A Sunday morning 5 Mile (8K) Towpath Run

[Instructor57]

It was another nice morning and I had decided on a longer run following my 3 run pattern.

Today was going to be an 8K along the canal towpath .

I left home around 08:10 for just a short drive to the canal .

It was still quite cool but I had decided on shorts and thin t-shirt as I knew it would warm up and so would I

Following my warm up walk I started to run at a fairly slow pace as I always do on the longer runs .

The first kilometre was still quite chilly and my hands were feeling the cold as at this point I was running in shade .

Just a handful of dog walkers on the towpath , and they all heard me coming and moved over to the side for me with their dogs under control , I said good morning and thanked them all as I passed.

This run was going to be an out and return and I knew 4K would get me to just before the aquaduct, I could have carried on and over it but that would have given me a 10K run in total but my intention is to step up the distance in sensible increments and 8K was my target for today .

I had soon reached temperature and the sun was beginning to warm up before I reached the halfway mark .

4k done and feeling good, I could see the aquaduct but resisted any temptation to run on over it .

I have run across it previously on a 10K which was a run from England into Wales and back again 😁

I will do that one again on another day !

So, turn around and head back !

Still feeling good , my start pace was just right and I had no doubts that 8K would be fine !

It feels like the pace is picking up a bit , it always does on an out and return 😁

It's warming up nicely now and quite a few more walkers around , all of which say good morning as do the people on the 3 narrow boats that I meet .

So back to the start point , 8K done and feeling good !

It's nice to be picking the distance up again !

Back home , stretches done , porridge eaten .

Misty has had her 2nd breakfast and is now asleep and the chickens are singing their egg song .

A great start to the day .

Happy running 😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Brilliant, Ian - well done! Great run report, too 👏👏👏👍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia , it was nice to do a longer run that was comfortable.And it was a perfect morning for it 😁👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Lol Ian, isn't Misty spoiled, such a lovely cat, no harm on giving her a second breakfast, that was a lovely morning run for you today, I am glad that you enjoyed it, nice to be back running those longer distances more than 5Ks, 5 miles/8K is also one of my favourite distances as it takes about one hour to run for me, like you I have ran several at that distance varying from around 55 to 65 minutes, congratulations on that🏃🏾 run 👍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Yes AlMorr , Misty is certainly spoilt 😁But she is worth it 😁

It was a lovely morning and a lovely run and your right , a nice distance and around 1 hour to complete !

I was tempted to go further but was wearing my sensible hat 😬

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That made good reading, I could feel your temptation to go further and know you made the right decision. Enjoy the rest of the day, lots of joy with a nicely full Misty

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you and yes, the temptation was certainly there ! 🤣Good job I was wearing my sensible hat ! Haha 😁

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Well done, that's brilliant! Love a canal run!

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks !And yes I enjoyed it 😁

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Lucky Misty! 😸 Well done on that 8k, such a beautiful morning over there, even if it's a lot cooler than it's been lately. It sounds like you had one of those great runs, perfect Sunday morning! 👏👏👏

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

She's so greedy ! I fed her before I went out ! 🤣Yes, was quite chilly at first but perfect by half way so enjoyed it 😁