Having had the week of work this week, I decided to take a break from tech stuff and do a bit of exercise (something that i have neglected a little of late). My aim was to get out and enjoy the lovely sunshine we are currently having and to loose a few pounds. I managed to get out and do a 10-15 mile run everyday for the last 5 days, but only managed to loose literally a couple of pounds. Unlike Lucinda who has lost a stone in the last month!

On Wednesday I look the 38 mile drive to Kielder Water and jogged around the newly opened “riverside way” multi-purpose track. Having been to Kielder in the summer before, I did have my reservations, expecting to be eaten alive by the midges and having to hack through undergrowth. However I have to say that i was very impressed with the new track, sandwiched between the forest and the lake and intersected by numerous streams, its about 2 meters wide all the way around, made of a grit/dirt on hardcore (so its not too bad on the joints) and has new handrails and bridges on all the steep sections.

I jogged about 16 miles on a there and back again route on the North shore, so I  saw 8 of the 26 miles circuit. I would describe the route as mainly trail, and as reasonably flat being around a lake, but it does have a nice gentle rise and fall, so it would be ideal for doing recovery runs after a long fell run or for road runners wanting to make the transition to hills or fells.

I can’t wait to get back when i have a little more time and have a crack at doing the whole 26 mile circuit, must be one of the nicest marathon courses around, and its practically on my door step.