Snuggle down, this could be a long one!
I really wanted to finish my C25k journey by doing my first Parkrun but I'm giving blood tomorrow so couldn't leave my graduation run til Saturday. So I decided to run through as many of my towns parks and green spaces as possible.
Some of you may remember I had a rather rubbish run on Tuesday due, in part, to the heat. Determined not to spoil tonight's run I donned my shorts 😱👻 (seriously there isn't a leg emoji?!) got about 30 feet up the road and they had already ridden up in a most unattractive way. Quick about turn to change into my Capri runners. Ah that's better 🤗
Set off up the hill Laura doing her pre run pep talk. I'll miss her. Noted the cow parsley was not fragrant this evening, but less flies yay 👐👐 Across the road into green space no1. Through the field and into the wood. Feeling good and keeping a steady pace as i run along side the Roman earthworks and ww2 anti tank thingies (never sure if that should be with a y 🤔) past the pond and onto the road. Cross the main road and on into the old barracks site, with a very pretty tree lined square (green space 2), out the other side to a park in the grounds of a former mental hospital. UnfitNoMore that one was for you xxx I even did a victory arm wave whilst running💃 luckily no men in white coats to take me away 🤪
On to the rugby club. Lovely to see a bunch of dad's and sons having a kick about. Down the grassy slopes of park no 2, under the trees and through the carpark. Oh poop another busy road to cross. Annoying as I'm in a good rhythm. This is sooo much easier than W9R2. Lovely Laura tells me 5 more minutes to go. Wow that's gone quickly today 😁. Through park number 3. It has the most amazing cedar trees. Thought I'd take the bark covered track as it was more direct. Note to you all! New bark chippings are horrible to run on. Luckily the track was short. A quick right and left down this road and I'll be... oh bugger I've not come out where I thought I would 🤦♀️ ok let's try up here, round this corner and yeah park no 4. This is my favourite park, and was being enjoyed by many tonight. A quick sprint past the cricket nets, as one didn't have a back on. Presumably the young chap was confident in his batting skills as they kept bowling with me in striking distance 🤯 and that was me done. Just the 5 minutes warm down walk to do. For extra parkrunedness (new word alert!) I walked part of route the juniors use. Out the park and heading to a newly discovered oasis. Walking through town and kid you not I'm am outside the Chinese when Laura says congratulations you've finished. Was I tempted? Hell yes but it would have been stone cold by the time I got home.
At this point I could have headed home but I still hasn't reached my oasis so kept walking, with a stupidly happy grin on my face 😁. And so glad I did. The gardens are beautiful and peaceful yet in the heart of the city. I took the picture there. This tree seemed quite symbolic of our many journeys. Old, a little thicker round the girth and battered by the passage of time. Yet still strong, regenerating and full of life.
I could waffle on so much more but I will try to wrap this up.
How do i feel now? Dead chuffed! I am very proud of me 💪🏃♀️🤗
However, I couldn't have done it without all of you. The unstinting support from you all has been awesome. (Now I've made my eyes leak) So please, my VRBs, take a bow, you deserve it.
And finally the very best of luck to all on this journey but especially to my fellow week niners. You've got this 👏👏👏
Love Jogunlikely xxx
Ps Off to claim my graduate badge. Go me!
loved the pic!
Even when it sucks, every run is a success
My W9R3 - and a nice surprise !
W9R3 - A run in the Park but not into the sunset ..
W9R3 . . . I saw Gary the Gremlin, but . . . I posted my fastest 5k
W9R3 & Park Run = Graduation
