I had planned a 5k this morning and set out not too late. So the great things about this run were:
- I found another 0.6k extension to make a lovely 5k run, the 0.6k extension covering a local park with woods, and all this connected to my ex-train line by a small path leading over a little bridge through a deciduous, light tree forest. Lovely.
- The large playing field is lined only on one side by the backs of houses, and there are wooded sections with a main path running alongside two sides of the field. Perfect for my liking.
- I ran to an audio book, which I lend out from our library through the digital app Borrow Box. This works brilliantly and I just love the services that libraries provide!
- To get a beat, as I always run to a beat, I just switched on my metronome app at 145.
The not so great thing about this run was
- that I stepped into a hole with my ankle bending over, followed immediately with a hole on the other side, with my other ankle bending over! 😱 it was a bit of a shock, as it was painful. And stumbling to a stop, tenderly moving everything, I started walking and then very slowly running again. But I did not take the planned long route home (60 min route) and rather cut the route short to make it a 30 min run.
- Back at home, stretches done, showered, yoga for post runs completed, I think I got away with healthy ankles this time around, but I got to watch this running on grass thing.
I thought the extension is great, as it looks like runnable throughout the whole year, but the holes in the ground hidden by lush, mowed grass gives me a bit to ponder about.
Have other runners advice on running on grassy fields in parks that actually hide some holes?
Written by
CBDB
Graduate10
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Oooh you must have had a bit of a shock with those holes, glad your ankles are ok 👍😊. Did you run over that little bridge in the photo? It looks so pretty where you are 🤩. Borrow Box is brill, I don’t borrow audiobooks, but have probably read 100s of books off it, although reading and running may be a stretch! Well done on a great run CBDB! 😊😊😊
Thank you. Yes, the bridge is part of the run, so I really loved exploring this as part of my little exploratory adventures.
Yeah, love Borrow Box! I think I reverted to audio books as I love reading and this way I can ‘read’ a book while running. I’m constantly arguing with hubby if you could say ‘you have read a book’ if you have listened to the audio book. 🤔😃
You were lucky - that could have been nasty!I almost rolled my ankle on uneven ground across the fields the other day. I slowed right down and kept my eyes on the ground until it had evened out a bit, I'm not sure what you can do about holes that are hidden by grass though...
Lovely place for your extension , it beats running the same route all the time. You were lucky with your ankle, hope bruising doesn’t come out on it and your ok. 🤞
Autch, sounds like that run could have gone a lot worse! No idea how to prevent stumbling into holes though. I actually try not to run on anything but hard ground...
Glad you are ok CBDB - those hidden holes can be tricky. I do a lot of my running on trails and grass - and I do think that you get to learn where a lot of the potential trip hazards are!😬 I have a few paths with roots or embedded rocks that are often obscured with leaves or mud and in some fields I know if there are holes/rabbit scrapes . ..I still manage to trip on things occasionally though, I’m afraid!🙄Do you mind me asking what metronome app you use? I am thinking of trying one.🙂
Ouch! Lucky escape with those holes. I run on rough fields quite a bit - it is hard to explain but I find that it helps to slow my cadence right down so that it almost feels as though my feet momentarily pause before touching the ground. This probably sounds crazy, but I'm sure it seems to slow the momentum of impact, so any twisting from rough bits is slower/softer. Hmmm 🤔...maybe practice running more gingerly and see if any of that makes sense 😯😅.Oh, and always scan the ground a few metres ahead of you - no looking up at the view!
Ouch that must have hurt. I don't know how you would avoid those holes if they are covered over...... By the way there is nothing slow about a 30 min 5k!!! I would be delighted with that.
Some of my tracks are quite uneven. Once you know you're on a dodgy section there's nothing you can do but slow down and watch the ground like a hawk. It means I miss looking at the surroundings sometimes but, so far🤞, my ankles are still OK.Happy running!
Great to have another option to extend your run. I’ve found grass to be unpredictable underfoot even in our well-tended park, but I still run on it occasionally while keeping my eyes on my way ahead. My favourite surface is the mud tracks worn into the grass by so many other runners and walkers.
I do hope your ankles are ok. Twists are bad enough, but the same trips can easily translate into a fracture just above the ankle.
That must've given you quite a fright! Glad your ankles are ok. Whenever I run on trails I just go really slowly and keep my eyes on the ground but holes in grass are tricky, I have a few in my back garden because my older dog was a digger and I still trip over every so often. Maybe try walking that part of the route a couple of times to spot the holes so you're familiar with the hazard points? Lovely pics btw, I love that massive tree in the green 😍🌳
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A Christmas miracle! I finally ran 5k in under 40 mins ha ha ha...🎅🎅
New shoes, now need a new ankle!
Just ran my first 10k ! Can I have my badge please!
