Homage to parkrun!!

(picture from parkrun)

If you have read any of my earlier posts this year, you will remember that I have mentioned parkrun. To quote from their website:

'parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.'

My husband was the first one to catch the 'parkrun' bug, closely followed by my stepson, Sam - and then of course myself. So much so that I chose to go for a run this morning. Great idea - you say! And I was also applauding myself!  But in my enthusiasm I forgot a couple of important things. First - to take my daily morning inhaler!! And second to take my other inhaler with me. Because of the cold (and this is why I have avoided running in winter 'til now) I ended up sounded like an old squeezebox - sore and painful. But I did get round 1.5 miles - and am glad I got out there. Lesson learned!

Anyway onto something more important. My stepson, Sam, started his involvement in parkrun by first coming over to our local Poole parkrun. But when the Bournemouth one was set up, he was there right from the word go at the first run - and has been an active member ever since, including writing race reports and interviewing 'Runners of the Week'. So, it seemed appropriate that this year, I incorporated it into his birthday card.

I have used one of the many great parkrun logo pictures as the focal image for the card. As you can tell, my camera didn't do justice to the vibrant green of the logo picture - it came out rather yellow! But looking at the top of the page will give you the right idea.

The picture was printed onto Elegance card, and I then chopped it into three. The base Kraft card is from Papermill, as is the Teal card on top of it - which is embossed with Grand MBossabilities Dainty Dots. I embossed the white card with one of my many new embossing folders - this one was Flower Power from CC Die'sire Embossalicious 8x8 range. I inked over the embossing and around the edge with Crushed Olive DI.  On top of that is another piece of the Kraft card. 

The pictures are mounted onto lime green Bazzill card, then Teal texture effect card (from C&C). All of these are on top of more cream and dark brown textured card. I used a mini alphabet stamp set to randomly stamp the greeting, and edged it with Walnut Stain DI.The finishing touch is some matching buttons (from Papermania's 'Sew Lovely' range) with a piece of twine threaded through.

If you are interested in joining parkrun, then click on the link to go to their website and find your nearest run. I don't profess to be a great runner - I am always one of the last to finish each week - but I do get a sense of achievement and the knowledge that I am keeping myself fit and active.

And Sam? Well, when he isn't taking photos as he runs round(!), he's usually in the top 20 or so finishers!! And these days (hangovers excepted!!!) he's usually a lot faster than his Dad!! Happy Birthday Sam!! 

I would like to enter this into:
Deep Ocean Challenge - Birthday
Love to Create - Button It Up

Make My Monday - Kraft card

Now I've cooled down from my run - I can go and get myself ready for the rest of the day! Bring it on!!

Cxx