6.41km Multi-Combination Run

Brief

After my 4.45km Park Loop soaking on Monday, 6.32km Park/Broomfield v1 on Tuesday, 6.50km Park/Broomfields v2 on Wednesday, and 9.02km Gorse Loop just yesterday, I was feeling a little tired in the legs.

I was however determined to put in another descent effort in today and again wanted to run a completely different route, so I ran a multi-combination of many other routes I have previously run and also included a new link path between Blackcap Road and Green Lane.

The reason why I have run generally longer distances this week, is that next week I only plan to run two small runs at an easy pace which will be a cool down just before my Referees' Fitness Test on Sunday 8th July.


The Route

My run started at the bus stop at St. Matthew's School, running westbound just passed the Church, turning right onto the Old Roman Road pathway, but instead of continuing on towards London Road, I instead took the path between the Pewterspear Green Road that connect back up to the Old Oak Walkway near to its end.

On reaching the Dipping Brook Avenue, instead of running straight on towards Stoneacre Gardens, I ran up the Dipping Brook Avenue hill and continued over the roundabout down to the Blackcap Road roundabout, taking the longest route around the roundabout itself.

I then ran uphill along Blackcap Road until reaching the left-hand link path towards Green Lane. On reaching Green Lane, I turned left until reaching the Pillars (usually the Park Loop 2km mark) pathway near Rosemoor Gardens. I took this path, following it until Stonearce Gardens just beyond Cann Lane. I then took the mini-link path to Longwood Road, turning right towards the Old Pewterspear Lane.

I headed down the Old Pewterspear Garden path until its conclusion at London Road. I then continued along London Road until reaching the Cat & Lion traffic lights. At these lights I turned left along Stretton Road until reaching the bus stop finish where I started my run.


The Stats

Total distance of 6.41km (3.98 miles) completed in 30:12 giving an average speed of 12.74kmh and an average pace of 4:43 per km.


Start: 1:37 pm
Time: 30:12 Multi-Combination Loop (Gmap route)
Distance: 6.41km (3.98m)

Average speed: 12.74kmh (7.91mph)
Average pace: 4:43 per km (7:35 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 159, HRmax 168, and 443kcals

9.02km Adventurous Gorse Loop

Brand new adventurous mostly off road through farm paths run...

Having viewed The Google Maps of the Stretton and surrounding area, I discovered a farm path near Stud Farm on the Lumb Brook Road that extends for 2km (known as The Gorse) that brings you out again on Witherwin Avenue that eventually brings you out to Broom Avenue and then Lyons Lane.

So, I set out on the Park Loop, taking the right-hand turn at Green Lane, up Dodd's Lane that brings you out onto Lumb Brook Road. I then took the above new route and then...

Using the Lyons/Chalfont path I recently discovered that connects Longwood Road, I then took the link path between Longwood Road and Dudlow Green Road and then the subsequent link path to the Old Pewterspear Lane. From there, I ran the remainder of the Park Loop to the finish, completing a distance of 9.02km in 42:21 giving an average speed of 12.78kmh and an average pace of 4:42 per km.

It is a very hilly and in places difficult circuit, but I enjoyed it and would definitely run it again.


Start: 12:45 pm
Time: 42:21 Gorse Loop (Gmap route)
Distance: 9.02km (5.60m)

Average speed: 12.74kmh (7.94mph)
Average pace: 4:42 per km (7:33 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 159, HRmax 166, and 624kcals

6.50km Slight variation on yesterday's run

Considering that I failed to find the path leading up from Lyons Lane yesterday and that I allegedly knew how to find the top part of the same path, I decided to re-route my run so that I ran down this path rather than up it. Sensible you might think...

So, Park Loop up to and including Green Lane, then right into Longwood Road until reaching the top of this path. I then ran down it for a fair distance only to find the route going around the Cricket Ground was blocked by a fence (which appears as one continuous path in the Warrington A-Z). The path did however branch right onto Chalfont Close that led down to Lyons Lane.

Today, I spotted this elusive path from Lyons Lane end. It had a large metal gate preventing public access!

After that, I used the same route as yesterday, running up Hall Drive, through Beachways, along Dunlow Green, before turning left onto London Road. I then followed London Road to the Cat & Lion traffic lights, turning left into Stretton Road, continuing until reaching the bus stop finish just before St. Matthew's School (Gmap of route). Total distance was 6.50km (4.04 miles).


Start: 1:45 pm
Time: 30:37 Park/Broomfields Loop [variation] (Gmap route)
Distance: 6.50km (4.04m)

Average speed: 12.74kmh (7.92mph)
Average pace: 4:43 per km (7:35 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 159, HRmax 166, and 450kcals

It's only an extra 150 metres!

With the aid of my very handy NavMan R300, I again ran the same Park Loop (Dipping Brook Variation) as yesterday in order to record the actual distance of this particular circuit.

It is in fact 4.60km which is only an additional 150 metres longer than the standard Park Loop circuit, albeit, you do have to run that 150 metres uphill which does slow you down. Then the downhill part to Green Lane is a very winding path that does not allow you to pick up too much pace to compensate.

I managed to complete the course 46 seconds faster than yesterday's effort with a time of 21:12.


Start: 1:47 pm
Time: 21:12 Park Loop (Dipping Brook Variation)
Distance: 4.60 km (2.86 m)

Average speed: 13.019 kmh (8.090 mph)
Average pace: 4:37 per km (7:25 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 162, HRmax 170, and 322kcals