walking most if not all

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Enjoy Southampton with Mudita11 . I love that one.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks, I will