Jog-walking in the beautiful countryside.
In mid-February we will be starting a small trundling group focusing on gentle cross country jog-walks to historic sites, noted viewpoints and beautiful countryside in Wales and Cheshire.
(We already have walking groups – so these won’t be to everyone’s taste..).
The trundles will be, biggest part = gentle jogging, medium part = walking on up-hills and interspersed parts = sitting and taking breaks and views.
If you view getting fit for the summer as a chance to see places that you would never see from the car and as a chance to really take a break from normal routines – have dollops of the freshest air and experience spring developing over the two months of fortnightly Sunday Morning runs then these will be great experiences and focusing on being present in the here and now’s by taking time out to look listen and think about bygone days and traditions lost to our speeded-up new global lives.
Firstly let me state that these will be at a really slow pace as they are not meant to be in the least bit competitive.
The trundles will be jogged at “talking” pace and are aimed, similar to many new aesthetic therapies, to enable folk to soak in the experience – sights and sounds of spring in the countryside but with a particular historic site (sites?) as the main gathering/focal point for the activity.
The group size will be a maximum of 5.
At the historic sites we will take a break for a drink and bite to eat and a sit and look around and take in the views. We will provide the drinks and a homemade flapjack for energy along the way as well as a brief route description and history of the area and sites.
The terrain will range from beaches, undulating trails and tracks and will always follow rights of way – so this is not a fell running activity.
There will have to be a charge to cover costs and anyone interested will have to be used to jogging up to 6-8 miles on roads. Cross country trundling is a lot easier on your body than harsh tarmac or concrete! It’s just good lung conditioning that folk will need the running experience for.
The outings, from leaving Woodside (early starts 7.30am) – to arriving back at our Woodside offices, will range from 4 to 7 hours – the trundling times.
You will need running tights – not shorts – and trail/fell running shoes fleece tops and light-weight showerproof (Which I will carry in a small rucksack), and £8-£12 (to cover costs and depending on distance travelled in car).
The trundles will be varied to include spring -woodland, heaths and beaches and will take place in whatever weather heads our way (unless its icy or absolutely bucketing down).
The routes will include:
A jog along North East Wales’s finest beach and up to the hills facing the Wirral Coast and stopping to take in the views from “St Elmo’s Summerhouse.” 6 miler.
Bry Cader Faner – the finest bronze age monument in Wales (probably Britain??) – 8 – 10 miler..
Maltraeth Estuary and Llandwyn historic sites island – 10 miler..
Beeston Castle and the Sandstone Trail and other local rights of way – 8 miles..
Red Wharf bay – to Penmon Priory – Islands, industry and idylls – 8 miles.
These trundles are open to anyone with an interest in jogging, good company and interesting places.
Chris Shaw.
Anybody interested should contact APEx at AIW on 0151 650 1530 or email apex@aiw.org.uk
Phoenix is the editor of this site and was diagnosed with bipolar twenty years ago. In between 8 periods of illness and hospitalisation she trained as a garden designer and was a awarded an RHS Diploma, gained a first class degree in Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Education that enables her to lecture in Recovery in Mental Health to psychiatric nurse students and mental health professionals at universities.
Phoenix leads a diverse life which she attributes to Wellness Recovery Action Planning and all aspects of Recovery. In the last 2 years she performed stand up comedy. Laughter truly is the best medicine! Now she is concentrating on being involved in improving conditions for inpatients and service receivers trustwide. And training in WRAP, Recovery Star and the new Advanced Statement and some gardening for health. Also with some great new art projects. 
