After blitzing the Blackmore’s Bridge Run on Sunday (So, so, soooo happy with my time – 54 minutes, yo!), I did the usual post run routine search of the family.
After a couple of back and forths, trying to track them down whilst on the phone, then realizing that there was more than one Help Desk and they happened to be near the one I wasn’t at, finally I found them.
Beyond the medal bling and the personal best times, nothing beats a post run hug from your children.
The elation and excitement of them first spotting you is indescribably adorable. Even when the jelly legs are done and you couldn’t possibly take another step, the energy to run and scoop up the little rag rats is unequivocal.
Except this time.
Nunu happily greeted me, even agreed to take an obligatory selfie with me but K-Bear just scowled, giving me the cold shoulder.
“He’s not happy with you,” Mr Surfer explained.
Apparently, the boys had spotted me during the run. K-Bear was cheering, calling out to me on but I had my headphones on and couldn’t hear him.
Much to his dismay and frustration, I ran straight past him.
So, in front of all the other on-lookers, a distressed 4 year old boy started crying profusely because he thought his heartless Mama ignored him.
Oops.
After letting the twinions have a play on some rock sculptures, which I’m sure weren’t catered to children climbing over them (The “Risk Warning” signs firmly planted all around kinda gave it away), I was back in their good books.
Still sweaty and gross, I was desperate to change clothes but the closest toilets were another bridge run away. With the endless sea of crowds, there was no guarantee they would even be available.
“Go over there”, Mr Surfer pointed to some bushes 50 metres away
“Are you kidding me???”
“Yeah, it should be fine. Just don’t step into a mound of poo over there on the left side. Nunu just took a dump…”
Reluctantly, I picked up my clothes and a towel and walked towards said bushes. Despite the continuous stream of people walking by, no one seemed to notice the suspiciously looking woman about to camouflage herself amongst foliage and fauna.
Just as I was peeling off my sweaty bra while trying to cover my girls with a towel between gritted teeth, I heard someone approaching the bushes.
Panic set in.
“Sssshhhh,” discreetly whispered the lady.
Also searching a place to change clothes, her husband had seen me walk towards the bushes and encouraged her to join me.
So, there we were. Two complete strangers, complete starkers…in the bushes in Sydney’s vast Botanical Gardens.
#Awkward.
And being the kind of person that can’t stand any kind of strange silence, there I was – in the buff – desperately trying to make small talk.
“You did the bridge run too?”
“Wow, wasn’t it packed today? There was no way we could’ve gotten changed in the public toilets!!”
“How AWESOME is this weather today?”
I’m sure my random partner in nakedness wanted to mute me as all that unnecessary chit chat was sure to lure in passersby.
Luckily, we didn’t get caught and once changed, we separated to go back to our respective ways.
As she left the park with her family, we gave each other a discreet nod.
“See ya around the next set of bushes” I smirked.
“Absolutely!” she winked back.
What goes on behind the bushes, stays in the bushes, ‘mmmmkay?
Where’s the strangest place you’ve taken your kit off?
Joining Essentially Jess for another round of #IBOT!