Do silly things.........: Foolishness is a great... - Couch to 5K

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Do silly things.........

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate
37 Replies

Foolishness is a great deal more vital and healthy than our straining and striving after a meaningful life.

...

Anton Chekov

Was this written for me, I ask myself. How many silly things have I done since joining the forum?

Ice skating-unintentional, mud sliding- unintentional, swimming- courtesy of White van man, backwards running-intentional, quick and slow time dance-running to ABBA- intentional, loud singing in the open fields- intentional! Those who follow the ramblings, know only too well, most of my antics, intentional. or otherwise!

I was informed a short while ago, by our lovely friend in Denmark PippiRuns that I posted my 100th post .. a snippet about C25K and BBC's Carole Kirkwood.. this just goes to prove, that yes, I do talk too much and have far too much to say...my Nan was correct!!! So, this is my 101st post! And yes, it is silly!

I have been so fortunate to have had another great running week. An 8K, a 5K and a 3K..... My 3K on Friday was really good fun, I got dropped, about 5K out from home, by my lovely son in law and daughter, who picked me up on their way to work! I had set myself a bit of a challenge, so I warmed up with a gentle running pace, for 2K and then taking advantage of NO inclines.... I completed the next 3K in 19 minutes! I was very pleased with myself. So, on Friday morning, although it was early, it was warm; I jogged across the Level, scene of the Hound of the Baskervilles post... and to the top of the hill. The landscape in the far distance towards Derbyshire, picture perfect, with a cloudless sky, ( the rain came later!)

As I started to run back down the hill, I decided to run on the opposite side that I usually run on! Great...no one about, just the cars heading for their work, up the hill towards the Common. I was running with no podcast or music... just pacing myself and really pushing a little bit... this was fine, until, on leaving the last line of houses, the hedges started to close in onto the pavement... clearly most people walk. or run, up or down on the other side too! The pavement this side...not broad...the verge is broad, but the ground uneven... and obstacles as far in front of me, as I could see. Obstacles, in the guise of Cow Parsley; heavy laden, with the great white clusters of frothy flowers, Queen Anne's Lace decorating the hedge bottom... lying and leaning across the path ahead!!!

Now....anyone but me, would have thought, slow down, stop running, cross over the road! Anyone sensible, but me. Did I do any of those things? No, I stayed right on running, quickly, and as carefully as I could, sweeping past the clusters, the aniseed scent coming up from the leaves I caught, as I ran.. and when I came to any low-lying stems... I treated them like hurdles and..... jumped over them! Yes Loopy.. utterly loopy!

The last time I hurdled, I was still at school, about 16 years old, the last time I won a hurdle race, I was at Primary school. But, like riding a bike.. you never forget.. I led with my right leg and my left trail leg bent slightly , quite naturally...it was instinctive, I got speed, good clearance and travelled down and down, with the scent of the flowers and leaves, and the sweet scent from the Hawthorn, clinging to my T shirt. I quite literally sped down towards the end of this run, only vaguely aware of cars slowing down, obviously to stare in unbelieving wonder, at this small demented kangaroo, leaping over clumps of flowers. Once clear of the overgrown hedge row, I kept my speed and pace up, and I made the Seagull roundabout in record time, for me!

Out of breath, but more with exhilaration than exhaustion...I stopped, to check my time and to catch my breath Cheeks burning and feeling so good. I jogged at a more sedate pace, back down to the bottom of the hill.. and turned then to walk back up and home!

Only then, on the quiet walk back, did it occur to me , that what I had done was probably, very, very silly...Running has that effect on me...I am 16, I can slide, run. dance, sing out loud, fight my way through undergrowth, splash my way through puddles, weather the weather, whatever, the weather, and still come home smiling!

Silly, probably... fantastic, certainly... intentional..most definitely :)

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Oldfloss
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37 Replies
pollyp1 profile image
pollyp1Graduate

I don't know how old 'old' is but I think one of the graces of age is learning not to give a flying ****. Love the Checkov quote...

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to pollyp1

... succinctly put... that is exactly what it is like... nothing to prove... :)

I have to say, I swear the man knew what i was going to be like!!!x

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Ha ha our lovely Floss ((( )))

Please don't ever change, we love you just the way you are !

Fab post as always, and I am so glad you came into our lives through this forum :-) xxx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to poppypug

Thanks, my very special friend.x

I love being here... it gives me so much :) If this is being loopy, I don't ever want to change :)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

I love it here too Floss, and I love you being here , in fact I cannot imagine this place without you now ! :-D xxx

sarah469 profile image
sarah469Graduate

LOVED reading this!

"Foolishness is a great deal more vital and healthy than our straining and striving after a meaningful life."

I have spent a lot of time trying to find meaning to my life recently; what should I be doing with my life; am I happy; what do I want to achieve, etc. I think I am looking too hard. Your way sounds better :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to sarah469

Well... I have to say, it maybe comes easier as I get older.... accepting the joys of now, cherishing and being cherished by those who love me and nothing to prove.

Going with the flow, is easier said than done sometimes... :)

TheHack profile image
TheHackGraduate

Sitting here grinning from ear to ear love your posts. May we all still be here when you reach your 1000th post x

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to TheHack

I hope so... I have always suffered from too many words and too little time ! :)

Son1 profile image
Son1Graduate

I love your posts. Wish I lived closer, I'd love to come running with you! :-) x

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Son1

... and I would love that too! :) You would not have to mind, being seen with this odd character though! :)

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

Ahh floss love your exuberant attitude! Fab run and brilliant report as ever, can you create a floss boot camp we can attend and learn the Art of "don't give a toss,be more floss!" 😊😆x

Radleychick profile image
RadleychickGraduate in reply to aliboo70

What a great motto for us newbies especially - 'be more floss'! 😂

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Radleychick

Careful.. it could get you into trouble...but it will be so much fun too! :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Loving it!!!!

I shall adopt that as a catch phrase... The Floss boot camp would be so cool... It is easier to be nuttier the older I get, although.... I have to say, i have always been, shall we say... a bit...out of the box!

Big hug for you Aliboo... hang in there sweetie, x

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to Oldfloss

Thanks floss! Im doing ok , went out at 8pm with george dog did 4k trail run/walk then dropped him off home as he was being ploddy, then ran out the door again to get up to 5k by running round the block! See between you and my mum I will be more floss! One of her nicknames was "donut" or "nutty ". I am halfway there already if you ask my friends!😊

"Being more floss is the way to go......

She cheers you up if you're feeling low ......

She's clever yet silly ,and she's kind not smug.....

Reminds me a lot of our lovely poppypug! "

(Aka hello pop pickers here's you Friday dance! Classic !)😊

This is what the best running forums are like!! 😆

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to aliboo70

You are just super as you are:) Can just see George Dog, plodding along and being grateful you took him home and then you leaping off again!

These warm evenings I feel like taking a run too.. have only ever been an early morning runner... I am not sure about it... Hmmm, maybe I should give it a go?

It is a great poem... I have copied it out! I won't go far wrong if i emulate our poppypug ....

Carry on being nutty! :)x

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to Oldfloss

I think I've pulled something in my glute!but sore today !Typical!😕hope it wears off as day goes on xxx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Hug x

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to aliboo70

aliboo70 , Errmm I don't think I dare ask but is it where I think it is ? :-D xxx

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to poppypug

Oops forgot to spell check!glute as in bum cheek!😆

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Well I thought you meant that... typo... I love it when i type and get funny words... :)

I mis-typed a word once, in quite an important document, when teaching... it could have turned out very badly, fortunately I checked, before handing copies out... it was about 'staffing' levels..the word I typed was not good :). What fun :)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Ha ha ! :-D :-D

Sorry Im not laughing at your injury, just the typo ! That's funny :-D xxx

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Aw thankyou aliboo70 and Oldfloss * Blush *

Cheers Chums ! :-D xxx

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Tee hee Well done Ali!

I think running, especially in the rain, makes us exuberant. Like our sap is ris.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to misswobble

I love it when my sap riz-s :)

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

Fab quote and post floss. And yes I totally agree. Life wouldn't be worth living without a good smattering of silliness. I can just imagine you splashing your way through puddles like a four year old 🤗 🤗

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

True... and I have more than my fair share..lucky me..:)

Eatcakeandrun profile image
Eatcakeandrun

I have got a lovely image in my head now of you leaping and skipping over and through the cow parsley! Brilliant! I do sometimes feel like a child again when running - it's great to recapture some of that playfulness, and I am sure it's one reason why running (or jumping and skipping along!) is so beneficial for mental health as well as physical.

Keep writing - I love to read your posts!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Eatcakeandrun

Completely right! Children run everywhere!

When I taught, we sometimes, used to take a break from a long lesson, maybe one which was a , you just have to do this. lesson :) and I would take the children onto the play yard, or the field and we would just run up and down.. it worked wonders..came back fresh, re-energised and ready for a second try!!

It does, as you say free us from inhibitions, trouble is, at my age this may look odd... but hey, ho... what fun! :)

pollyp1 profile image
pollyp1Graduate

I thought of you today as I leapt gazelle like (not) over a fallen and very leafy branch blocking my path!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to pollyp1

Wonderful....it is lovely to know I am out there with folk..😉 Glad you did not fall! X

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83

I may keep it very well hidden, buried even, but I like a tincy bit of foolishness every now and then...

Keen to know if you're still hurdling, 8 years on? Running can turn us into kids. It's a beautiful thing.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to PaulS83

Every chance I get!

Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoGraduate

Read this and didn't realise till the last reply that it's 8 years old Oldfloss ! Hope you're still jumping around like a spring chicken :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo

Pretty much...a small whirlwind keeps me going..and we play af being horses..a lot! Horses who jump! X

Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Pleased to hear it :)

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