Sunshine, tutus, awards and the healing powers of PR in full force today. 💕

[cheekychipmunks]

I’m not going to lie, I’ve barely given running a thought since our VRB meetup last weekend. Not like me at all, but I was preoccupied by Mum’s funeral which took place yesterday. It went absolutely perfectly. I’m so thankful for that - and also to everyone who sent me condolences over the last couple of weeks. You’re all wonderful. ❤️

So today I shook myself up, donned my tutu and went for a run - like you do. The sun came out and the sky was a beautiful blue. What a bonus. ☀️

It was Eastville Park PR’s 100th event and its 2nd birthday coincidentally, so we were encouraged to don two-twos! Good old eBay to the rescue. Flossie had her harness adorned with 2’s too! 🐕 One of the regulars had brought along a bottle of fizz, so I had a tiny glass! Rude not to I thought! 🥂

After all the usual announcements, some awards were handed out for various good doings - and blow me down both Flossie and I got one! 😀 Mine was Volunteer of the Year, and Flossie’s was Bark-Code Scanner! It lifted my spirits 100% after a sad week! It’s also testament to how much volunteers are valued, as we often get panicky emails and FB messages on Fridays. Step up those who don’t - it’s such fun and you’ll be greatly appreciated. 👍😀

So yes it was a fantastic morning. Flossie and I had a lovely run and I feel human again. A lot of that is thanks to PR.

I think I might do a 10k this week - it’s been a while. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Happy running everyone. 💕

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

A. BARK. CODE scanner, well done to Flossie and a huge congratulations to you on achieving Parkrun Volunteer of the year 2019, wonderful photos you sent. No parkrun for me today, next week will be my 11th.

There was a survey recently saying that volunteers were more satisfied than the runners at parkruns. 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

I can attest to that Al. I love running, obviously, but I have such a great time volunteering. I try to do it once a month. 😀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Well done to you both; why am I not remotely surprised at your volunteer of the year award? You are always so generous in your posts. I am glad that yesterday went perfectly too. And now, a nice slow 10k sounds about right. Plenty of time to reflect and unwind. 👍👏👏👏👏😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC, I love giving back what I’ve been given in the running world. It’s such a generous community I find. 😀

Yes, that’s my plan - a mind defuddling (is that a word?) 10k next week. 😀

It was a lovely poignant day yesterday. Lots of happy memories of Mum. ❤️

[misswobble Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You’ll find your mum in all sorts of unexpected places. Sometimes you get an overwhelming “essence” of your beloved ma. I often get that feeling when I’m on my allotment or on a run. I feel we carry our mums with us. Not sure carry is the right word, but you know what I mean 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I do know what you mean MW. I’ve felt the same about my Dad who I lost 6 years ago. I’ll be running with both of them in my mind now. ❤️

[misswobble Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I think of my folks a lot. I mention my mum everyday, especially when I pick up and use one of her kitchen gadgets 😀

My parents both served in the war, and each year at this time, I decorate their grave with red, white and blue theme with flowers, which they both loved. I love doing it 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

How wonderful you do that. They’d be so proud of you. ❤️

I’ve thought of my dad every day since he died too - he had a gadget or tool wfor everything and they’re still in use! I’ll now have him and mum in my thoughts, more often than not whilst out running. Me time, just me and my dog. 🏃‍♀️🐕💕

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's fabulous Cheeky - on every level ❤

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda! 👍💕

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh that’s such a lovely post. What a wonderful thing to happen after such a sad time for you. So pleased it lifted your spirits, as did your run 👍😃🏃‍♀️

I’m so sorry to learn that you lost your mum 🙁. There's nothing quite like it 😢. I didn’t run when my mum died. I often think that had I been a runner back then, my mum would have been well up for it.

Take care of yourself won’t you. You have your beloved pal to help you of course 🐕🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Aww MW, thanks. I lost her nearly 3 weeks ago. She was 94, lived in a wonderful dementia care home and simply wanted to lie back down after they’d washed and dressed her. What a peaceful way to go. ❤️

Running is so therapeutic isnt it? 💕

[misswobble Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Aw bless her 🙂.

Yes, running is so fab on so many levels. I’m so glad I found it; albeit a bit late in life

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Me too. I wish I’d found it decades ago. It’s truly wonderful. ❤️

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

I'm so sorry for your loss, I didn't see your post about it a few weeks back but have just been and read it. They are such a supportive bunch here 💗 I lost my mum 3 years ago in similar circumstances so understand well, she'll always be with you though....

Congratulations on your parkrun awards! I love volunteering too-was barcode scanner this morning on the beach. Was mighty chilly but still good!!! 😊

Take care of yourself and a pat for lovely flossie😊xx

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks so much aliboo. As much as mum’s passing was peaceful it was still mighty shocking. Her funeral had been looming which I hated, but thankfully it went well and she’d have been happy I know. ❤️

Today at PR was wonderful. It was so lovely getting the awards! And talk about a surprise ..... 😀🐕

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

So sorry to hear about your mum cheeky. Glad you felt able to run today - sometimes we find the run we need❤️ - and best volunteer too! x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra, it’s been a sad couple of weeks, but getting the funeral out the way is a big relief and it went so well. ❤️ Today was lovely and the awards were so unexpected. Good old parkrun! 🏃‍♀️🐕

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Huge congratulations to you and Flossie on your well deserved awards after a difficult and emotional week. Love the tutu - it’s very you ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Like it Sandie? I was pleased that it didn’t affect my running, unlike last years onesie! 🥵

Yesterday was definitely an antidote to the last couple of weeks, and very welcome. ❤️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

How wonderful to win something Munks! That’s brilliant, many congratulations to you both, woof-woof 🐕

So glad that Friday went well x

Enjoy the 10K 🏃‍♀️🤗 and have a great week of running amok 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP, I’m so relieved how well it went and now that it’s over I can run for fun - I love 10k as a distance, so I’ll go out this week and enjoy a peaceful trot by the river with my award winning dog! 🐕 🏅

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Who would have thought we’d ever say that we’d just go out to run a 10K for fun 😱🏃‍♀️🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I realised that when I typed it! 😅🏃‍♀️👍

[Slinkymalinki]

Oh Cheeky I am sorry to hear your mum passed away - I missed any previous post. Dementia is so hard to come to terms with but it sounds like your mum was very contented (like mine was for the 3 years she was in a home) and is at peace now. I'm sure she would've been smiling at those great volunteering awards! Well done to you and Flossie! I feel my mum is with me every day & for every run. I inherited her beautiful jewellery and wear 'a little bit of her' everyday! May your memories stay true and your running keep you physically & mentally strong. 🤗🏃🏽‍♀️🐕♥️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Oh wow Slinky, thank you so much for your kind words. ❤️

I too have inherited some lovely jewellery and intend to wear it when appropriate. I also wear my dad’s signet ring which is something I keep on at all times.

Mum loved Flossie - I used to take her to the care home - so she would indeed smile at the awards! 🐕😀

She’ll be in my thoughts, along with my dad, on all my runs. 💕🏃‍♀️

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

Great photos and well deserved awards. Love the ‘bark code scanner’ award for Flossie, how funny 😀. Funerals are so overwhelming 😔, I am glad it went as best as could be expected. I agree with you - I also wish I had started running years ago!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Thanks SS! We’ve often joked about how Flossie should have her own Bark Code - all dogs actually - so to give her an award for assisting me volunteering was brilliant. 😀🐕

I personally found the lead up to the funeral hideous. I remember being the same with dad’s. The day itself was poignant and sad, but also beautiful and just the way I’d wanted it. Such a relief. ❤️

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Glad your Mum's funeral went well CCM, that must have been a challenging day...though I remember the atmosphere of the get together after my Dad's as almost cheery, I guess there's something cathartic about talking about the good times with other loved ones once the most difficult part of the funeral is over.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time at Parkrun, you and Flossie are clearly considered an important part of the team, well done 👏🏃‍♀️😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

Same here Run46. Having extended family gathering afterwards, some of whom had never met before, was nice, and surprisingly lighthearted. It makes you realise how important family is. The service itself was tricky as my two daughters and my husband spoke (no way I could have), plus I’d chosen music I knew she’d love. But most of all it went just as I’d planned and I know Mum would have approved. ❤️

Parkrun was a lovely happy way to end a sad week. ❤️❤️

[Run46 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Sounds like it went really well...your family did so well to speak, no way I could have either x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

❤️

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

This post warms my heart 💕.

I'm glad you were able to don your tutu and partake in PR. Congrats on yours and Flossie's recognition as well. It was well deserved.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you Sask. PR is a tonic at the best of times, and the awards were the icing on the cake. ❤️🐕

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Thats great to hear after your emotional week - well deserved too!

I dont get along to park runs as they don't really fit in with my schedule, but I know plenty that do and how much they value them; so its people like you who enable thme to run as smootlhy as they do that should get more recognition.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thank you so much Whatsapp. It helped me feel human again, and the awards were such a wonderful surprise. 😀

It’s definitely a wonderful institution, and I’m hoping people from our PR who don’t volunteer realise that there really are only a core of 20 or so who volunteer regularly. Of course some others do too, but the desperate pleas on a Friday are all too common. 🙄

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

Lovely cheeky, bet that did you a world of good.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Coddfish]

It sure did Coddfish. Good old PR - it should be put on prescription. ❤️

[TailChaser Marathon]

What a lovely post cheeky, sorry I’m so behind - I’m just catching up on things here. Parkrun is such a positive thing, we are so lucky to have it to lift our spirits in difficult times, and for them to recognise yours and Flossie’s contributions is wonderful.

Definitely agree with your sentiment - get out there and volunteer, even if you just bring cake to share - you’ll appreciate Parkrun’s existence even more!

I hope the 10k worked for you x

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Aww thanks TC. Parkrun is special and you’re right, we’re lucky to have it. I still can’t believe those awards. It was a lovely moment. ❤️

My 10k was great. I did it yesterday and Flossie and I had fun sploshing through muddle puddles and liquid mud. 😅 Always enjoyable. 👍🏃‍♀️🐕

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I’m getting to really love the mud too...just as well really 😂 Flossie is such a trooper! 🥰

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

She’s my little mascot! ❤️