Week 8 - Done 👍🐒

[ChunkyMonkey]

I know many of you here feel the same way - how did this happen? 8 weeks ago I couldn't run for the bus. I puffed and panted my way through week 1, moaned through week 3 & struggled through week 5 and suddenly week 8 is completed. I would not be here without the app - I would have given up weeks ago - definitely walked when I should have been running 🏃🏻‍♀️- and would not have felt so positive about it without the support from this virtual running club. It's not pretty and I don't know how I score on JCR's colour chart - I think I'm off the scale. Talking scales, they have stayed resolutely stuck at the same weight throughout (😩) but I can now run for 28 minutes - just! Last week I was wondering if I add on the lumpy field down to the next village or the uphill footpath across the another field back towards home. I went for the latter & on R3 I've nearly got to the top. So quandary for week 9. (Yikes). Do I tackle the kissing gate at the end of the path or the style a bit further along? Both are going to lead to the field of bullocks - but which will impede me least? All these decisions 🤔. Good luck to every one for this weeks runs - keep up the good work 👍🐒. To those on wk9 🏁🥇🍾 (or 🍷for JCR & BL) is in sight- we CAN do this! 👨‍🎓 awaits........

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

So now you are beginning to see the world as a runner.........which way to go? I run through fields of bullocks on almost every run and so long as you don't surprise them, you will be fine. I always talk gently to them as I approach, make sure I don't get surrounded by a tight huddle, and give them a reasonable berth........all common sense really.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

You my friend are a brave man! The bullocks are clearly well used to you...

[ChunkyMonkey Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Plenty of bullocks round here!! I think they'll hear me coming some way off - no chance of surprising them....they'll probably be having a conflab about whether it's an earthquake, thunder or a puffing billy 🚂 !! 🤣. I'm a country girl me & those bullocks will get on just fine 🐮 fingers crossed 🤞

[Hidden]

ChunkyM I think we know where you are on the colour chart, gorgeous, bright imperial running red.... I love the idea of the kissing gate on your run as that's an Oldfloss guarantee of success.if you get to the kissing gate then you must be kissing the ground. Us Week 9ers are going to crowd that podium. And just as an aside who knew our esteemed IannodaTruffe was a bullock whisperer.... Go, go, go chunkyM.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Hidden]

I have posted about ****ing gates and bullocks in the past..........both are a major part of my running.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

It was the whispering I liked especially...

[ChunkyMonkey Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Nice new chicken monicker btw 🐔

[ChunkyMonkey Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Red - my favourite colour!! JCR says gate BL says style..... hmmm which way will it be? I suppose I got three goes at it - I could try both!!

[bareliz]

Oh well done ChunckyMonkey. I'm sure I'm no faster now than I was at the beginning but I am much fitter. Kissing Gate or style, well it's all bullocks to me ;). Of course if you choose the style you can say that not only are you a runner but also a hurdler. Who'd have thought? I am taking extra rest days on this my last week, so if you get to the podium before me make sure that the others (especially JCR) don't drink all the wine.

[ChunkyMonkey Graduate in reply to bareliz]

BL I'm sure JCR has a bottle with your name on it. I think we started in the same week and will finish in the same week - even allowing (in my case) for extra days off for swollen knees & errant contractors!! My hurdling days are over - the fallen tree that has previously featured in my posts has gone (as have the stinging nettles- yippee) - that was only ankle height- the style is way beyond my steeplechase capabilities.......even us monkeys have limitations! 🐒😉

[bareliz in reply to ChunkyMonkey]

Ha steeplechase, could that be a new programme? The podium beckons to us. I'll see you there

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done you... I would have run the long way around and avoided the bullocks altogether!

[ChunkyMonkey Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha - no option (other than turn back which would be all uphill!) - both footpaths end up in the same field. I've been walking through them for the last two weeks - they seem friendly enough🏃🏻‍♀️😊🐵