Consolidation week 1

[Pianism]

Well what a running week it's been. Graduation on Monday left my ankles feeling rather sore again but the strengthening exercises must be working their magic as they were much better after a couple of days rest and a bit of swimming. Took it very steady on Thursday and broke the run up into two shorter sections with a bit of a rest and walk in the middle. Ankles sore again, but this time just one day of rest needed to feel better.

And so onto today's parkrun - number 11 - and the planned meet up with BaddieThePirate , Runningroni , TailChaser , Katnap and the kittens... all lovely people. Thanks to the running company of eldest kitten, was spurred on to run a personal best (still very slow but getting progressively better). Had a lovely long chat afterwards over delicious kedgeree and coffee. Thanks so much to you all for a lovely morning and a lovely first running-related meet-up (first sport/fitness-related anything in fact!!).

So , in short, consolidation is going rather well and is an ever-evolving journey of discovery.

Next step is to get a plan together for some North West England Parkrun tourism... everyone invited... first Saturday of each month... watch this space for more details. Anyone up for that occasionally?

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Hi Pianism, yes I'm up for Parkrun Tourism. It was lovely to meet everyone today. Very much fun!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Draft 1 of Pianism's Phenomenal Parkrun Participation Plan to be published very soon on B210k...

[Katnap Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Nice! Good luck with the FiveP club? 😁

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Oooh, I like that! Might have to steal it.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Well done for pacing yourself and listening to your body! I’m definitely up for a meet up

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

My brother lives in Leeds and a good friend in York if either of those are doable.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Leeds might be doable for a rather early start. York might need an overnight (I'm not very good at early starts! )

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Leeds wld be good too and I think Baddie can do it too...

[RunaroundSue]

Well done Ian. Sorry I missed the meetup but I was busy running/walking the Ashton Court parkrun. 2.5km uphill then 2.5km down the same route - guess which half included the walking! Pleased to get a time of 37.52 with that. Also ticked off the A of my alphabet challenge and my 19th different parkrun. Only one more and I can call myself a tourist

[Katnap Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Excellent! We're up to 7 tourist parkruns.

[RunaroundSue]

Oh yes, as you know we are definitely up for some North West tourism. The only local one we have done so far us Marple, despite there being about 20 parkruns that would not involve a too early start.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

I'm on with the plan... I've got 24 at the moment... 2 years worth before repeating is probably good enough!

[RunaroundSue]

For those of you about to embark on parkrun tourism, you may be interested in this fun extension to your parkrun results

running-challenges.co.uk/

Be warned though - it is addictive (just like running)

[Katnap Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

BaddieThePirate must go for the 7 C's challenge! 😁

[RunaroundSue in reply to Katnap]

Definitely

[SeeJillRun Graduate]

Park run tourism sounds like fun! Glad consolidation is going ok. Hope the ankles settle down soon 🤞

[Pianism Graduate in reply to SeeJillRun]

Thank you. They seem stronger and quicker to recover, so if I consolidate well I'm hoping they won't stop me.

[SeeJillRun Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Fingers crossed 🤞

[TailChaser Graduate]

Hi Ian! Yes, a lovely day and what a beautiful place Marple is. I have a lovely sourdough loaf on my lap from the other cafe as we wind our way back down the M6. I need to resist nibbling it as it’s tomorrow’s lunch!

You Baddie & Roni were wonderful company. Eldest kitten is going to be in big demand soon as a pacer, he helped OldFloss to a pb at our last meet 😁

Hope to meet up with you all again and maybe at one of your monthly’s. Need to recover from this mad, early start first. Hope your Achilles are well on the mend now x

[Pianism Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

Oooh, that sourdough is soooooo yummy! I've never trusted myself to buy one as I'd eat the whole thing in one go.

You were all the nicest people - I'm feeling very happy.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Oh that’s so lovely, thank you 😻 😻

The sourdough is still whole, miraculously!! I think I’m just too tired to be tempted now 😴

[Runningroni Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

Great to see you all again. Hope to meet again soon. Achhoooo! Won't bring a cold with me next time.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Runningroni]

Great to see you again too Roni! Hope your cold doesn’t ruin the rest of your weekend. And hopefully see you again before too long x

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

We always buy our bread there on a Saturday. And @pianism helps us eat it on a Thursday

We usually cut the sourdough straight away and freeze half.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

... otherwise, I eat it all!

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

I’ve just cut half of it up for lunch and nibbled on the small pieces - cor! That is proper sourdough! I’m not surprised you buy your bread in there, it’s so much better than supermarket pretend stuff. It is truly very yummy indeed! I bought some in Waitrose last week and it looked the part but there was no sourness.

Just as well you helped get Pianism into running 😉

There must be a proper bakery somewhere near where we live, I get my bread flour from a proper mill! I’m only buying bread at the moment because my oven needs repairing.

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

We have a bread maker but haven't used it for a while because we have retired and don't need bread every day for work lunches. Homemade is nice but doesn't keep or freeze as well. One sourdough in the freezer is about enough for a week for us.

I am so proud of Pianism and so glad he enjoys running.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

I had a sourdough starter for a while but you need to make an awful lot of bread to keep it going, so I gave up on it. I do 4 loaves and 16 rolls a week. Friday night I make rolls which we use to have post parkrun bacon butties on Saturday lunchtimes; it makes them extra delicious. Hopefully, when I’ve fitted and run the new oven element in, we can get back to them next weekend.

I had a bread maker inherited from my mum for a while but I didn’t like the mixer thing sticking in it, so I’d bake the dough in the oven anyway. Also it kept not mixing it and we’d wake up to a warm, sloppy mess the next day. I invested in a Kenwood Chef instead and do all sorts of things in there.

Bread, music and running - what a perfect conversation! - thanks for your enthusiasm Pianism 👍😀

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

The granary, rye and white breads from Libby's are all very good

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

I can believe that, they all looked amazing. I could have spent a small fortune in there, all those cakes and pastries too 😋

[Runningroni Graduate]

So glad to meet you. Sorry went so soon this morning but feeling progressively unwell. Thought a run would be kill or cure for the cold, just made it worse, I shall live.

Let us know where you would like to run and I will come if I can.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Runningroni]

No apology needed - I had to get back for a student and the Katz had rather a trek home so we left pretty soon too.

[molly1973 Graduate]

What a lovely idea, and I’m so glad you had a good day today! I will try my best when you decide what you fancy. I’m in Leeds and tend to do Woodhouse Moor when I can (the first parkrun outside of London) but I don’t know the area well enough to recommend anywhere for food after. At the moment the kids’ sports commitments on a Saturday morning are stopping me from getting to any parkrun at all...

[Pianism Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Fantastic - I think there will definitely be a Leeds one. I'll add it in to my plan.