Fourth run of my trilogy, a jogette of tarmac and trails.

I woke this morning to the sound of baby blue-tits on the feeder, for such a tiny bird the noise level, strewth but it's a nice noise, nearly but not quite a tune 🤗.

Teenagers doing school work all's good there, so perhaps sneak a quick impromptu jogette.

The sun's bright, the warmth bearable, and I've got water!! .. Oh and the trainers are tied properly today 😂. The world is beautifully sunny, the silence of locked down Wales is eery at times, today is one of those times!

I don't normally but today 🤔 I stretched pre run, so shutting the gate, Garmin started I'm away, the birds are singing all the way down my lane non stop 🙂.

The canal towpath is totally empty not a soul, and it's a nice 1st klm all the way to the aqueduct. I get a cheerful good morning off one walker and then it's me on own again. Now we've lived in our current home for oooooh 11 yrs this summer. But but but I've never been, down the steps where I went today, little steep rickety steps hard to navigate, but it's worth it, I've found me a new trail for further runs and it's on my doorstep 👍🤓, it's going to need further running but it looks good, it's got gradients of all angles, kind underfoot and more importantly it's got plenty of shade for my skin, big bonus!

The steps, more steps that decend to the river bank omg now that's a calf muscle exercise ( Joe Wicks who?) But at the bottom, the river it's just something to experience, and I don't say it lightly but OH MY GOODNESS, like that's special even worth pausing for longer than normal, the aqueduct rises from the floor just magnificently, showing it's true size and Impressiveness, then to put it in context you've got the daintiest of bluebells and that hypnotic sound of moving water!

Wow !

I've lived here like I said over a decade , do you know what's on your doorstep,

Run happy, run healthy

Explore ( safely)

[Dee_N]

It looks so beautiful! Wow! The birds and I not friends at 5am. Like this morning when I hadn't shut our bedroom window from the night. I mean who is chirpy and merry at 5am!?? Unless you haven't been to bed yet and are actually merry (which is perfectly acceptable!)

[Hidden in reply to Dee_N]

Ohhhhhhh twinkle toes nature is beautiful 🤗🐦🐝🌻🥰 have you tried earmuffs 😁

[Dee_N in reply to Hidden]

I'm originally a London girl so I can only cope with the gentle coooo of a pigeon 😂😂😂... these are noisy beggars out in the sticks!

[Hidden in reply to Dee_N]

😂 those London pigeons have a unique cooo cooo 😝

So you're a proper cockney then 🙄

[Dee_N in reply to Hidden]

What's wrong with cockneys!? Valley boy! Yup an east ender as well! But long since moved out and lost the accent. You'd never know. Though my husband says it all comes out when I've had a few 🤔😂😂😂

[Hidden in reply to Dee_N]

Heeheee calm yourself down twinkle toes cockneys are cool, and their rhyming slang is brilliant 👍.

Stop rewind whaaaaat 👀 valley boy 🧐 I have bits of Irish Welsh and a little English in me 😂

[Dee_N in reply to Hidden]

😁 haha I love Wales really! One of my favourite places to go. We're in Shropshire/Staffordshire border so not too far x

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10]

Beautiful. Looks like spring has well and truly arrived in Wales.

[Hidden in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

It has indeed FP it's glorious 🙂

[MartinKH Graduate10]

Great run and photos of a spectacular place 👍🏃‍♂️

How nice to discover a new place to enjoy on your doorstep. I must do a bit more scouting in my area, I could almost run my current route with my eyes closed ( not that I’d recommend that mind ) 🤣

[Hidden in reply to MartinKH]

Lamposts 🤕 ouch!

[MartinKH Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣

[Womangolfer Graduate10]

Beautiful area for a run.

[Hidden in reply to Womangolfer]

It's got it's charms WG

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

One of the greatest benefits I have found with running is exploring and finding these little pieces of paradise that we never knew existed so close to home. Yay!

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

We shouldn't make out world around us so small Sask it's actually huge and it's out there waiting to be enjoyed ( and hopefully protected from damage and harm

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Great running and great photos and next time remember your speedo's 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Hidden in reply to Buddy34]

Noooooooooo the world ain't ready buddy 🚫

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣

[Jell6 Graduate10]

You are certainly making the most of this glorious weather 🌞, and you definitely need trail shoes!

[Hidden in reply to Jell6]

Soooooo right Jell today was ok underfoot but trail shoes would open up more runs and my road shoes wouldn't get trashed 😬

Are you back running again yet or is nursing preventing you coz of hours and workload?

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I worked yesterday and ran this morning, still slower, but managed 30 minutes.

I feel much better. Thanks for asking 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Jell6]

That's good to hear jell, I wouldn't be worrying about times! The Olympics being postponed will allow you to get back up there on the podium 👍🏆

Glad you're mended

[Roxdog Graduate10]

I love this post because exploring while running is such a great thing to do. I also run on canals and there are so many interesting places to explore off the towpaths. I get completely lost in an area I've lived in for decades. What a wonderful run you had. Such freedom!

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks Rox it's wonderful to think this is all on out doorsteps and so accessible 👍 which is your canal? I run on the Llangollen stretch of canal

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I live near the Grand Union Canal on the outskirts of London, on the edge of Buckinghamshire. The canal has been part of my life since I was a child and even in this quite built up area, there are really wild paths coming off the canal which I explore and get lost in while running.

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

Ahh that's definitely a pretty canal, I love the old industry that comes hand in hand with the old waterways, the old mill buildings are lovely buildings 🙂 we have a similar infrastructure around Chester where the canal weaves through the city.

It's just a pity it's only now becoming apparent the mistake they made when they let a lot of the network fall into ruins etc..... Everything modern isn't always best!!

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

They've done a lot of work on the towpaths near us. The old factory buildings are still there is some places, but are being overtaken by nature. It's a great place to run. Stay safe and Well and enjoy your runs!

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

You to Rox

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

What a beautiful route, thanks for sharing description and photos. Happy running 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Grannyhugs]

Glad you enjoyed it grannyH I'm getting used to having vrbs coming along with me on my runs 🙂👍

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

VRBs are the best kind, they run at your pace, enjoy the route you’ve chosen and are ready to start as soon as you are.🤣

[Hidden in reply to Grannyhugs]

Perfict then I think grannyH 🙂

[Hidden]

Another lovely post. You describe the lovely Welsh countryside so well. It’s great when your run turns into a discovery trail and a new route is a rewarding prize. Enjoy exploring it further 😊.

The sunny South Downs looked beautiful on my run this morning and it was wonderful to run just listening to nature. I loved being back out there.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Our current springtime weather is making the lockdown kinda bearable I think DD, hopefully it'll last until everyone is better and mended and this annoying virus is sent packing 👍

[Granspeed Graduate10]

The viaduct is indeed spectacular but it’s the river I would love most. Lovely water over rocks - I could almost hear it in the photo. Isn’t it great to find a new run? And right near home - big bonus! 👍😄

[Hidden in reply to Granspeed]

Ohhh definitely granspeed, the noise of the river against the silence is quite magical

[Annieapple Administrator]

An adventurous run full of discovery! Beautiful photos! Lovely post 😊

[Hidden in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you Annie 🙂

[Raspberrypink Graduate10]

Great report and photos - thanks. I’ve run along the canal this morning near me but not so picturesque as your canal

[Hidden in reply to Raspberrypink]

Thank you RP but all canals have their own charms and character 👍 I'm sure yours does to...