I live in a small Miners village near Durham, I’ve lived here for about seven years now. When I was looking for a house, one of the main things I looked for was that the house was a runable distance into Durham. It’s usually between a seven to eight mile run, but after a dry spell it is possible to run completely off road and do it in six mile.
The first time I did the off road route it was a map job and it took some working out as the footpaths are used so little they have either become very overgrown or farmers have ploughed and planted over them. It’s a really nice run but I only really get to do it about two months of the year. If it’s not overgrown and wild it’s too wet and muddy under foot and I end up walking more than running.
Last Wednesday I was about to set off on my usual run into work, but as I got to the end of my street, I stopped and looked down the Vale, it was a perfect day. I could see the village pond, open fields, woodland and in the far distance Durham Cathedral.
Now that I write this blog, I usually have a think on my easy run’s about what I’m going to write about, today as I ran down into the Vale I thought I would share my run into work with the blog readers.
To see my second video link click here.
I now drop down into Shincliffe for another very short road section to Durham University sports centre (Maiden Castle). This is where I do most of my training, it’s fantastic for running here, it has a track, perfectly flat and well looked after fields as well as river and woodland paths.
The run to work now follows the river, past the Durham rugby club then Durham rowing club and cricket field. This area is familiar to a lot of North east runners as it is where the Durham cross country relays are held. It’s only a short run from here to work, I stay on this side of the river and cross at Elvet bridge, up the cobbles and finish at the market place.