Having my birthday at Christmas can be a bit of a chore for the relatives who have over the last few years run out of ideas for expensive things to buy me, so having a new hobby like running has been a godsend to rels and The Horribles (children) alike. This Christmas Birthday has resulted in Santa delivering a TomTom, a head torch that ABBA could write a song about and yet another pair of running shoes (the previous pair got dirty) that seem to have found their way onto the tootsies along with more left and right running socks in colours I wouldn't have been seen dead in a few months ago - but now I'm a flourescent jacket and tight wearing kind of guy then who cares!
But I guess the biggest present was seeing how proud the dear children were of their very dear Dad for giving up smoking and taking to the streets as a runner and the time and enthusiasm that they spent buying these presents is kind of a reflection of this.
So my new gps watch took me running (or ice-skating) this morning and between us we knocked out a 10K then did a little work out on the outdoor gym overlooking my beach. One thing I wasn't expecting was for TomTom to suddenly and out of the blue vibrate with the force of a pneumatic drill after 5K - nearly had a heart attack - which is not really the idea - perhaps the Horribles are after their inheritance - humph!
So this year has seen some massive changes in my life and probably in yours - so long may it continue and all the best for 2015 fellow runners
Written by
Runon
Graduate
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Hey Poppers - Seasons Greetings to you and a really big and heartfelt thank you for all your support and help in getting me running. You are a very good friend to me and so many others on this site. May 2015 see all your dreams come true - you deserve it XXX
Hey Ru-non, been wondering where you've got to! Happy belated birthday, christmas and all that, and a happy new year to you!
that TOM TOM watch look very posh and TRES JOLIE to me! you've done really well to give up smoking and the running is going great guns! the kids are right to be proud!
My two BFs both bought me running gear for xmas, and Boz bought me entry to the LONDON WINTER RUN! Yay, should be fun with the other c25kers!
And i agree, Poppypug is a very good pal to all c25kers, new and old!
Mais Mon Dieu Aliboo - I think you 'ave done well out of the Noel jollities and L' Hiver Londres Run sounds tres exciting - and may you have a wonderful 2015. Yes the gps watch is brilliant and can go swimming and cycling too if it is very good and does not break my wrist with its vibrating
That threw me a bit too but then I realised that the BF's are 'Best Friends' because Boz is the OH and she has guinea pigs too - I don't know what they are called. It all sounds a bit like Emmerdale - so maybe they are boyfriends... erm...
No rignold ! runons right! It was my best friend s Jane and Tracy ! I'm not that much a text generation, being 44! But just a bit lazy typing sometimes! Ps like your new jacket!
Happy birthday matey! Isn't it nice when your nearest and dearest have a reason to be proud of you? My son still thinks it's a bit funny, this running thing, but I can tell that he's quite impressed really. I've been trying to get him to join me, but he is far too busy on his playstation. Kids, eh!
Hey useitorloseit - it's good not to accept the stereotype of parenthood and impress the kids now and again Mine have started to move on from the playstation - indeed eldest daughter has become a pretty impressive runner herself and has even started going places without a hairdryer - wonders will never cease :)) Very best wishes for 2015.
Ha ha my 15 yr old just got a hairdryer for Christmas. I was hoping it would encourage him to groom his hair a little better. He looks like wurzel gummidge most of the time. And he's just got to that lovely spotty stage. And peach fuzz face. I still love him though - somebody's got to!
Wrap one of them in string and tie it around your wrist, and every few minutes while running say 'one kilometre, two kilometre etc'. This should work well unless it starts to rain...!!!
I too have a December birthday and it's hard work! This year was lovely as I had a run on the beach to a lighthouse in a tiny fishing village in SAM, it's well and truly amazing this running stuff!
And a very happy new year to you Vixchile - Yes the running thing is truly amazing though I think I prefer the idea of fishing villages and lighthouses in far off climes to icy pavements - but at least we are heading towards longer and hopefully sunnier days soon.
Thank you KittyKat - Yes I do like the shiny new watch. When it gets home it automatically syncs to my phone or computer and produces loads of stats and pretty maps that tell me everything except where to buy ice-cream. There really is something quite cool about being able to look back on runs and even race yourself against them - and of course now i can leave the phone at home Have a brilliant new year.
Indeed, indeed - much seriousness is needed with the new additional accoutrement without which no serious runner would be able to get away from the starting block and split times (not even Einstein could do that), see paces, strides, distances, intervals, challenges and much more of the modern science that enables the futuristic stream-lined runner to almost break the sound barrier - Ok then - it is a nice toy :)) Have a brilliant new year
hey, happy belated birfday Runon cool watch i am with you on the running tights. like you am an ex smoker (will be 1 year at 1st Feb 2015) Happy New Year hope 2015 continues to be a great year for you
My family resolved the chore of thinking of suitable presents to buy for a Birthday at Christmas by the simple expedient of not buying any. Nor cards. In previous years, I have been the teensiest bit put out by this, coming, as it does, on the heels of me having bought heaps of lavish Christmas presents for them all (despite having an Amazon wishlist as long as my arm full of running books, kit etc, I managed to get 2 packets of coffee and a pair of slippers this year).
This year I decided to avoid this disappointment and loaned the dog the money to buy me a nice birthday present. Next year I think Father Christmas may bring me some presents of Xmas day too.
I can see you're a natural troubleshooter and problem solver Rig, and blessed with a very generous dog too. Our cat was similarly generous to me a few weeks back. How he knew I needed base layer tights to encourage me out of doors on frosty mornings I'll never know.
What a wonderfully kind dog you have - they can be very useful at times. And the one thing I didn't get this year was slippers - so I've been out buying a pair today - a gift from the goldfish :)) Have a great new year Rignold
That's a mighty fine looking watch you've got there Runon. There'll be no stopping you now. Love that you just casually 'knocked out' a 10k,before working out on the outdoor gym equipment. You've come such a long long way in such a short time. Very very well done m'dear. No wonder your family are proud of you
Ah yes these 10K's are just a doddle these days :)) I wish! This is why I need the slippers as my feet hurt
I love my outdoor gym overlooking my beach - in the five or so months I've been using it I have only once seen another person use it for a full workout - there have been the odd dabblers who sort of play for a few seconds then move on and a strange man in a suit who never says hello and that's about it other than the seagull who likes the bench-press!
Thank you for all your fab support Ancient Mum and have a brilliantly wonderful New Year
I used to have two goldfish in my smoking days called Benson & Hedges... They kept growing and moved from a bowl to a tank to a pond and I probably spent a fortune on them so it is nice of them to buy slippers xxx
Ive got a little goldfish. I had 2 but one died earlier this year. Poor Dennis, Rest in Pieces. I only hope he is swimming forever with the dolphins in a beautiful turquoise warm ocean, not stuck up a sluice pipe in Blackpool xxx
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