A Run Recommended by Strava

When you drive to a place you don't have a place for it. That's why it's good to use sites to find recommendations. Usually I like to explore routing opportunities with Komoot, to look at routes, what they offer as sites and sounds, and how long the route is.

Last night and this morning I let another site decide. I told Strava that I was going to start from one point, and I looked at what it recommended. I then drove to the start, and ran the route. In the process I found that the route it recommended was not as intuitive as I thought.

I continued following a road down a hill, when I came across some cows, when I should have followed a hiking path along that field, along the road and down towards a canal. Instead I continued downwards towards a gravel road before coming up to road works where a bridge was being replaced. I had to cross an empty river and then go under a barrier.

I thought that I would be road running but I was gravel running, which, with vapour gloves is unpleasant. I stomped on a few stones with my heels, and could really feel the base of my feet being massaged by other stones. It was painful.

Eventually I ran through an industrial zone. From what I could see the hiking path was blocked for some reason. Eventually I was able to rejoin the canal.

Running along the canal was really nice. It's unusual for me to stop and take pictures at regular intervals. As the route was new, and special to me I wanted to capture it.

It's amusing. If you drive here, you think "It's a small village with a street or two, and not much else, but when you hike, or walk, you see that it has a lot to offer.

The route that strava planned was in the opposite direction. If I had checked the route more carefully I would have realised.

TLDR

If you find yourself in a place for two or three hours, without plans, then Strava could suggest a running route with nice landscapes.