But who is the Old Snail...?: For those that... - Couch to 5K

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But who is the Old Snail...?

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate
29 Replies

For those that have been with me, since 2015 and those that have just got or may be getting to know me.. this is an Oldfloss post...:) ( At this points my oldest friends will either go and fetch a cuppa..or move onto the next post. :)

Six years ago in December 2015... I Graduated from C25K....I have been around, ever since, moving eventually onto Bridge to10K and completing my first HM in 2019.

The Original Silver Snail...later re-named, ( by a lovely forum friend), Yellow snail... and the staunchest supporter , in the whole world, of the mantra, slow and steady :)

Now...I have been, over the last few weeks popping in the odd (?) post here and there, about a new happening on the 5K forum... and it is , nearly time!

Things have been a tad delayed, as some very interesting? scary ? and time consuming life events have tried to upend me. But, you cannot keep an Oldfloss down.

So... before THE happening... I thought I would just give you an idea of who I actually am.

*I am a woman and not a man.... (as someone on this forum once thought).

*I am not an old hermit living in a cave, ( yes someone thought that too.) I am old though ... I am now 71.

*Yes, I can and do run :) I have had the odd injury, ( not often running related), have repeated bits of C25K more than once and this year, repeated the whole thing again after a major blip last October:)

I run for my mental and physical well being, I run for me ( and for various Charities sometimes), I run and ramble about my runs ( usually at some length and often in rhyme). I run and use my running experiences to help me support folk on the forums, but most of all, I run, simply because, I enjoy it:)

So... I have used this before, and I will use it again now, hopefully to make you smile With apologies to Lewis Carroll , once again!

*

“You are old, Mother Oldfloss”, the New Runners shriek,

“And your hair has become very grey

And yet you incessantly run every week-

Do you think, at your age, that's okay”?

*

“At the start”, Mother Oldfloss replied to the crowd

“I feared I might drop on the spot

But now running freely, out there and so proud

Each week I'm out there like a shot”!

*

“You are old”, said the runners, “we mentioned before

And speed up, if the surface's not flat.

And you run up long hills and on the sea shore,

Pray, what is the reason for that”?

*

“Two years past” said Oldfloss as she shook her long hair;

“C25K took my eye ,on line;

By slow and by steady – I, in nine weeks got there

And now I am doing just fine”.

*

“You are old, said the runners, and your legs they are weak

“You run, and you surely must rue it;

Yet you run for 10K, with a flamboyant streak,

Pray how do you manage to do it”?

*

“Six years past”, said Old Floss, as I said once before,

“The running just freed me from strife;

The running has strengthened me, made me more sure,

And really has enhanced my life” !

*

“You are old”, said the runners, “we would hardly suppose

That your pace is as steady as ever,

Yet you run on the fields, or trails or on roads

What made you so awfully clever”?

*

“I am just a runner, just like all of you,”

Oldfloss replied with a grin...

I run just for me, and not in a race,

That's one thing I never would win”

*

“ I have run in all weathers, all distances too

And I run for fitness and pleasure

I log all my runs and I ramble at length

Memories I always will treasure.”

*

“You 're around on these forums, we have seen your name”

Said the the runners, “Pray tell us, the reason you're here?

With your slow, steady mantra, and taking it gently

Can you make that reason, quite clear? “

*

“I have answered many questions and I think that's enough”

Said Oldfloss, “and the answer's quite clear

The reason I spend time with all this forum stuff,

Is because of you RUNNERS, right here!"

*

Watch out for my post....:)

Floss x

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Oldfloss
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29 Replies
SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

Perfect Oldfloss just perfect, have always enjoyed your posts and appreciated your support

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSue

Build the suspense, why don't you? :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to RunaroundSue

It's for the Couchers...just a bit of fun :) xx

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSue in reply to Oldfloss

But useful to keep in touch without the need for a full post.Although when I was running C25K I used to draft my report in my head while I was running :)

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate

Ah just wonderful! 😊

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

😄 I've it!Even more intrigued!

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

I don't know, you write poetry on the forum and I can't even spell 'love'.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Roxdog

HA HA XXX

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

We're watching Oldfloss 👀 😁

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Instructor57

I hope some new Couchers are too!

Thank you Oldfloss 😊

Thank you 🙏🏻 😊

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

All that...and so much more!We love you Floss!🏃‍♀️

Watching and waiting for your announcement 👀 with patience😏xxx

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Excellent post and poem from you Floss, we are still waiting for that "surprise" you mentioned, now over a month ago, but we will wait longer. 😊 🏃🏾

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to AlMorr

All sorts going on Al..unexpected and not enjoyable ..but..hopefully under control now!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

I do remember you wishing me well on the occasion of my first parkrun in July 2019, I got an e-mail from you just about 10 minutes before I left my house, once I completed it I told you first in a private e-mail what my result and time was before posting it on the main forum.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate

Love, love, love 💕

dijep profile image
dijepGraduate

Brilliant - love the poetry . And best of all the support you give us all.Now I'm intrigued ....

Love the poem Oldfloss 😊. You are certainly spinning the suspense though……. What on Earth are you going to share? 🧐 I’m imagining all sorts!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

Ahh, lovely OF! I have read, enjoyed and replied to many of your rambles and poetry 😀👍. Thank you for your support, encouragement and inspiration over the years. You are still teasing us….yes, I am keeping watch! 👀

Liz-is-trying profile image
Liz-is-tryingGraduate

Fabulous post, so inspiring and so very intriguing! 👀 xx

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate

The anticipation is building Oldfloss!

Fors profile image
ForsGraduate

Wonderful poetry and to discover that you are a 71 female runner like me. I found your advice so encouraging when I started running in Jan 2020 and I enjoy running 5k a couple of times every week

Mormor1 profile image
Mormor1 in reply to Fors

And me, another who reached the 8th decade!

Inspiring and amusing post. I'm 66 and have recently completed 2 park runs. A mixture of jogging and running. I started following the C25K up to week 8 but failed to do 3 runs per week. Must try again! Mustn't be a wimp!

Raisemeup profile image
RaisemeupGraduate

Thank you Oldfloss, I am on the same page as you, it's good to know age brings greater understanding of what is good for us and maybe what isn't. When I have a moment wondering if I 'Should' be doing this, I'll remember your poem, smile and run on! Best wishes 😁

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirlGraduate

Fab 😊Reminds of that poem, When I get old I shall wear purple. What hadn't occurred to me was that it would be purple, turquoise, bright pink, running gear!

LiisaM profile image
LiisaMGraduate

Love that old poem, and your version made me chuckle anew.

Mormor1 profile image
Mormor1

Dear Oldfloss I could never write such witty verse as you despite

My wanting to respond

I fear it's just a tad beyond

The rhyming couplets that I do..

So... Hat's off to you!

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