Blog: johnloguk

MOVING HOUSE? - THEN RUN THAT STRESS AWAY!

They say that moving house is one of life's most stressful times. All those solicitors bills that don't seem to be matched by any activity, people not moving out when promised, finding out (too late) that you have moved into an area where "broadband internet" is a contradiction in terms etc.

Yes I'm speaking from bitter experience here, but relief is at hand. Do what I'm doing, get out those running shoes and start exploring your new area. I've run regularly for the last 25 years, since the original running boom of the early 80s in fact. I do love running, but I must admit to having periods when I just can't be bothered to make the effort, and most people I know are just the same.

I'd had one of those slumps over the summer. I don't like running when it's too hot, and when it was cooler I always found something else to do. I'd pretty much exhausted running routes where I was living at the time, and to be honest it was getting boring. Then I moved house and it all became interesting again.

I did know this area several years ago, I used to work about a mile away, but it has changed a lot since then. I live on a new estate that was fields less than 10 years ago, and an adjacent limestone quarry has now closed and been turned into a nature reserve. I can be off the estate and on the reserve less than 2 minutes from leaving my front door, which is fantastic. Lots of paths to explore, hidden corners, ponds, even some big crags to scramble up in the old quarry. There is some fantastically varied running in a pretty compact area, it's great. It will take me a long time to get bored with it, and just when I think I know it like the back of my hand the seasons will change and it will all be different again. This is one of the pleasures of off-road running, as opposed to hammering the tarmac day after day.

But it is even fun running round the new estate at the moment. It is one of those built with modern ideas. Lots of variety in the houses, some looking instantly old, others innovative and ultra-modern. Lots of little tree lined cut-throughs, grassy village green type areas, hardly any straight lines or regimented housing, and all making full use of any natural slopes and views. When I fancy a longer run I can easily get down to the river and out along the tow path, or use field paths to run out to the nearest villages and back. I save the tarmac as a last resort when everything is flooded in about February!

As a map-maker I'm always making mental maps of the area in my head as I run. Not just to remember where I've been, but to explore the possibilities of using the area for orienteering. I've currently got a bid in to map the nature reserve, and even the estate itself would be great for urban racing, with all it's hidden alley-ways and little green spaces.

This time of year is great for taking up running. Sunset is an hour or so after most people get home from work, and I find dusk a brilliant time to run. I've had some stunning sunsets in the last week while I've been out. Just as you are getting really knackered you turn into the sunset and your spirits are instantly lifted, like running on air despite the fatigue. The autumn colours will start to dominate soon too. A perfect time to run through parks and forests. I never get bored of running through a sunlit forest in the autumn, even mud underfoot becomes fun when everything else is so stunning.

Winter can be a difficult time for runners, but if you wrap up warm those frosty days can be as good as any. Even the rain is irrelevant once you start to sweat, it's just those first few steps outside your door that are difficult! And Springtime, when the trees are starting to bud and the wildflowers are popping up everywhere... Don't even get me started on running through bluebell woods, pure magic.....

Anyway, I've posted a few photos that I've taken on my favourite running routes, and hopefully it will encourage a few more people to leave the treadmill for some proper spiritual sustenance. Let us know if you take up my offer.

by johnloguk on 15:14 on 21st September 2007