Running in the Woods

Today I made the most amazing discovery! I decided that I needed to get out for a run since the gym is so far away and it's not worth going if I'm not already on campus. I'd been a but apprehensive about running in my neighbourhood because from what I'd seen of it so far, it looked pretty sketchy. BUT I decided to go for it and I went out on a main stretch of road in the only direction I'd never been.

What Google maps and streetview didn't tell me was that there were walking/hiking/cycling paths leading from the road into a lovely forest and just how close those paths were to the river (River Aire)! I didn't get too far at all before I came upon the famous Kirkstall Abbey. The ruins of this 800 year old monastery are incredible--especially in the backdrop of the fairytale-looking forest on the river. You know the kind, with great old trees that are spaced fairly widely (so it's an easy thing to "run through the forest"... not like in the Canadian boreal forests) and there are massive willow trees that lean way over and dip their long branches into the river on either side. I had the biggest grin on my face as I was jogging along. Eventually, as I passed the abbey and the path narrowed, I had to slow down... not because I was tired but because I was on the riverbank and I was scaring the ducks! It was too beautiful to run by anyway.

That was JUST the motivation I needed to get a running routine down! I have to go back now to get pictures and to see the place on a sunny day when the leaves have turned more brightly fall colours. I will definitely post pictures soon!