A (10K) Trail of two countries

[Instructor57]

So this morning was a run to try my new trail shoes out , I bought them a while ago but haven't worn them yet .

It was a chilly morning , around 6 degrees when I went out at 07:15

So had a long sleeve running top , tights and a very light windproof hi viz jacket .

And of course my new Saucony trail shoes .

I decided to drive to the canal, only 6 or 7 minutes.

Parked up then did my warm up on the road side then walked down onto the towpath for my run .

It felt strange at first as this was the first time off road for me !

I live in Shropshire, just on the English side of the England/Wales border

And the canal was the Llangollen canal

There was a mist on the water first thing and no one else around but a very scenic run , I crossed the Chirk Aquaduct at about 4.K and had planned that as about my halfway mark for a 10k run , just crossing the border from England into Wales .

I turned around at this point and headed back (didn't want to break any Covid restrictions) 😐

Most of the towpath is compressed gravel, so good for running on however some stretches are just dirt track which can be quite muddy and slippery with tree roots making it quite interesting to navigate .

I got back towards my car at about 9K so ran on a little further to hit the 10K and give me around 5 minutes warm down walk .

So it was 10K in 1 hour 21 minutes with a average pace of 8:09/Km

Starting in England, running into Wales, and back into England again 😁

All in all, an enjoyable run and porridge and prunes for breakfast afterwards 😁

[wobbles_when_runs]

Awesome read Ian, well done. Look at you one foot in and one foot out of Wales and England 🤣

Happy with the new shoes then?

What a great way to start your day, well done 👏🏻💃🏻

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to wobbles_when_runs]

Thank you Stephanie !

It was a nice run and yes, the shoes are great 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Another good run this morning 😄

Sounds wonderful running along the canal. It certainly looked a lovely part of the world driving through in the way home from North Wales a few weeks ago.

Am glad you turned round when you did and didn't break any rules 😁

But- more importantly- how were the trail shoes?

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Haha, the shoes are great thanks 😁👍 !

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Sounds like a great run - and fab photos! Once you go off road there's is no turning back - trails are the best! I still like my pavement pounders but trails are where my ❤️ lies! 🙂

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Yes, I hope I will do many more 😁👍

[Hidden]

This sounds ace! Love it. Great too that you are trail running!!

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, my first time off road 😁👍

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Great read and a great run! You make it sound so effortless - you must be really settling into that longer distance.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

Thank you !

I like 10K, it's a good distance for an enjoyable steady run 🙂🏃

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good run for you Instructor57, two countries tour, well done 😀 🏃🏾.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al, it was enjoyable! 🙂🏃👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I had a enjoyable 5K(not) parkrun, believe it or not, that was my 18th, I have ran 17 official Parkruns, today marks 7 months since my last official Parkrun on 14th March..

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I have yet to run my first 😁

[Plattszo]

Sounds like a lovely and idyllic run Ian, well done. 👊👌🙌🙌

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Plattszo]

Thanks Zoe, it was a fun run 😁

[Roxdog Graduate10]

A morning for 10ks! Sounds wonderful and great pictures. As a completely off road runner, the canal is often my go to place to run. Hope your shoes were comfy and that you enjoyed your off road experience. I was all on the tow path this morning.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Yes thanks , the shoes were great and it was a very enjoyable run 😬👍

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Fantastic Instructor57!! 🤩🤩🤩 A beautiful place to run too. I love the photos. I think I might bring my washing round for that lady’s services! 😂

A great 10k!! And a good healthy breakfast too!! 🦾❤️

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Thank you !

Haha, yes the lady with the mangle looked so realistic , last time I walked past there it was a man chopping wood 😂

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Ah they change it! Great idea. 😃❤️

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Yes, there is often something different on the edge of their canal side garden 😁

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Love that!! 🤩 Every run is an adventure!! 👌🏽 ❤️

[roseabi]

Wow, what an adventure!! 😍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

Thank you ! It was fun 😬👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Fantastic, Ian, well done! Looks like a great place to run, fancy you hopping into Wales, even if only briefly!👏👏👏👍

Good that you enjoyed this trail run and also that you are pleased with the shoes! 😀

Loved the photos 😍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Hi Jools , and thanks 😁

Yes it was a fun run !

It was certainly a bit chilly first thing but yes, the shoes were great ! 😬👍

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

What a great post and lovely photographs,

Amazing you ran to two countries!!

Glad you like your new shoes and enjoyed your run

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Thanks Rebecca !

It was fun 😬

[9weeks2Run Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

It sounded it! So beautiful where you live

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

we camped at Chirk and had a couple of runs on the canal. Very nice, thanks for reminding me