Why does a new route feel more exhausting? - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

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Why does a new route feel more exhausting?

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10
23 Replies

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 !

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CBDB profile image
CBDB
Graduate10
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23 Replies
LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador

Well done! What a lovely range of views and trails…and how exciting to find a potential 10k route!

I agree that railway crossings can be scary places…I guess it will depend on how muddy you are willing to get!

I would blame the hot weather…it’s still quite muggy!

Happy running! 🐌🐢🏃🏻‍♀️🥰

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toLottieMW

Yes, the heat might do it. Of course the heat also helps to keep the mud in check. 🤔

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador in reply toCBDB

😂⚖️🌞☔️

Martlet76 profile image
Martlet76

Thanks for your vivid descriptions. Its strange how many similarities I found between your run(/walk) and my regular circuit.Ugh the dreaded underpass, it's not just the mud, it's also the rapid plunge into darkness and the musty smell.

Your railway looks busier than mine. I have two rural level crossings, but my trains are infre5and resemble Thomas the Tank Engine.

I hope you enjoy your new route extension.

m76

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toMartlet76

Thank you! Yes, I have a feeling canal paths are great for runners, if they’re not too busy.

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Graduate10

That sounds like it has the potential to be a really great route - if the mud behaves. Well done.

Any or all of the above could have made it tiring.

Even though you had hubby with you I'd also maybe add stress into the mix, I always found exploring totally new routes, solo, very stressful, but maybe I'll find them less so now that I have LIvetrack enabled?

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toMaddee_6333

Yes. Looking forward to many runs there. What is Livetrack ?

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate10 in reply toCBDB

It's a Garmin feature. To quote their website, "LiveTrack creates a real-time view of your location during an activity, so friends and family can follow along."

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toCmoi

Ahh, 😅👀👍🏽! Not sure if that would make me feel more or less anxious! 😬 😆

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Graduate10 in reply toCBDB

I do worry more about getting injured again now, as even a minor accident could leave me stranded in a way it wouldn’t have before. So Livetrack and What3words are the order of the day.

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10

That looks like a great run or walk looks flat . Wouldn’t like the level crossing either and Mr Doris has a phobia about them. Our underpass that I go under just usually gets deep puddles when it rains , not much fun either. Your doing “brill” on your running . Well done👍😊

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toDoris8

Thank you! Yes… level crossings are not a friend of mine! 😉

Over62 profile image
Over62

Fantastic CBDB that you’ve extended your run and opened it up for more possibilities- just when I extended my run to the salt line last week!

Looking forward to hopefully bumping into you along the beautiful waterways and salt line.

Yes the mud bit for you will be tricky in the winter and early spring 😬

Great job 👏👍🎉

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toOver62

Thank you! As long as the underpass is runnable for one season, I’m happy! See you on the canal path or the salt line, which was the path barred by goats, last time I attempted it.

tmbtrain profile image
tmbtrainGraduate10

That's great you've got a new route worked out. It does take some planning to get distances in. It looks lovely too! Good luck with the mud hopefully it stays dry!

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply totmbtrain

🙏👍

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10

Lovely sounding route (apart from the mud...). I love my canal run as it is really beautiful, flat and I can get more distance than I'm capable of on it. I think it can be tiring running on a route that is a bit bumpy and meandering if you are new to it. So perhaps that is the culprit along with the heat?

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toFionamags

Yes, there were certainly sections where due to hight of grass I had to slow down even further (if that’s possible with my super slow joggle 😉).

I even forgot to mention that we event lost our way at one point, and I jumped over a stream to get back to the path! I hadn’t done that for 15 years or more!

What running has made me do! Next thing I’ll know I’ll be hurdling fences! 😆😆😄💪👍🏽🐎

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply toCBDB

It'll be decathlon's next.... throwing sticks for the dog, hurling stones into the water, hurdling fences, sprinting away from bulls .... the possibilities are endless. 😀

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toFionamags

🤣🤣👍🏽

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate1060minGraduate

A super run there! I agree about new routes wholeheartedly - even if I’ve walked them before. Small inclines that you don’t notice as a walker suddenly seem like Mount Everest! Well, maybe Snowdon. But that looks like a smashing route and one to add to your route list. 😊😊😊

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply toFrenc

Yeah, right!? I’ve got a few of those Snowdon hills on my Cheshire back-way routes! Exactly! 🤣🤣Thanks 👍🏽💪🏃🏼‍♀️

Newbie59 profile image
Newbie59

I'm not sure I would risk a completely new route at this time of year, as everything gets so overgrown, and especially the huge nettles. I don't recognise some of the trails I know well :)

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