Thank you to Ita for this week's (not)Run Report! And enormous congratulations to you and Claire on completing 50 (not)parkruns!
Good Morning to all you (not)parkrunners.
Witney (not)parkrun ready?
Now that is the question....
Today is no ordinary (not)parkrun day. Today is special...
Well you see I am a reluctant but joyful runner who lacks motivation at times and today I get to CELEBRATE my 50th (not)parkrun with my motivating friend Claire. Can I run 5k yes, will I?
Well in my head yes, but engaging my feet is sometimes difficult.
Our driver today is David, he is taking us in his new electric car to Witney.
It is quiet around, not that many early risers. We arrive and get ready. Our race briefing by the best dressed volunteer, is delivered by Beth.
Run fast is the instruction today....
That same nervous excitement rises as we have no difficulty at the start line. The usual shuffles to find our way to the back of the line, cannot be done today, the front row it is.
The couple we see with their dog have already had their starting moment. We will wait for ours.
A photo op then we are off. You ok? Yes she says, I hate the start, my legs take time to wake up, that leaden feeling we know will pass, just when ? I am not sure.
We head down through the avenue of trees displaying their autumn joy. Almost as if they know our secret.
David claps and cheers as we pass the club house and head to Burford road. The first sight of our volunteer to direct us the right way on our route to 5k.
The usual parkrun chatter keeps us going as we head back into the field. A few more people around, calls of ‘good morning’ help to pass the time.
Good to finish the field lap and off on our second lap. We head around the outside to be met by an unusual obstacle, a tree lying across our path, gently hurdled over, you don’t want to break anything
Ah, Mr Fulham spot is occupied by the same volunteer Beth saying ‘mind the wire’!
On we go scuffing through the autumn leaves scattered at our feet to be met by today’s ditch dancer Beth....
Through the wet grass we head round into the woods, oh no our Everest awaits. What nice chippings make for an easier footing, puffing up we have done it. Hey not as bad as Pigeon House Lane.
Well an unusual sight, a runner coming towards you through the woods....
Remind myself to look up not at my feet.
It is good to run on those chippings, the volunteers put out down just before lockdown.
Waiting for the bell as we run through the wood, then head out to the breathe in the clear cool air. As we head out of the wood, there are more people around, the runner lets us run out, thank you.
David thinks we are finishing only to hear we have one more loop
Easy does it, this feels like homeward bound. Puffing away, carrying half the mud and leaves on the carefully chosen trail shoes for today’s event. Keep going, hurdle the tree again. More people around this time, still no one knows why we chose today to come here to Witney. We turn to head into the wood, ah Bubbles and music greet us, what a joy before our second attempt at Everest. Made it, now enjoy the wooded run take time to enjoy the space and joy of a run.
We head out of the woods, excitement mounts as we see the finish in sight. When to speed up, to sprint, don’t go too early as could end up walking the rest of the way.... ok we will speed up through the last section of trees. No yellow lines funnel, but look our very own high vis hero, the finish line we run to the tape and breathe.
Number 1 finish tokens for us both! Now where’s your barcode?
Thank you Claire, you have given me more motivation to keep going; more than I ever would have on my own. See you for our 100!
(not)Run Report: Ita Moore
All the Volunteers: Beth Soanes
