as well as your arm and legs, and on your midriff girls if you’re wearing a crop top. Runners have a head start over the general population when the sun eventually shows his face and everyone thinks about vests and shorts; at least our legs and arms have seen some daylight and we’re not quite as milk-bottle white as our neighbours. And summer running will definitely help add a little colour before your beach holiday.
Au Naturale Long sunny days are sure to get runners thinking outside the box and ditching their ‘close to home’ runs for something more adventurous. The natural world is at its abundant best and it’s the perfect time to explore the countryside. For city dwellers that might mean a drive beyond the built-up areas to locate a decent trail however with a growing network of signposted walks and cycle-ways there should be something that will work for you. Then just enjoy those verdant vistas and big bright skies!
If You Go Down To The Woods It’s great to run in the woods in summer as the tree cover makes it nice and cool in hot weather; is there anything more inspiring than running over the woodland floor across sun- dappled paths? Shangri-la! Out in the open take the chance to enjoy those lovely rural views and all the sights, sounds and smells of the world of nature in summer. Check out the race listing at
northernrunningguide.com for July/August, there’s a few special events that let you enjoy the splendours of the English countryside in an event setting. The James Herriot Country Trail Run caught our eye - a 14K run over moorland tracks and paths above Bolton Castle in Wensleydale in North Yorkshire with beer, ice cream and roast hog for runners and their families, all in a setting immortalised in the ‘vet’ novels.
Sand, Sea And ...
Summer is synonymous with the seaside and
northernrunningguide.com race listing threw up a few possibilities for a day out at one of the north’s top resorts. The more adventurous might attempt the Cross Bay Challenge in August. This unique race leads runners through two counties and two rivers and is the only known race in the world to cross a tidal bay (Morecambe Bay). Blackpool hosts the Hilton Illuminations 10K on Saturday, September 1 and a half marathon the following day; meanwhile runners in the north-east can get a nice 5k outing every Saturday morning at the new Whitley Bay parkrun - the course is two laps up and down the seafront. But remember you don’t need an official event to
run up and down the sands at Scarborough or Southport or whichever coastal idyll takes your fancy.
Melons And Larks
Our final summer recommendation is make sure you stay hydrated during the warm spell. Drink more and incorporate lots of juicy summer fruits into your diet. Our favourites - melons, oranges, peaches, nectarines and pears - healthy, but delicious eating. Or whip these guys into a breakfast smoothie and head out to the join the larks on a sunny early morning run.
Long sunny days are sure to get runners thinking outside the box and ditching their ‘close to home’ runs for something more adventurous.
NORTHERN RUNNING EGUIDE 13
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