Hubby and I finally managed to do a 6.5k run-walk again (he walks, I run) and we chose to finally do that route on top of todo list!!! But I did feel utterly exhausted on the last km, possibly the heat, or possibly the fact that a new route (where I tread more carefully into the unknown) always takes it out of me more?
The route is brill (if one can get past the mudfest of an underpass):
First km is suburban roads, on the route that I also take to get me to my usual 5k haunt on a disused railway line. But I pass that by and head towards fields.
The next km of sections are through a mysterious hidden trail squeezed between the wild and overgrown slopes of a live train line and the wooden panels of a fence, separating us run-walkers from some enticing glimpses of a farm house with large grounds with landscaped streams and gardens. And beyond that property there are open fields along the rail line slopes all the way to the … yup .. the mudfest underpass!
The underpass was impassable the two times we tried before in spring (I’m not kidding, it was measurable knee deep mud!), but now the mud was hardened and no problem for us. But if I get used to this route, then I’ll probably have to bite the bullet and use the level crossing just a few yards on, but I hate these. It’s a busy line (London - Crewe; B’ham and Crewe), and still having some bad memories from a rail crossing experience as a kid, I do get anxious around level crossings. So if I can avoid them, I will. But that means getting close to that muddy path! 😳
But once out of the underpass, it’s only one low stile and then up onto the canal bridle path . This then heads north-ish for ages!
These canalside bridle paths are the running haunting grounds of Over62 , so maybe I’ll bump into her when I’m running this season on this beautiful canal path!
So the route was beautiful, but I was seriously flagging by the end of it. And I find it a bit embarrassing as I always seem to be flagging when I run-walk with hubby. My explanation for that is that I exploit the opportunities of his willingness to do a walk with me to explore a new route. Having walked them with him (or me running) gives me so much more confidence in running these alone.
But it might have also been the heat, my nifty leggings are also warmer than my black ones. 🤔
Or it might be as I had my protein smoothie before the run today, as I knew it was a bit of a longer run.
Or it might be the long stretches of running on uneven grassy tracks?
Or some other reason. But despite the flagging On the last km, I’m really chuffed to have finally explored the bridle path on the canal, as it can now extend to 10k and beyond. This then can be added to my out and back routes that I use for longer runs! So here’s hoping the mud behaves, for at least until late fall!
Happy running everyone !
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
week 2 begins! 
