Forum power rocks. : On the 7th of September, I... - Couch to 5K

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Forum power rocks.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate
59 Replies

On the 7th of September, I got home, opened my letter box and found a Jiffy bag from Blighty waiting for me. Many of you know that I live in the Languedoc, so although anything in a Jiffy bag is deemed exciting simply because it is not a bill, Jiffy bags from home make my heart skip a beat.

On that particular day, my heart was in my boots. I was dressed in black from head to toe and my eyes were redder than a baboon's bum, having spent the morning at a funeral. The previous two weeks had been trying, with days spent at the hospital supporting an old lady whose big brother was not going to wake up. By the time the funeral came round, I'd been wearing my big girl kecks for way too long, and they were pulled up so high that I had an emotional wedgie. Luckily, the vicar's CD got jammed in the village church, making for an impromptu DJ moment that lightened my mood slightly.

When I opened the envelope and I found my own personalised HM medal made by aliboo70 , the tears welled up again, but this time it was different. I realised that after nearly three years on the forum, I had made friends whom I had never met, but who were prepared to spend time and effort making something to make me happy after I had griped about not having a medal for my first HM - French races rarely involve bling, which is mainly attributed for marathons. As I stroked my medal, I realised that although kindness and support between strangers is increasingly rare in this day and age, it is omnipresent on this forum, and shows how a simple platform where people can meet can work wonders.

What particularly impressed me was the amount of thought that had gone into it. On the photo, you can see Mrs Playmo and her sexy playmo trainer. Mrs P has been my right-hand woman for years now - I take her everywhere with me. She is addicted to rosé wine and Tupperware parties, pole-dances at a local Playmo club, and is the vicar's wife. She decided that she wanted to run a half marathon, and signed me up before running me through my paces for six months and getting me to raise money for an association supporting children who are undergoing cancer treatment.

On the big day, Mrs P dressed up in her black lycra and 'ran' in my armband with her own bib number 261, because she considered that she would be the first female Playmo to complete a half marathon: the self-proclaimed Kathrine Switzer of the Playmobil world. She was as proud as I was to have finished, and is now standing proudly beside our own special edition Aliboo medal on my desk. And of course, she has signed me up for another HM, but this time in London.

Our training for the London Big Half is now going to start in earnest, with a special thought for the fantastic support and friendship on this forum, which has got me into my trainers and believing in myself so many times. Thank you, Ali, for my wonderful medal - I cherish it. And thank you, forum-dwellers, for the magic you all work for each other.

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mfamilias profile image
mfamilias
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59 Replies
Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

What a stunning and thoughtful gift from the always lovely aliboo70 ! So well deserved and as you say, so representative of the support on this forum. Ali, we salute you! MFam, wear with pride!😀🥇

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Sandraj39

I almost wore it to Aldi the next day, I was so proud.

in reply to mfamilias

is there Aldi in France? I might move

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to

We have Aldi AND Lidl. Come to the dark side, we have (Aldi) cookies AND pain au chocolats.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

Aw what a gorgeous post Mfam. And what a special lady aliboo70 is. That is such a kind, thoughtful thing to do Ali.

You are so right though. There is real magic here in bucketfuls. And you've just passed some on 🙂

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

I think Ali was already on the forum when I first started running in 2015. It's reassuring to know that there are people you have 'known' for so long despite never having met :)

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to mfamilias

I started Jan 2014 😊 love this forum. But have neglected it lately. Going to post my run from yesterday in a bit x

in reply to aliboo70

You are lovely you know.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to aliboo70

A year before me, then. I'm looking forward to reading your post!

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to Irishprincess

i do love a medal challenge! :)

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to aliboo70

You might regret saying that :)

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

Simply wonderful - the medal and amazing forum friends 😁

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to skysue16

Yep, a winning combo :)

Brilliant medal what a wonderful thought and how nice of you to share the karma with us. When are you doing the London HM? Not sure but possibility I may be in town....

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to

It's on the 4th of March - it's be great to meet up with any forum dwellers who are around :)

in reply to mfamilias

Okay I live near Barbican and will be in town then, we can pm details later...

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to

Brill! There may be other forum dwellers coming too - woot woot!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

There's no escape from the bling.....even in France.

What a wonderful and thoughtful thing to do, making me realise that aliboo is even more amazing than I already thought.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Aliboo is a diamond. I only have one piece of bling from France. I have had bling in the form of bottles of wine and bubbly though - a bit heavy to carry around your neck, but a nice alternative.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to IannodaTruffe

But you are super amazing IannodaTruffe ! and so supportive! and i love your motto keep running keep smiling :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Just wonderful... marvellous , lovely aliboo70 .. we love her!

A truly unique medal, for a truly unique forum friend :)

Wear it well, with well deserved pride and a huge smile :)x

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

It was a lovely thing to do, and the medal is proudly displayed on my desk :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Aw bless! Good old Ali! She's an absolute star!

It's a bit of a drag not getting bling after such a momentous race isn't it so Ali saved the day

You did good too as well Mfam. I would have loved to have seen you in Lidl wearing your medal. Go you!

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to misswobble

It's true that it is very frustrating not to have a symbol of your success to take home. I wear the T-shirt, and I'm proud of it, but my medal collection is meagre because they don't give any. I'm now thinking about getting a C25K rap together so that I can earn an extra euro or two before to pay for stuff from the running sales :)

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor in reply to mfamilias

Have you ever thought of setting yourself up as a supplier of running bling to the hard done by French runners.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Maybe I should enroll Ali :) French runners know no different, Ian - my running pal Starman laughed at me and told me I should grow up when I grumbled about the lack of medals. His kids, however, wheedled a kid's race medal out of the organizers with a brazen lie about the youngest sibling having lost his, and they put it over my head as soon as we were a respectable distance from the finishing line. How nice?

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

What a lovely kind thing to do aliboo and a lovely thing to receive mfam. You deserve some bling for being so amazing, Heartwarming stuff guys 😊xx

.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner

This place is incredible. It was about time I posted about it - I've only just got back to some kind of "stable'" where I can get out running and reading the forum again.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

Aaah only just spotted this mfam! What a lovely post! I did enjoy the challenge of this one and I know after doing my 1st HM that the thought of no medal would have been gutting 😆 Glad its happily got a new home,arrived without breaking and installed on your desk ✔🏃🏃🏃

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to aliboo70

It is a real WOW medal... Ali!

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to aliboo70

I am so chuffed with it, Ali. A playmo medal was something I'd never dreamy of in my wildest running dreams :) And the timing couldn't have been better.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to mfamilias

Thats good i'm glad :)

This is beautiful. In a world that has Donald Trump and Kim Jong-in in it, it is fabulous to hear of aliboo70 's kindness and the way in which 'virtual' friends can be so amazing (tear in eye) x

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to

Definitely. that medal got me into my trainers yesterday when Gary the Gremlin was on the road to success. And today, looking at it reminds me that random acts of kindness and contact with others will always outweigh all the crap that's happening around the world.

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-JGraduate

Fabulous medal, made by a fabulous lady, for a fabulous lady!

Terrific post, great story 😀

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Millsie-J

She's a diamond. I would run with it around my neck, but I think I'd knock my teeth out :)

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply to mfamilias

its quite chunky!! :) the medal not your neck!!! :)

Idizzy1 profile image
Idizzy1Graduate

Sorry for the stalking but are you anywhere near Aimargues/St Just? I’m a Brit working over here during the week (and weekends when Easyjet fubards the returns to LGW)

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Idizzy1

That's not stalking, that's networking :) I'm about an hour or so from there by car - maybe we could meet up in Montpellier if you have transport?

Decker profile image
Decker

The kindness shown on this board constantly amazes me. Such a nice thing to do for someone!

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Decker

This forum has always been a source of reassurance for me, where humanity shows what it can achieve when people put their minds to helping others rather than putting them down. Social networks can be nasty places, but here magic of the best sort happens.

Joy57 profile image
Joy57Graduate

That's just lovely, it's made my day 😄

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Joy57

Good good :)

Razouski profile image
Razouski

What a lovely gift, well done Aliboo. And well done mfamilias for your half marathon . 🤓

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Razouski

It made the HM well worth running.

MarkyD profile image
MarkyDGraduate

Our famous fabulous forum friendliness at work.

Great place, this.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to MarkyD

My favorite place to hang out on line :)

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

An amazing medal, made by awesome aliboo70 for the all-conquering Mrs. Playmo and MFam! Truly, that is a demonstration of the spirit of this forum - not just a medal, but one so appropriate and made with loving kindness. Wonderful.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to Anniemurph

Yep, this is the forum where people look out for each other. :)

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsaGraduate

How lovely! And what a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing this with us.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to HeleneCorsa

You're welcome :)

SuzyKK profile image
SuzyKKGraduate

Lovely post mfamilias , I'm not much of a writer, & still an "early days" runner, but I do really agree that this group is so wonderful!... That medal you made, aliboo70 , is amazing, but more important, is the thought behind it... I won't be nearly ready to run the London HM, but would love to come along & meet & support those of you who do run it... might even get a C25K t-shirt made for the day...

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to SuzyKK

Thank you, Suzy! We'll have to MP closer to the date to fix a meeting point - I'm thinking in terms of anyone who is interested meeting at the pub together :)

paulb67 profile image
paulb67Graduate

Glad you liked the medal Mfam!. I saw her working on it when i was round her house. She's a good sister :) . Good luck with you next one

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to paulb67

She's a diamond. She even got the right colour for the 261 bib number. Amazing! I'll be needing the luck for the neck one, all donations of good vibes gratefully accepted :)

paulb67 profile image
paulb67Graduate in reply to mfamilias

you'll be great! ;)

roseabi profile image
roseabi

Wow!!!!

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to roseabi

Smart, huh? Move over, Mr T :)

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply to mfamilias

I pity the fool!!!! :D

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