Ciao for Now Italia

So just on a week ago, the car was packed, fridge emptied, lawn cut, etc.etc.etc. And we set off for home, via Arnhem where our friends live.

Having managed (despite some stupid tart syndrome injuries) - one run of 10k in Italy before we left, I fancied repeating the feat in The Netherlands.

One slight flaw in the plan, J and G are good friends, very good friends in fact. Some of you may recall in summer when I had a meltdown (W6 R1 - no surprise that I remember it well), was because G has ALS and they’d been forced to sell their handbuilt home in Italy, to pay for his care needs. I was running at that time because he couldn’t and he was a great athlete and I wanted to run in his honour. I failed then, but with your good advice and virtual hugs, I nailed it next time out.

This time around we were visiting J and G and the Head Of PR for Netherlands ALS. Mr JCR is planning a very big fund raising bike ride in 2020. UK via Holland to Italy, all in the hope of raising a significant amount of money for ALS research. But before serious business we had pleasure... both J and G like wine and food. So our 5 days looked pretty much like this, food, wine, laugh, food, wine, laugh, repeat. Not the best prep for a 10km run. But finding some hitherto unknown reserves of grit, determination and in truth not actually liking whiskey which was Friday night’s tipple of choice, I was able to do another 10km. Details can be found here, if you want the nitty gritty.

jancanrun.com/2017/11/07/mu...

So the upshot of this post is I started running again in June, graduated August and in October I hit 10km. During this time my friend G has lost more movement in his right and left legs and his arms are now losing muscle power. I restarted running to rediscover a love that had been mothballed, G has supported my running and encourages me whenever we talk or meet.

He supports me, I hope I support him, but when we run we do it for ourselves, our own reasons and sometimes for those who can’t just like G, but the great thing is we can and here on this forum, we do. If I didn’t realise that before my Arnhem trip, I sure do now.

Happy running fellow C25Kers - it’s a great and joyous thing we do.

[Kimterry Graduate]

A beautiful, inspirational post jancanrun. Happy running

[misswobble Graduate]

Hee hee, I love your playlist cept for Baker Street I loathe it less now as we don’t hear it so much 😃

I was in Arnhem recently for airborne commemorations and noticed how tall the folks are. I saw the tallest woman there I’d ever seen in my life. A policewoman, and she was in control of the situation. I expect she always is 😃 I saw one runner while I was there and he was running from Arnhem Main Street towards Oosterbeek. Looked flat! I did fancy getting over the bridge and running on the green open space on the other side of the river. I can’t remember what is called

As it was we were too busy so I missed out but we’re going back 🙂

Yes, it’s fab to be able to just run 🙂🏃‍♀️👍

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Our friends live in Oosterbeek, and I am glad I am not the only one who notices the giants. There’s a shop there I love called Loft, but whenever I go in I feel the assistants giggling - the last time I tried on a skirt it went from just under bra level to beyond my ankles. Truly I feel a munchkin...

But a running munchkin if there’s such a thing! 🏃🏼‍♀️

[Razouski]

Great post Jan. What a wonderful back story to your running. I had no idea. Thanks for sharing. X

[Razouski in reply to Razouski]

P.s. great playlist, I may need to borrow some of these, like Suzi Quatro... 👍🏽😀

[antet Graduate in reply to Razouski]

Me neither - lovely post and your running blog was great too. The twins count at the end made me laugh out loud. Will be adding Baker Street to my playlist for the sax solo alone. 🎷

[rolysmate Graduate]

Nice one gal

[misswobble Graduate]

I’m short too but no matter 🙂

I went to the Airborne commemoration at Oosterbeek. Very moving indeed. Some lovely houses there, thatched ones as I recall

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Lovely post Hidden ....you are a support to your friend & a great support & inspiration to many on here....me included....running is a whole new world that I’m so glad I discovered...I can’t believe this forum lay undiscovered to me for such a long time?? I usually don’t miss a thing!!

Love your run too...& the playlist, over looking a couple of dodgy tracks(!)...isn’t bad either!!

Looking forward to hearing from you again soon 🏃🏼‍♀️👍🏼 You angel you...(for resisting the drinking!)