Intervals with the Thursday lunchtime group

I seem to have joined the lunchtime running club of another organisation in the same area as my own.  A good bunch of guys and a wide range of abilities.  I sit somewhere in the middle.

I still only have the aquas to run in, probably not ideal for a session but it's better to be out.

We do some simple warm-ups round one lap of the park on the West side of the Isle of Dogs.  We then run 4 laps (around a mile) before a brief rest.  We then run a fast 400m, a rest and then another fast 400m.   I spot Steve and Matt from my office out for their usual 4km loop.

We then run another 4 easier laps before stopping for a final gentle-jog lap.

The others go to stretch but I decide to head back.  I love running with other people (I feel it is the natural way)    This was a nice little session and fitted nicely into the lunchtime.

4km 30:00 (Intervals)

Down to Island Gardens

I had cycled to work, but still fancied a little run at lunch.  Currently at work, partly due to the lack of a permanent locker I only have aqua shoes.  I don these and head out South.

I run round the docks before eventually reaching Island Gardens.  I go and look across the river at Greenwich before heading back.

Through the docks this time I get in a three way race.  The guy in front of me slower, the guy behind faster.  We all race along until everyone finds their own place.

Back at the office I am sweaty but satisfied

5km 30:00

Getting away from work

After a hard day of work, I want to get home quickly.  I decide to head to London Bridge, pick the next train and run back from where it takes me.

In the end Grove Park wins.  It's hot but I crack on.  I concentrate on running, standing up straight.  I think sometimes I slouch when running, wasting energy.  I believe the mental image is a piece of string through the head holding you up.  It seems to help and I power along.

I'm not too sweaty until I walk in through the front door and then I descend into a sweaty mess.

4.5km 24:00

On the way to work via Lewisham

I decide to run to Lewsiham and then DLR it the rest of the way for my journey to work.  The run up my road (which is a hill) is really hard.  However as I enter Beckenham Place Park my mood changes.  Running though the woods is magic but it's starting to get overgrown.

Out the otherside, I start to feel the heat in the concrete jungle.  I battle on and towards the end I even pick up speed.  Still it's a relief to make Lewisham DLR.

8km 46:00

East Side of the Isle of Dogs

Not sure how I wangled this run at lunchtime but I did.  I nearly ran on separate run with at least 3 of my colleagues.  But in the end it is only me who sneaks out.

After my disappointing riverside run with Steve last week, today I decided to investigate the east side of the Isle Of Dogs. Open Street Map which shows footpaths looked promising.

I run through the outside bar areas of the Wharf.  After 8 minutes I reach the riverside path.  Apart from the Imposing Dome, it's all a bit industrial.  It is 28c according to the lift at work.  I'm in the aquas and skipping along.  It's mainly residential and some of the locals are out sun bathing.  They stare at the idiot running.  After 15 minutes I turn and head back.  I imagine the river in its heyday with boats heading up and down to the docks.

Considering I cycled to work and am cycling back tonight the run was good.

Finally back at the office I disappear into a pool of sweat.

5km 27:43

Park Jog

It's a hot sunny day, and unexpectedly I am free for Park Run.  Even better news is that the knee is better.  A couple of days rest and it was all fine.  Even managed to cycle to work yesterday.

I get up at the last minute and skip a coffee.   Maybe that explains why I am finding the run so hard.  At the start everyone had streaked off as usual but now I was struggling to reel them in.  I had decided to take it easy, but soon the 24 minute pacers goes past.  A little way from the finish I hear the 25 minute pacer catching me up.  He runs past and tries to encourage me.  I say that I can't be bothered.

In the finishing straight I get passed by another runner I decide that I don't want to be beaten by them so I flat out sprint the last straight at full race sprint including dispatching the 25 minute pacer.

Not sure why today was so slow, I could blame the heat but I don't think that was the case.   I could blame the 3 days off with the gammy knee, but that's probably not the reason.  I have noticed some weight creeping back on so I need to sort my diet out.  This is unlikely to explain this one off poor performance.  I'll put it down to feeling a little run down and will ensure that normal service will be resumed.

5km 24:38

Lunchtime with Steve and then Sore Knee

Steve and me manage to slip out for a quick lunchtime run.  He suggests Matt's 4km loop, but I suggest we try running down the river back towards the city.

We find our way to the Clipper Ferry Terminal.  But then we are forced of the river into the back streets.  We finally manage to make the river again for the final 5 minutes of the outbound run.

I think we make it as far as the air vent of what I think is the Rotherhithe tunnel.  I know I had made it this far from the city with Niall previously.

By now we are both feeling the heat.  We run round the circular air vent structure and head back.  We get a little lost and end up having to run across the busy road to get back to the office.

A nice run especially by the river.  And then disaster.  Sitting at my desk, I stand up and the back of my knee hurts.  It hurts to walk and running is certainly out of the question.  Not sure if it is yesterday catching up with me, but it's not good,.  Not good at all.

5km 32:00