When it comes to find an amazing place to run, it doesn’t come much better than St Aidan’s RSPB Nature Park. It was originally a massive open-cast coal mine that got ruined in a big flood in the 1980s. Over the following decades the area has been reconstructed as a massive and beautiful wetland nature reserve. The reserve has an extensive network of public footpaths and the paths are flat and wide. Dominating the RSPB visitors centre is a reminder of the park’s heritage, an enormous crane, a dragline known as as Oddball, which is so large it was simply left in place when decommissioned. It is now a listed building and a visitor attraction in it’s own right (open to the public about 4 times per year).
I have decided to only run the mandatory 10K each day to the end of the month so toady, we drove to the RSPB car park and ran the course of the St Adan’s 10K. This race is at the end of the first week in July, giving me a chance to rest before I race it. I ran round the course with Helen my wife today and we both ran relatively sedately saving ourselves for the big event.
We decided to join the RSPB today because what they have done here is a truly wonderful thing, giving nature a chance in this once ruined environment. We use this park so much, usually not driving and feel we ought to give something back.
“And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’” Gen. 1:20 NIVUK
Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church. To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.
Marathon Mann 