Today is a special day. This is also rather a self-indulgent post, but without this little dog it’s doubtful whether I’d even be a runner. 🥰
On 26/02/2012 a litter of 11 yellow lab puppies was born, one of which we picked to bring home to be a friend to our old lab, Wally. We named her Flossie. ❤️ Apart from thinking he was her mum and trying to suckle from him (😳), they were great friends and Wally lived another happy 18 months.
Fast forward to 2018 and Flossie accompanied me on every one of my C25K runs. She has celebrated my successes and dragged me out the door on less than perfect mornings. She never complains. She has probably been with me on 85% of all my runs, from PR, home and away, to my long runs up to HM in distance. All runs, except PR obviously, have been off lead. I retired her from running at PR since we returned after the lockdowns. I want her to enjoy running, chasing, stopping and snuffling, keeping her happy and healthy in her advancing years.
However, she still comes volunteering with me, and she’s basically Eastville’s mascot! This week they used her name gratuitously in the FB pleas for volunteers, and guess what, we had a full roster! She even provided chocolates to anyone who came to be Barkcode Scanned by us. We had a lot of takers! 😅
So Flossie, Happy 10th Birthday, and here’s to many more years of fun. 🥰🐕🎉
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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A very happy 10th birthday wishes to you Flossie, I know that you love being at parkruns with your owner, although your owner no longer runs at parkrun with you, she loves your company when she is volunteering, I agree with your owner, you should be the mascot for Eastville Parkrun, once again a very happy birthday to you Flossie.
My cat Eeshan (that's the cat you can see on my profile photo) also wishes Flossie a very happy birthday 🎂.Flossie is the No. ONE BARKcode scanner and volunteer in England at parkruns.
Happy birthday to Flossie from Molly and me. Molly will be 10 on 25 June, so not much between them, age wise anyway. Flossie is clearly a beautiful dog, both in respect of looks and nature. Unlike Flossie, Molly doesn’t join in with runs, but she is definitely my best mate. We have been through a lot together. She is excellent company for lunch at the cafe, and I am never short of people to chat to when she is with me! Wishing you both many happy runs. 🙂🐶
Aww I didn’t realise they were so close in age BC! Definitely great pals aren’t they, and she’s the star of the show at Eastville. When I turn up to run there without her, the disappointment on people’s races is real! 😅 Keep enjoying your lunches with Molly! 🥰
How wonderful cheeky, and what a lovely dog she is too. A lovely personality and very well trained. I remember how much fun Oisin had throwing sticks for her when he and damienair visited Eastville. They should adapt a pink vest for her.
Thanks Dexy. Yes she had a special bond with Oisin didn’t she? Today she had plenty of stick throwing volunteers and she even found a random tennis ball. The perfect start to her day! 🎾🐕
Aww Happy Birthday Flossie, and how lovely to be a mascot! I miss my boy, lost him in Oct, loved running with him amongst other things. Enjoy your time together as it is so precious .
Awww I’m so sorry you lost your boy Hedgehogs. It’s hard isn’t it? 🥺
I retired Flossie from PR as she didn’t run on the lead at all during lockdown, and I didn’t want to reintroduce her to it after running free for so long. She’s far happier doing her own thing. When she’s had enough she slots in behind me! 🐕🥰
Thanks. Yes It is so hard, I miss him so much. My remaining rescue aged 13 grieved as well, and she's still not right. She has terrible separation anxiety. They're our family aren't they.🐾🐾😒
we tried a couple of weeks ago, but she (Phoebe) wouldn't entertain it at all. She's almost deaf now and panics if she can't see either of us, so one of us always has to be here. Difficult but we just don't want to stress her out anymore than she already is.🙄
No.. that one is far faster, cuter and a heck of a lot younger... But what we have in common is that I, like Flossie, excel in dragging folk out of the door and get them running !!! xxx
Labradors are lovely dogs but not great running companions if you want to stay on the path and do a fast run. Too easily distracted! I often see a chocolate lab at our local parkrun, and he takes a lot to keep under control. Lots of people to say hello to, lots of trees to sniff, etc.
I have to be honest nowster, Flossie used to be very good at staying on the path - I think being a girl dog, trees aren’t so interesting! Speed was never an issue as I’m certainly not a fast runner, but yes, I’ve seen some particularly exuberant labs who have minds of their own.
She’s had a wonderful day, being totally spoilt. 🐕🥰
I’m wondering if they’ll stop them from running at all at some point. I know they’ve changed the ruling on leads - it’s no longer possible to use the hands free ones like I used to.
A few weeks ago there was an incident at Eastville where a lady was taken to hospital with a suspected broken shoulder after she tripped over 2 entangled dog leads, neither was her own.
That is terrible cheeky. parkrun will let dogs continue ( but events can say if they don’t allow them) and new rules including leads will start in April. Floss can still volunteer, as long as Eastville allows dogs.
She had a humongous bone, only to be eaten outside CSMN! She couldn’t believe her luck. Plus home made dog biscuits from Eastville’s RD! Spoilt pup. 🥰🐕
Thanks MW! She had an amazing day and was extremely spoilt. 🥰 Nice that you can still walk your friend, but like you. I do miss running at PR with Flossie. It’s for the best for her though. 🐕
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Running is my "happy place".🙂🏃🏽♀️💕