Stepping it Up

Last Saturday morning was my first time doing that loop that I mentioned....4.9 miles long... and I'd like to think that it was alright!! I set out at 8:10am and got back for 9:00am.....well pleased I was with this result....a consistent 10 minutes per mile!!!
There was a bit of anticipation on my part due to the big hill in the first few minutes of the run but once I had conquered that I was comfortable enough after that. The other hills were only baby ones compared to the first one!! My fear was for nothing! I didn't think I would make such a good time on this run....my initial estimate being between 54-57 minutes but 50 minutes was outstanding in my books!!!!!
What made the run enjoyable was the fact that this was practically all new territory for me....I've never run this stretrch before...I did walk it once but it's different when you run ....just to be able to get a feel for the different parts of the route. And the best thing about the whole experience is, at that time of the morning there wasn't a soul out and about. The return part of the journey came from a different direction....there's nothing worse in my books than going over old ground....it's all about novelty in my books....or maybe I'm just nosey!!
For future runs I have a few routes planned out in my head, all I have to do is measure them in my car to get the exact distance!! I find that this helps me gauge the run...makes it easier to tackle the run when you know what your'e up against....again maybe its a sense of achievement!!!! My area is a country area with small boirins and very little traffic. The only thing you might come across is a tractor or a harvester. These little roads sometimes go on for ever but they always seem to loop back on each other...perfect for a novice runner like myself!! Plus the fact that its a pretty scenic area with lovely rolling fields that have views across the whole countryside. You can see as far as the Ballyhoura Mountains...great inspiration for walking or running...and its quiet!!
Saying that though, sometimes the roads can be slightly rough....the city has some advantages over the country in that regard. My next stretch in the city should take in the Lee Road area down to the distillery near the Mercy hospital ....nice flat runs to build up the mileage!!! This is truly a beautiful part of the city that too few people have seen ....a natural oasis of water with a history to boot! It's great to see the city council redeveloping all thes areas for the public to enjoy...areas in Cork that you couldn't access up until a few years ago!!! A real bonus for runners like myself...especially novice ones!!!