Off the tarmac into the woods🧗🐻: When you go... - Bridge to 10K

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Off the tarmac into the woods🧗🐻

46 Replies

When you go to bed thinking about running 🙄 I think you've been bitten by not a bed bug, but a running bug 😁.

Mrs wife's gone to do her NHS thing she does the teen-agers are having a lazy morning, so dad went running 🏃....

It's perfect running weather. A headed off towards Llangollen, then cut back towards not quite home. Up into the trail that climbs and climbs (passing mountain goats and alpine plants) note to self gorse cuts Ian's ankles 😢ouch and I've no shame in saying I paused for a liquid break and to just drown in the view..... WOW the view down the valley just explodes Infront of you 🤓.

But definitely this terrain isn't suited to my brooks adrenaline, it calls for some sure footed nimble tiptoeing 🧗👣.

I think looking around the slate underfoot is probably remains of old quarrying there's lots of slate and stone quarries in the area, some still active.

So ok it got 🥺 too steep and too slippy so sensible me thought...

A. Carrying on is dangerous ✅

B. Mrs Wife would be not impressed if I ended up in A&E 🙄

C. Turning around is ok....

So back down yikes it's harder than going up for sure....

But I'm liking it, the variety the change away from the towpaths it's exciting. And those soft underfoot trails with a tree canopy omg they're excellent to run on....

A nice very nice mixed up 5k with some cracking hill work the calf muscles can definitely feel it so it's home to stretch and shower and chill a bit before the night shift .

Happy healthy running you lot stay safe please 🙏

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46 Replies
MartinKH profile image
MartinKHGraduate10

Sounds like a great experience running there with the variety and terrain ...and what views you have ... great pics.

Good plan too to turn back when you did, yes I don’t think Mrs Wife would have appreciated you in A & E.

Coincidentally I’ve also got Brooks Adrenaline, I love them but remembered again this morning on my run how un-waterproof they are when I ran through some deepish pools of water 💧.

in reply toMartinKH

Oh the views Martin were sublime and some👀✅ I used to tip toe around puddles when my brooks were shiny new, but then I got caught in a muddy messy wet snowy run eeeeeek. So I just gave up and trudged through the puddles etc. Yep they let the weather in but it came back out very quickly and dried brilliantly 🙂 definitely as the name says it's a go-to-shoe

MartinKH profile image
MartinKHGraduate10 in reply to

Yes I stopped dodging mud and pools quite a while back too.

Def a go to shoe, as the name says and as you mention.

I’ve got the GTS18 version at the moment, only started using them at the start of c25k at end of Dec 2019.

I’ve got a new pair of GTS19’s on standby, but I see with a little dismay from another poster today that they are quite different.

Well done again on a great run 👍

in reply toMartinKH

I've using the GTS 20

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10

Sounds lovely. I think you need to get some trail shoes!

in reply toJell6

I doooo my brooks are soooo comfy jell and doing a fantastic job for my normal runs but I think the trails would probably cut them up in no time at all 😟, and they ain't that grippy. It's time to peruse my options but I think up and running in Chester will probably be shut so I may have to bide my time and stick to the towpaths whilst lockdown is in place.....

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10 in reply to

They probably are closed, but as trail shoes are neutral (I think) maybe try online. Sportsshoes.com are pretty good.....👿👿

in reply toJell6

Ahhhhhh worth a look definitely jell cheers 👍 brooks pure grit look very good and knowing the brand should be comfy......... I sense a birthday list being written 🙂🥳

karen50plus profile image
karen50plus in reply to

Father’s Day isn’t far off either 🤗

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate10

Some fantastic views again there Ian! And you’re right - gorse hurts! Happy running!

in reply toOldgirlruns

It's deadly old girl 🤬 I'd rather tackle bears 🐻

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate10 in reply to

😂

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate10

Fabulous.... I love the trails. Well done 😎

I hold you totally responsible ju-ju and gorse bushes yikes and crikey but I will agree that it's quite exhilarating once you're out there 👍

Gorgeous views from the top - definitely makes the climb worth it! Sounds to me like you are morphing into a trail runner...... 😃

in reply to

Well errrrr say it quietly DD 🤫 it's so very different from the towpaths that have provided me with endless klms and hours, and the awayness and solitude is ahhhhhhhhh quality space on one's own 👍👍

in reply to

Looks like you live in a beautiful area so are lucky to be able to now have a choice of different types of run. It’s a win win I think! 😃

in reply to

Win win is a spot on phrase DD, but looking at various posts I think most of us on here who run, we all seem to have pretty nice areas not far away 🙂

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

Ahhhh.... trails......oh how I've missed them. This post is making me want to get out there and hit my trails. Soon, I hope......soon 🤔. Mine are in a provincial park so not able to even think about it for now but our numbers of cases have really dropped down where we have a lot more recoveries than new cases and there is talk of lifting some restrictions in the next few weeks so fingers crossed 🤞

in reply toSaskAlliecat

Ohhhh Brilliant Sasky I hope the UK ain't too far behind you in recovery figures 🤞 how's the Canadian climate, I'd heard Colorado has more white stuff 🌨️🌨️🌨️

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10 in reply to

I wish I could say the entire country was doing as well, but there are still huge numbers of cases and deaths in our more densely populated provinces. There is something to be said for living in an agriculture area where we are naturally spread out. The entire population of our province is a quarter of what is in Toronto alone 😆. Nothing like wide open prairie to keep you apart.

I'm in the south so our weather is all over the map. Just when you think Spring has sprung, you wake up to another blanket of snow. The nice thing is, it doesn't stick around here for long. It is just windy and cool. My husband was a little quick to take my winter tires off my car this year though. It has made for some very slow drives into work until the snow and ice melts in the afternoon. He was talking to a friend of ours in the north who said they still have piles of snow. He got stuck in his driveway the other day. We normally go see them every year to go snowmobiling but our friend is going through chemo and now with Covid, visiting is out of the question. All the snowmobile trails have been shut down due to people congregating in the warmup shacks. You think you can be all isolated riding your machine but when everyone stops and visits in the warmup shacks....not smart. Oh well. Time to dream of and wish for summer. I'm ready to get out to the lake. I'm hoping they will allow the marinas to open but tough to say. People don't always exercise common sense, as the snowmobilers showed us already.

in reply toSaskAlliecat

Good answer Sask, let's just hope and 🙏

Take care out there

AliHC profile image
AliHCGraduate10

Nice exploration run! Always wise to be cautious no matter how tempting it is! It will still be there when you get some proper footwear.

Is Berwyn (think that's how you spell it?) Quarry still going? I can remember visiting the Dinorwig(?) museum near Llanberis a few years ago. I have some Welsh slate table mats at home 😊

Good grief it's a tiny world at times Ali, yep the quarries still going strong our closer quarry is half way up the horseshoe pass, that's also a slate quarry 🙂

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

Looks such a beautiful place to run and glad you made the decision to turn around. Isn't it great how everything looks so lovely with the sunshine 🌞🌞

in reply toBuddy34

That little ball of fire and flames buddy makes a world of difference ☀️=🙂

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10 in reply to

Think my face looked like a ball of fire today 🌞🌞

in reply toBuddy34

Oh crikey is there a pharmacy close by 🤓

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10 in reply to

🤣🤣

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator

Lovely looking trail run. Very well done.

Damien

in reply todamienair

Steep comes to mind Damien gradients Don't show so well in photos but omg 🥺🧗

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate10

Thats lovely Imc, another huge envious sigh from over here. Keep those photos coming 👍

in reply tolexi6

I'll try Lexi👍

Brilliant photos Imc! and views are spectacular . I did think at one point it was in Llangrove Herefordshire , which is where I live. It’s a wonderful feeling isn’t running in such beautiful surroundings !👍

Well done Imc getting out and yes I think maybe trail shoes are the way to go or your Brooke’s will not last with those sort of runs.

A big 👏👏for your wife in the NHS! I’m still waiting for my video interview to go back to the NHS. Their snowed under with applications at the hospital

Next month I’ll have been retired for a year! Whow that’s gone quick.

Well Imc and keep safe and well

Happy running🏃‍♂️🤗

in reply to

Herefordshire is beautiful Myfi it's got a similar landscape 😁 oh you have the luxury of lazy retired days without work soooooooo envious 😦

in reply to

Well for time being🤣........I have volunteered to go back to work in the NHS . Still waiting . Anyway as hubby says if they need me I’ll go and if not no worries. I would like to go back though as my skills are in anaesthetics so I would like to contribute again.

Being retired is great though I must admit.🤗🤗

PolicefoxLyn profile image
PolicefoxLyn in reply to

Hello, I'm in Ledbury xx

in reply toPolicefoxLyn

Ah! Lovely Ledbury . A beautiful market town.

When hubby and I first moved to herefordshire we rented a black and white cottage on Little Hill in Rushall! Little hill cottage .....had to be really didn’t it?

It still holds a place in my heart today❤️🤗

Where do you live in Ledbury?

PolicefoxLyn profile image
PolicefoxLyn in reply to

I'm on the New Mills estate which is lovely and we live on The Green do even nicer. We're incomers too but I wouldn't live anywhere else now. It does mean (as a new runner) I've yet to run anywhere flat!

I know Rushall due to Graham Baker's garage and a local "colourful" character (see my user name!)

in reply toPolicefoxLyn

I don’t think thatNewMills Estate was there when we moved to rushall! However Graham Bakers garage has always been there 🤣🤣🤣. And it’s hills everywhere in Herefordshire! 🤣🤣 so I agree with you there although I’m improving on the hills or inclines should I say ..albeit slowly

Happy running and keep safe!🤗🤗

Rungranny profile image
Rungranny60minGraduate

I'm no expert but lots of advice to mix it up to improve your running. I tried a beginner's day for women in trail running and it was great. So different from trucking along on the roads and a lot tougher. You certainly need to be nimble over those rocks and tree roots.

The experts come down those hills like they have a death wish.

Sounds like you will be back for another go before long. Stretch those legs.😅🏃‍♂️

in reply toRungranny

Going up is one thing RunGran but the downhill bit omg jeeeeesh 😬

pete1212 profile image
pete1212Graduate10

Well done on your run Imco50 some great pictures 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿i live in the Neath valleys happy running 🏃‍♂️👍

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

How wonderful, hills and trails and tree canopy is just perfectly lovely, hope your night shift went smoothly and you’ve rested over the weekend

in reply toSueAppleRun

All rested thanks W&S had a relax on Saturday and took my legs for a run this morning 🙂

johnm12 profile image
johnm12Graduate10

Definitely offroad is a great way forward. Lots of great countryside to explore. I like blasting ( in my dreams) along towpaths but country lanes and tracks are the best. Keep enjoying!

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