A long wait, but gremlins did NOT win... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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A long wait, but gremlins did NOT win the day!!!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon
66 Replies

My first ever Parkrun was at Penticton, BC, Canada on 8th September 2018. Despite several attempts, it has taken me almost three and a half years to get the opportunity to run it again; between stress fractures, covid, not being in the right place on a Saturday morning ... well let's say a lot of things have gotten in the way.

I arrived here on Tuesday, knowing that this particular parkrun was restarting after yet another Covid break, on my first Saturday here. Surely this was meant to be!

Last night we checked the forecast for 8am (is there ANY other parkrun that starts at this ridiculous hour?): -3C, winds 20 kph gusting to 40kph, wind chill -8C. Whaaaattttt? Could I run in that? Add the fact that I've had a bad stomach and not eaten properly since I arrived but was still managing to drink glasses of Aperol Spritz in quantities not conducive to running 🤔. No. The decision was made before bed last night. I would not run it this weekend. Next weekend may be better.

But then I woke at 6:40. Hmmm. Could I really pass up this opportunity after such a long wait? Did it matter one jot if I couldn't beat my 2018 time?

Decision reversed. Some quick preparation and I found myself driven to the lakeshore. Yes the pavement was clear of snow and ice, but oh my ... there were hardly any runners to be seen! Maybe I shouldn't bother. There would be nowhere to hide. I didn't need to come last this morning!!! But hang on, I had waited so long to redo this course. Big girl pants on please. You can surely do this? If not, you know the day will be full of regret.

So, big girl pants on I opened the door, took a sharp intake of breath, gloves on ... and went and announced myself as a parkrun tourist from the UK, to the small - very small - assembled group! Of course everyone was lovely. I loved it. I was very happy and it was the best start to a beautiful day. I came lower middle of the pack as always, in a field of just 17 runners (and walkers).

I guess I will never totally outrun the gremlins, but I do have slightly more confidence in my chances of beating them into submission.

Oh ... and I beat my previous attempt on this course by just over a minute. Result!!!

(photo is actually Peachland rather than Penticton, but same lake, same mountains)

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linda9389
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66 Replies
RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon

Well done linda9389

Our park run starts at that ridiculous hour which is too late in the Summer due to heat.

Glad you got your big girl pants on 🤣

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toRunWillie

I guess that is also a consideration here in the summer ... but not just now!!!!!😍

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

I am genuinely in awe! It takes true grit to do a run like that - quite frankly, no way would I! Hard core Run, AWESOME Runner 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toIrish-John

I'm pretty sure it wasn't as cold as forecast IJ. The wind was from the side which helped too 😀

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon in reply tolinda9389

It got to minus 2 here - I'm moving to Florida lol :)

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toIrish-John

🤣🤣🤣

Kevin41 profile image
Kevin41Half Marathon

Brilliant linda9389

Genuinely pleased for you and this is a great reminder for when I think it’s a little too chilly or windy to run, it’s probably not!!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toKevin41

It wasn't as bad as forecast I'm sure, but my layers were enough and I even had to ditch the buff for the second lap 😀. We can tolerate more than we imagine!

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathon

Fantastic! That is some gremlin beating, and what a beautiful location. I’m not surprised it was such a fantastic start to the day, well done you! 😊😊😊

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toFrenc

Gremlins are persistent little devils, but not quite persistent enough 😀

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon

Woo hoo! That’s a brilliant success Linda! Definitely a run to remember for always for all sorts of reasons but it does look spectacular 😍 Well done 💪

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toIrishprincess

I will certainly remember it. Not least for not overtaking the lady in front of me ... she led all the way and it seemed rude, in such a small field, especially as a visitor, to attempt to steal the position in the last few metres 🤣

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon in reply tolinda9389

Blimey 😯 that’s brilliant self-control! Not sure I could have done that. Well done 😇

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toIrishprincess

I think you could 🥰. It honestly just seemed churlish (and had she had more in the tank than me, and fought back ... there was nowhere to hide that potential shame 🤣)

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Miles

Very well done Linda. That’s put our moans about a chilly wind in Southsea into context. Now you’ve done it once, you can do it again next week too. 🏃‍♀️🇨🇦

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toDexy5

The wind was.coming from the side mostly - that makes a big difference! Although rynning on the lakeshore, the wind was coming from the town direction so I reckon we were more sheltered than you Dexy. Feel free to keep moaning 😀

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon

What a fabulous result Linda! Gremlins batted away, previous time beaten. Woohoo! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tocheekychipmunks

Bloomin'gremlins CC! About time they just gave up I reckon 🤣

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon in reply tolinda9389

Yes, you’d think they’d move on from us runners wouldn’t you? We’re a tough lot. 😅

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tocheekychipmunks

Esp runners with friends (VRBs), we're all but invincible 😀

Over62 profile image
Over62Half Marathon

Fabulous so pleased for you and the gremlins sent packing!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toOver62

It's nice to feel you've won the day occasionally 😊

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Half Marathon

Well done Linda 🥳👏🏻 How great to be one of such a small select group, and a better time than last time too. Fabulous!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toSandie1961

It was probably the cold that made me faster 😀 ... although it took some time getting used to breathing in that chill!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon

Omg this is completely awesome!!!!!!! Well done, Linda 😍😍😍😍😍

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toroseabi

It was everything I'd hoped it would be ... but I still prefer hiding in a crowd 😀

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tolinda9389

You certainly were a select group!

Bluebirdrunner profile image
Bluebirdrunner

Wonderful stuff Linda. GO YOU! 🏃‍♀️🌟👌❤xxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thanks BB. Funny, but the first three km felt like no effort at all. So flat and straight, there's very little to interrupt your rhythm. Well ... except a group of ducks that had taken over the path ... carnage as we passed (runners in each direction) and the ducks all panicked and flew up into the air amongst us 🤣

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64

Fantastic! One to remember for all sorts of reasons. Very well done 👏

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toBirdlady64

Yes, that will be a warm memory I'm sure.

Joster profile image
JosterHalf Marathon

Fabulous, what a great parkrun story! Congratulations for everything - being there, braving it, taking part, getting cheered on and beating your time!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toJoster

Thank you. I'm not a big parkrunner, so it was very satisfying 😊

GTFC profile image
GTFCMarathon

How wonderful Linda and I'm so pleased for you that your bravery made permanent memories for you. Brilliant stuff, massive congratulations on the courage you have shown leading up to this 🙌

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toGTFC

Indeed. Lack of courage can hold us back from too much if we aren't careful 😊

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon

Well done! So glad that you got to do the parkrun again. Conquering a parkrun in the cold is an invigorating experience! You beat your previous time despite all the obstacles from the previous evening and the weather. Sometimes we have great runs when we least expect it. 👏👏

In Montreal people would arrive at winter parkruns tired, grumpy and pretty quiet. Afterwards at coffee the room would be buzzing. The participants would be excitedly discussing the course, the weather, and how they handled it. The change in energy level from before to after the run was striking. Much more so than in warmer weather. We’ve been cancelled almost two years now due to provincial Covid restrictions.

Wishing you a great trip and another great run next Saturday!! 🙂

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toLavender1962

I can well imagine that! I was buzzing afterwards - not in a crazy way, but in a truly energised way. I do hope yours start soon, that'ssuch a long time. It looks like Kelowna is still closed next weekend because of 'city restrictions', but I have one more Saturday after that so I won't give up just yet.

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon in reply tolinda9389

I hope you get to do Kelowna. Have you tried any other winter sports or gone on a hike?

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toLavender1962

We skied at Big White one Easter when my hubby and the kids came too - that was great fun compared to European skiing. But that's all. I'm staying with my 78 year old father so we tend to restrict ourselves to electric bikes and short walks 😀

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

Brrrrrrrr 🥶. I felt the chill when you mentioned opening the car door 😁🌊💦💨

Sounds fabulous! Always a blast to run somewhere new. Looks like an amazing landscape. Well done 💪👊✊🙂👍

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tomisswobble

It is very beautiful. The edge if the lake was still frozen. The ducks were everywhere too 🤣

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Half Marathon

Wow, wonderful- very well done! It looks very beautiful if not very chilly!! Lovely post 😀

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toskysue16

It is a gorgeous place - and my first visit in winter 😊

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon

Awe smashing Linda 😁That's brilliant you talked yourself around, sounds like you really enjoyed it too..

Well done 👏👏👏

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tosparky66

Oh yes! I spoke to myself most sternly 🤣

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66AdministratorHalf Marathon

Gutsy run linda9389; one which will stick in the memory. On my only run in Canada all I could think about was the potential to run into carnivores. I was told, later, that we were way too far south for bears etc…..and the worst I was likely to come across was a coyote…typical tourist!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toBeachcomber66

🤣🤣🤣 when we go cycling we're always on a bear hunt.. occasionally we're successful (but just small very cuddly looking ones so far 😍)

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66AdministratorHalf Marathon in reply tolinda9389

I would be looking over my shoulder for Mummy Bear! We were “bear trained” by our daughter before we were allowed to visit her for lakeside holidays in Canada ( further North than Windsor!!) for the first time; she did the field work for her PhD in Alaska so she had to know what to do. We may have been slightly overtrained……🙂

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon in reply toBeachcomber66

Which parkrun were you at in Canada?

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66AdministratorHalf Marathon in reply toLavender1962

It wasn’t a park run Lavender. I was around Windsor Ontario and took an 8k run along a green lane. It wasn’t a holiday visit; just a midweek run for a bit of light relief 🙂

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon in reply toBeachcomber66

Not too many bears in Windsor! 🙂

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66AdministratorHalf Marathon in reply toLavender1962

Exactly !

I have ventured further north as far as Algonquin, and have had holidays by the side of woodland surrounded lakes. The bears were there but didn’t appear; a couple of moose and a stray Fisher popping out of the forest was about it…,. But strange things happen to the brain when you are on strange territory by the side of deep dark woods!!

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon in reply toBeachcomber66

There are bears at Algonquin park. Yes, it’s nerve wracking. Every little noise.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanP10 Miles

Fantastic post Linda - well done!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toJonathanP

Cheers! One of my better choices 😊

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Oh well done Linda! Glad you were able to hush the gremlins. Also course PR, so win-win!

I had to smile at the BC -8 windchill. That’s considered balmy here this time of year! 🙂.

I still have to try the Parkrun experience!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toDecker

I did think of you Decker!!! Figured I was being a total wimp by your standards 🙈😀

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply tolinda9389

Ha no not at all. It’s just acclimatization and layer choices. I’ve been avoiding the deep freeze runs this year as my fingers just get numb and white in the last year or so. You did awesome!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrHalf Marathon

Great run for you Linda despite the cold weather, lovely photo, by the way New Zealand Parkruns start at 8am.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toAlMorr

Oh they do? I won't feel so bad then 😀. It's odd though, because the one twenty minutes away - also on BC - starts at 9am. I guess it may be a city restriction.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

This is brilliant well done that lady! Sounds like a real adventure and bet you are pleased you woke up early after all xxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toaliboo70

I certainly was! Really it took 'fate' to get me out there 😊

Blackberrypie profile image
BlackberrypieHalf Marathon

Take that, gremlins!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply toBlackberrypie

They do need to be told 😀

johnm12 profile image
johnm12Half Marathon

Top job Linda! The parkrun we did in Franshoek, South Africa in 2019 also started at 8.00 am, but in that case because it got too hot later!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tojohnm12

Ooh that sounds nice! Avoiding the heat sounds like something you would really want to do!

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