Not a new route just a blog update
I was thinking today while at work, you can't always run new routes, sometimes the old ones have to do, they can still serve a purpose.
Use the old, boring, routes to run different training types, like intervals, or hills. We don't need go to new places for this type of training.
I ran yesterday with one of the clubs (many) really good runners, we are truly blessed in the excellent runner department, I'm hoping she will help me get a bit quicker by dragging me round a quick, flat 3 miles once a week, if she can stomach it much longer. I think I managed to keep up with her properly for 1.5 of the miles, then I started to flag a bit, but I kept going, and felt better for it.
She is officially good, this is not just me saying so. She got a good for age entry for Virgin London Marathon, no mean feat I can tell you. I told her how amazing I felt this achievement is, and she seemed genuinely unaware how good it is. Obviously she is proud, quite rightly, of her achievement, and by no means blase about it, but like I just said, I don't think she realised just how good this is.
The good for age time for my age group 50-59, or ancient as I like to call it, is a very unreasonable 3hrs 20mins. My chances of ever getting this time, zip, zero, nil, none, nothing, absolutely no chance whatsoever. You could probably add at least an hour and half on that and even then it would be close.
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Monday, 4 May 2015
Pebmarsh Maplestead Pebmarsh 6.8 miles
Another countryside route explored. I know that others of you may have run, some, if not all of this route in the past but for me it was the first time.
Well, what a wonderful route it proved to be. Beautiful scenery, acres of views and miles of peace and quiet.
This route was every bit as nice as the Arger Fen route on my previous post, and as an added bonus, not quite as hilly :-) Having said that, it is, without doubt a route of two halves. The Pebmarsh side of the Sudbury Halstead road is relatively flat(ish), but, cross that main Sudbury road, and it gets just a bit up and down. There are, however some nice flat parts, so its not completely up and down all the time. Theres plenty of time to relax.
I am adding photos this time showing turns and junctions, I hope this helps.
Getting to the start
Follow the Sudbury to Halstead road up Ballingdon hill. Take the 1st turning for Pebmarsh half a mile on the left past the Little India restaurant, just opposite a layby on the right. Follow this twisty road until you reach the Pebmarsh football pitch on the left, just over a mile from the turning. Park here (if you want to that is)
The route
Standing at the exit of the car park area run back the way you just drove in. Follow this road along until you come to a turn on the left, it is a left turn, but kind of goes straight on (1) due to it being on a very sharp right bend. There is a sign to the left just around the side of a tree which says Stanley Hall, follow that road..
Follow this road down a hill and back up the other side, taking the next right turn (2).
Follow this road along until you come to the main Sudbury Halstead road. I need not remind you to take care when crossing this busy road, do I? Straight over the main main road taking the lane opposite you (3)
Well, what a wonderful route it proved to be. Beautiful scenery, acres of views and miles of peace and quiet.
This route was every bit as nice as the Arger Fen route on my previous post, and as an added bonus, not quite as hilly :-) Having said that, it is, without doubt a route of two halves. The Pebmarsh side of the Sudbury Halstead road is relatively flat(ish), but, cross that main Sudbury road, and it gets just a bit up and down. There are, however some nice flat parts, so its not completely up and down all the time. Theres plenty of time to relax.
I am adding photos this time showing turns and junctions, I hope this helps.
Getting to the start
Follow the Sudbury to Halstead road up Ballingdon hill. Take the 1st turning for Pebmarsh half a mile on the left past the Little India restaurant, just opposite a layby on the right. Follow this twisty road until you reach the Pebmarsh football pitch on the left, just over a mile from the turning. Park here (if you want to that is)
The route
 |
| Carpark Start and car park |
Standing at the exit of the car park area run back the way you just drove in. Follow this road along until you come to a turn on the left, it is a left turn, but kind of goes straight on (1) due to it being on a very sharp right bend. There is a sign to the left just around the side of a tree which says Stanley Hall, follow that road..
 |
| Left turn (1) |
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| Right turn (2) |
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| Straight over crossroads (3) |
Carry on along this road until you come to a T-junction (4) take the right turn.
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| Right turn (4) |
A shortish run now to the next turning, which is to the left (5), opposite a black barn called Harpers Barn.
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| Turn left (5) |
Follow this, ahem, undulating section of the run down a narrow road. Eventually you will come to a right turn, that looks more like a dirt track than a road, take that turn (6).
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| Right turn (6) |
This road/track is probably the only section that could get muddy, there was a point where my new running shoes looked like they may get dirty, fortunately I kept it to a minimum. :-) Dirty running shoes, absolutely note!
Follow this equally undulating track until you come to a T-junction (7), take the right turn.
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| Right turn (7) |
A relatively uneventful road now, for just under a mile, a slight up slope but nothing like earlier hills.
At yet another T-junction take the left turn, into Gestingthorpe Road (8).
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| Left turn (8) |
Take the next right, into Cock Road, just after a red house (9), only a hundred yards or so from the turning just taken,
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| Right turn (9) |
Stay on this road for about 1.5 miles, this will take you back across the main Sudbury Halstead road again, this time you will cross it at the Little India junction (10)
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| Straight over crossroads (10) |
Straight over the main road taking the road opposite. Keep on this reasonably flat section through to the next turn, which is to the right at a triangle of grass junction (11). Maplestead will be signed back the way you just came. This road is a little busier than the last few roads you would have been on, so please take care.
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| Right turn (11) |
Follow this road now, you are now heading back towards Pebmarsh. Keep left (12) (on the main road you are on) at the turn to the right, which is signed Colne Engaine and Halstead. As mentioned, dont take this turn, stay left.
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| Keep left (12) |
Run this road until you come to the last T-junction (13) of the route, and the last turn actually. Turn right here, either take the few yards of path, or stay on the road until the junction proper.
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| Right turn or path (13) |
After this right turn you are now back on the main Pebmarsh road, which can be busy, follow this road until you arrive back at the car.
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| Finish Back at the start |
Well I hope you enjoy running this route, or even reading about it.
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Arger Fen-Bures 7 mile circular route
Having finally got completely fed up with running the same old routes around the town I took to Google maps and planned out a few courses around nearby villages. Not to far away, after all theres no need to travel to far for training or pleasure runs, we can leave the traveling for organised events.
As I run these course I will explain them on here, hopefully in enough detail so you can enjoy them as well.
This course I will be describing is around Bures, a village about 5 miles from Sudbury, and around 7 miles from Colchester. The run starts from Arger Fen, which is a Suffolk wildlife trust nature reserve about a mile or so outside Bures.
Getting to the parking place.
Heading from Sudbury turn left at the old Chambers depot, and follow this road along for about 1.5 miles, and turn left at the crossroads. Drive up the hill and over the top until you start to head down hill, about 1 mile from the left turn you made. You will come across some parking bays on the right, park here for the run. Free parking, always good.
The run begins.
Like I said just now, you should just be on the down slope, thats the way you will head, nice down hill to start. Follow the road down, try to keep dry at the ford which crosses at the bottom, theres a little walkway at the side. Be aware that it can be slippery on the walkway, and also on the cobbles just before you get back onto the road proper. Well, thats the downhill bit done for a while, now for some uphill. Its quite steep to the top so dont go to mad, its approximately 1/2 mile of climb. When it does eventually level out its an open countryside view all around. Keep on this road until you come to a T junction.
Turn left at the junction, the signpost says Bures 3, Lt Cornard 2 1/2.
This road can get quite busy, depending on the time of day and what day you run on. I ran this route on a Sunday morning at around 08:30 so it wasn't to bad. Make sure you keep your wits about you. If you do listen to music while you run, I do when alone, I recommend taking one earpiece out so you can hear traffic approaching, and run towards the oncoming vehicles. I know some folk will say DON'T WEAR HEADPHONES WHEN RUNNING ON THE ROAD, I'm not here to tell you what to do, or what not to do, just that if you do wear them, turn it down a little.
Ok, so back to the route. The road your on now takes you downhill (eventually) into Bures. This is quite an undulating section that finishes with a nice downhill section (Cuckoo Hill) into the village.
The hill becomes paved about 2/3rds of the way down, stay on the path and when at the bottom of the hill at the T junction cross over to the other side of the road that forms the T, and head left. Be aware of the narrow path, and road, and watch out for buses and lorries which may come close to the edge. After a hundred yards or so you will come to a 3 way junction. The main road goes round to the right, but you want to go left, keeping the church on your right. Crossing just after the old Chambers bus depot on your left. Follow the road around to the left and run past the 3 Horseshoes public house, somewhere to stop after maybe? Follow the road around right. You will stay on this road for about 1.5 miles, be warned there is a serious climb on this section. This section of the route is unpaved, and this section can also be busy at times, caution is required as before. Enjoy the flat section just as you head out of the village, and run past the sports field. After 1.5 miles you will come to a crossroads, turn left, signed, Assington 3, Boxford 5. Glorious flat views of the surrounding countryside can be had from this crossroads, maybe other places to explore? After the left turn its all uphill to the finish, well, mostly uphill, there is the slight down slope where you parked! Its approximately 1 mile back to the car and a well deserved sit down, or, maybe a gentle jog down to the ford to make it a round 7 miles, and, if you have company like I did, a game of Pooh sticks in the ford before off to the pub.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you do decide to follow this route I hope you enjoy it, be warned though, it is, ahem, undulating!
Approximately 7 miles
As I run these course I will explain them on here, hopefully in enough detail so you can enjoy them as well.
This course I will be describing is around Bures, a village about 5 miles from Sudbury, and around 7 miles from Colchester. The run starts from Arger Fen, which is a Suffolk wildlife trust nature reserve about a mile or so outside Bures.
Getting to the parking place.
Heading from Sudbury turn left at the old Chambers depot, and follow this road along for about 1.5 miles, and turn left at the crossroads. Drive up the hill and over the top until you start to head down hill, about 1 mile from the left turn you made. You will come across some parking bays on the right, park here for the run. Free parking, always good.
The run begins.
Like I said just now, you should just be on the down slope, thats the way you will head, nice down hill to start. Follow the road down, try to keep dry at the ford which crosses at the bottom, theres a little walkway at the side. Be aware that it can be slippery on the walkway, and also on the cobbles just before you get back onto the road proper. Well, thats the downhill bit done for a while, now for some uphill. Its quite steep to the top so dont go to mad, its approximately 1/2 mile of climb. When it does eventually level out its an open countryside view all around. Keep on this road until you come to a T junction.
Turn left at the junction, the signpost says Bures 3, Lt Cornard 2 1/2.
This road can get quite busy, depending on the time of day and what day you run on. I ran this route on a Sunday morning at around 08:30 so it wasn't to bad. Make sure you keep your wits about you. If you do listen to music while you run, I do when alone, I recommend taking one earpiece out so you can hear traffic approaching, and run towards the oncoming vehicles. I know some folk will say DON'T WEAR HEADPHONES WHEN RUNNING ON THE ROAD, I'm not here to tell you what to do, or what not to do, just that if you do wear them, turn it down a little.
Ok, so back to the route. The road your on now takes you downhill (eventually) into Bures. This is quite an undulating section that finishes with a nice downhill section (Cuckoo Hill) into the village.
The hill becomes paved about 2/3rds of the way down, stay on the path and when at the bottom of the hill at the T junction cross over to the other side of the road that forms the T, and head left. Be aware of the narrow path, and road, and watch out for buses and lorries which may come close to the edge. After a hundred yards or so you will come to a 3 way junction. The main road goes round to the right, but you want to go left, keeping the church on your right. Crossing just after the old Chambers bus depot on your left. Follow the road around to the left and run past the 3 Horseshoes public house, somewhere to stop after maybe? Follow the road around right. You will stay on this road for about 1.5 miles, be warned there is a serious climb on this section. This section of the route is unpaved, and this section can also be busy at times, caution is required as before. Enjoy the flat section just as you head out of the village, and run past the sports field. After 1.5 miles you will come to a crossroads, turn left, signed, Assington 3, Boxford 5. Glorious flat views of the surrounding countryside can be had from this crossroads, maybe other places to explore? After the left turn its all uphill to the finish, well, mostly uphill, there is the slight down slope where you parked! Its approximately 1 mile back to the car and a well deserved sit down, or, maybe a gentle jog down to the ford to make it a round 7 miles, and, if you have company like I did, a game of Pooh sticks in the ford before off to the pub.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you do decide to follow this route I hope you enjoy it, be warned though, it is, ahem, undulating!
Approximately 7 miles
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