Run home from Lewisham

Tired, but cracked on and did it.  Got faster towards the end.  Starting to get a bit dark across Beckenham Place Park.

8km 48mins

Tired Run Home from Lewisham

Though I had only done 10 intervals they must have been quality as I felt exhausted on the run home.  Still I kept going.  A slight pain in the hip reminiscent of the end of the Brighton Marathon, and then, much as most pains in my body recently it vanished.

Very humid for the end of September so I was a sweaty mess once more.

8km 46 minutes

Intervals

Back to Speed High Walk in the Barbican for some intervals.  10 intervals of one minute fast, one minute recovery.  Was definitely faster than last time

It''s humid, and even after the shower I am still sweating.  The guy in the sandwich shop says
"Gym?"
"Running" I say

Not sure if it was the intervals, the humid day or the shower needed to be a cold one, but the sweaty look at work is not so good.

Measured run home from Lewisham

Measured in pace and measured in the fact I remembered the Garmin.  Once again the leg was sore but I don't think the running was making it worse.

Despite sun down at 6:50pm, as I run across Beckenham Place Park and through the woods at 7:00pm  it is still easily light enough.

At home the distance is....7.88km.  I can add in the short jog to Cannon Street for a nice 8km run.

Need to decide how to refine the route when the darkness comes...

8km 46:13

Lunchtime Blackfriars

My wife is lending her bike to a friend.  So I gave it a service. And it was while taking it for a test drive and trying to bunny-hop it my foot slipped of the pedal and the steel pedal embedded itself in my leg.

So I haven't been running the last couple of days.  I was going to run home from Lewisham but the heavens really opened up with rain.  Today, however I decide to man-up and go for a run at lunch.

I run down across Blackfriars Bridge and on through South London.  After 15 minutes I turn and head back.  With a couple of days rest it feels pretty easy.  The leg is sore but I don't think running is irritating it.

5km 27:17

Almost Run Home PB

Friday at work and you can always slope off a bit early.  I start of at 5:30pm hoping to run the whole way home and get back for 7:00pm.  But I'm struggling.  The body is all grumbly.   But, after listening to the Marathon Talk Podcast by Prof. Ian Noakes about how we don't push ourselves hard enough, I push, and push.

I get caught at a couple of road junctions but keep going.  My body is screaming pain and suffering.  But I don't believe it.  So I push on, and on, and on.

At Catford Station, I see a woman start to cross the road.  She goes all wobbly and crashes to the floor.  Everyone around rushes to help.  So I look to see what I can do.  A car is about to turn right and run everyone over.  So I stop the traffic with an out stretched palm.  The twat driving the bus toots his horn.  But I ignore him.   The patient is moved to the pavement.  I look at the situation and it is in hand, so I resume the push.

Towards the end I get faster.  I believe I am built for distance.  Some may say Bloody Mindiness.

As I get home I look at the watch: 27:44.  I think it is a PB, despite stopping to marshal traffic.  As I sit down to write this blog, I realise I have run 27:14, but it was a fantastic effort.  The desire to wimp out and ease off, firmly rejected.

Now all that is needed is a couple of long slow runs and the Beachy Head Marathon could be quite tidy.

1:27:44 18km

Pushing the pace on the way back

Usual fayre.  Train to Lewisham, run back from there across Beckenham Place Park.

It starts to get dark, mainly because of black rain clouds and partly because of the evenings starting to close in.  Fortunately the rain never got going.  Unlike me.  I feel like give it a good bit of welly and zoom along.  At Beckenham Place Park I am tempted to take my shoes off for a bit of barefoot-action, but I resist.

Map-my-run on the IPhone let me down again and still no accurate distance measure.  Maybe I need to take the Garmin.

7km 42mins

Proper Barefoot

I've been reading a book about barefoot running by Barefoot Ken-Bob.  He is on the more extreme end of the Barefoot running spectrum (as opposed to Barefoot Ted who seems to be more into minimal shoes)

BKB doesn't believe in any shoes, ever.  He even thinks Vibram Five Fingers are spawn of the devil.  He recommends going to find some gravel to run on first as running on concrete is too easy and you learn bad technique.   I understand what he is saying, but to go running on gravel, barefoot?  Even my barefoot park runs are mainly done on grass.

I get the train from Cannon Street to Lewisham.  I run to Beckenham Place park in my Barefoot Evo shoes (which I am starting to really like)   Then I remove them.  There is a gravel path that leads through to the woods.  I get some funny looks from some youths on their BMXs.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained so I head onto the path.  I can feel the gravel, and I start of gingerly.  I try to remember all the techniques I have been reading about in KFB's book.  I'm a bit slow but I'm making progress.  Next I work my way through the trail in the wood.  Carefully, moving more than running.  A couple of times my feet detects trouble in the shape of something sharp, but tuned-in I am able to move my foot away.

The other side of the woods there is more gravel.  So I work my way across it.  I feel almost like I am walking, I am so upright but I am moving at more of a jog pace.  And I'm learning.  I'm piecing it all together.

I was planning to replace the shoes on the other side of the park but decided to run barefoot the rest of the way.  The first bit was on pavement road which was not as bad as I though (not as abrasive as I was expecting)  Then the unmade road with lots of big stones and lots of small stones.  I flow across it.

On the other side was a shingle path.  I get on with it and run across it.  A couple of students come the other way, and I r heaone say:
"Someone's Buzzing"
Not sure if this is a reference to the fact that only someone on drugs would be crazy enough to run barefoot across a shingle path.  Or maybe it was the paranoia and they weren't even talking about me(see below)

It was great running barefoot.  I was careful to avoid "Barefoot Exuberance Syndrome" where you over do it and end up hurting yourself.

Running in the aquas and the evos (despite BKBs objections and doubts) I believe has given me a half decent barefoot style that I was able to refine.  The worst part was the paranoia.  You do feel a bit of a freak with everyone looking at you.

I didn't think it was possible, but I know believe it is possible to run barefoot in supposedly inhospitable  environments like forest trails and gravel paths.  And to give BKB credit, he was right, it felt fantastic.

I can't wait to see where this adventure is going to take me...

8km 50:00

Time for a run

Have been really busy with work and family.  Meant to run half way to work but one of the worst sleep nights of my life prevented it.  On the way back I was determined.

Run to Cannon Street, Train to Lewisham and the run back.  And I was quick.  I ran through Beckenham Place Park realising that within a week it will probably be too dark.

Towards the finish I pick up the pace, even faster.  Maybe it was the stress being drained from me, but I flew and it felt good.

8km 43:26

Acorns at Park Run

After yesterday's H and H I decide to take it easy at  park run today.  I ditch the shoes and go barefoot.  Soon this will not be an option as it will be too cold.  And it is cold on the feet today.

After a  couple of km I seem to be flowing along.  So I keep pushing.  A couple of place I have to skip and dance through the twigs.  The last km I really push on.  At the finish I open up.  Then in the finishing funnel I realise it is covered in crushed acorns.  I have come in at full tilt and can''t easily dance round them.  The finishing marshals laugh.

I look at the time, 22:00, 10 seconds outside my PB.  Delightful running.

5km 22:00

Hare and Hounds

I'm enjoy the long mileage of twice a day runs.  But with today's Hare and Hounds 5 mile time trial in mind I had taken yesterday off.  To be honest the thighs were a little sore, even today.

I chat with the fellow timed runners at the start.  I'm off and start to struggle.  But I keep going, and gradually reel the other runners in.  By half way, there are only a couple of the slower runners in front.  And in time I dispatch them.

The thing with the handicap run is that you never know when one of the superfast runners will come storming up behind you.  It's one thing to reel in a slower runner, another thing to hold of a 31 minute-5 mile runner.  As I cross Blackfriars bridge I push, but I am not aware of anyone lurking.  As I come off the bridge I see a blue shirt lurking.  I panic and somehow drag a killer sprint.  I'm rarely beaten in the last 200m of a race.

In the last 100m I glance behind, and I am clear.  For the second month in a row I win the handicap.  At the finish I can't remember the time from last time and whether it is a PB but once again I am bent over double.  It shouldn't be a PB.  This month I had run hard, but off the back of a couple of hard weeks of running I should be tired.

The result email confirms it, a PB.  And even better, beating someone who's sporting ethos isn't always my cup of tea (I'd really love to say more but...)

5.2 miles 37:33 (PB)

Half way home from Lewisham

The weather was nice and so I run home from Lewisham.  The best bit was running through the Woods in Beckenham Place Park.  Flowing through the trails was fantastic.

It's the Hare and Hounds 5 mile time trial on Friday.  I'll need to decide whether I take a rest or easier day tomorrow.  To be honest, I'm revelling in the mileage.

8km 50 minutes

Hungerford Loop

A quick lunch time blast across Hungerford Bridge.  When run fast this loop down across Blackfriars bridge, along the Embankment and back across Paternoster Square is done in under half an hour.

Despite the recent mileage this is done quite comfortably. 

6km 29:22

Run halfway home from Catford not Lewisham

Tonight I decide to run from Catford.  It is a shorter route than from Lewisham, but a longer train journey.  When I move to Canary Wharf I will run to Lewisham and back every day and get the DLR (15 minutes).  But until then I can play with my route.  The run from Lewisham has been taking my 50 minutes which is a little long.

I had a route planned which would be pretty direct.  I have added unnecessary minutes to my journey by avoiding the direct route. I had planned to enter Beckenham Place Park by a "Dark friendly route" i.e. one I could run in Winter (It's still light in the evenings, but I'm planning ahead)   The problem is that I need a wee-wee.  So I head directly into the park and find a bush.  Ahhhhh.   I then run directly across the park (probably a bit dodgy if it was dark)   The slog up the hill in Railway Fields isn't so tough today.

I get back home a quicker than from Lewisham.  Running direct has helped.  There are lots of trains go to Lewisham, only the Hayes ones go to Catford.  The Hayes trains are not particularly regular.  I'm not sure what my strategy is going to be ongoing,

6km 35 minutes

Intervals

I had to be in early at work, so I couldn't run half way to work.  However I was on for a lunch time run.  My lunch was delayed and I could see the rain was coming.  Thinking about my lack of recent speed, I decide to do some intervals.  I had previously ear-marked the Barbican Highwalks for some intervals as it is was away from the road fumes.   I had also identified it as a possible route for rainy days as it is under cover and as I leave it is raining.

I find the fantastically named "Speed HighWalk".  I decide to do one minute on, with one minute recovery.  There is not enough "walk" to run in a straight line, so I have to run round the corner.

I do 10 intervals, and whilst hard work it is strangely satisfying.  A contrast to the miles I have been grinding out recently.  At the end I feel like I have a good work out.

I can't really measure the distance run or pace.  I need to do more of these training sessions, and realise at the end of the year I can't have a magical golden figure of miles run totted up from this blog.

30mins 10 intervals, 1 minute on - 1 minute recovery.

In the ghetto (drive-by)

I hadn't planned to run half way home, but a little lateral thinking had inspired me.  I put on my smelly lunchtime running kit, well due a wash.  I run to Cannon Street and get the train to Lewisham.  This time I am convinced I need to run through the middle of Beckenham Place Park to save some time and so I head that way.

As I run through Bellingham I hear a moped revving. I spot a group of people standing on a corner.  Suddenly two masked motorbike riders appear.  One on a trail bike and one on a moped.  There is tension in the air.  I think there is going to be a drive-by shooting.  This is not good.  So I sprint out of there.

I run across Beckenham Place Park and get lost in the woods.  I see someone coming towards me with a white dog.  I realise it is Matt from the running club whom I did the Brighton Marathon with.  We stop and have a good running chat.  It's nice to have a recovery period after my panic-sprint.

I end up way off course by trying to guess my way through the woods.  I almost end up in someone's back garden. A women in her garden stares at me, so I turn and go the long way round.

It feels good to pull a run out of the bag.

The rest of the run is uneventful but pretty enjoyable.

 8.5k 50 minutes (10 minute stop for an enjoyable chat with Matt)

Lunch time loop in the wind

I didn't manage to do the run half way to work because of general household chaos and I'm on earlies at work.

But lunchtime, I summon up the energy for an old favourite run.  I head down to Blackfriars, down the Thameside Path to the Tower.  Back through Leadenhall and down London Wall.

Nothing to spectacular, but very enjoyable.  The crowds were too dense in places to even skip through.  I also get caught at a number of traffic lights.  Still, it's good to be running.  It's windy, supposedly the remnants of Hurricane Katia.  It's Autumn on the way, but that's fine, I love Autumn.

When I get back to the changing rooms, I feel so good I have an idea.  I could run home in my dirty lunchtime running kit (which never gets washed enough)

5km 30 mins.

Park run with family

I dragged the family down to park run today, mainly so they could enjoy the cakes.  As is becoming a habit I decide to ditch the shoes before the run.

I'm not particular motivated to push and I trundle around in a pretty uneventful run.  Half way round I see a guy in some Vibram 5 fingers and we briefly chat barefoot.  He is new to this game but starting to appreciate the benefits.

No one to race at the finish, but I pick up the pace for a final burst.

At the finish I feel strangely disappointed with the time.  I need to remember than running mileage doesn't necessarily make you fast.

5km 23:34

Quick blast, half way run home from work

I'm feeling tired.  I notice that my usual train to Lewisham to run home from is cancelled.  I decide to get the train to Grove Park and run from there.  This is only 4km but I'm still building and it's good to mix it up.

The train is jam packed and extremely hot.  It is a relief to get out and start the running.  It's a hilly route but I just keep going and the hills do not bother me.  Far better than be cooped up on a train

In the end it is quite nice run, knowing it is less than a park-run.

4km 23mins

Different half way run to work

I was all set for the Nunhead -> City run, except my train did not stop at Nunhead.  Instead I get of Peckham and run from there.  It takes me a while to get my bearings, but I am soon back on the familiar route.

7km 42 minutes

Half way back from work

I run to Cannon Street.  Work had delayed me so I had to get a train 10 minutes later than I wanted.

As I get to Peter Pan's Pool  I can't decide which way to go. I decide to go through Beckenham Place Park woods, but then have a change of heart and run up Beckenham Hill through the golf club.  This though puts time on the run.  This part of the route definitely needs tuning.

I feel a a little tired but keep going.

8km 54 minutes

Half way to work

Did the run half way to work.   I am wearing the evo-barefoot IIs and they are quite comfy, something I had never noticed before.

At some point I realised I was really enjoying the run

44mins 8km

Half run from work

At the end of the work day I zip to Cannon Street.  I then get the train to Lewisham.  I was not planning to listen to music as I didn't fancy being mugged for my phone.  But I can see it is raining heavily.  I had left the waterproof rucksack liner at home so I tuck my phone well away in the bag.

Just by Lewisham Hospital the rain really comes down, but I keep going.  By the end the rain has gone.  Just round from my house there is a basketful of free Bramley Apples provided by a kindly gardener.  I grab a couple so my wife can make me an apple crumble another day.

I can't decide whether this route is a tad too long, and whether I would do better going City Thameslink -> Catford and running from there.  I do like the change of going from Cannon Street though.   Also the liquidity of trains to Lewisham is greater.

Should also Garmin this route to get the length.

8km 51 mins

Half run to work

After a couple of weeks holiday, it was the grim return to work.  But I am determined to fit as much running as possible into the journey to and from work without sacrificing any family time.

Despite being ill the previous day, I summon up the strength for the half-run in.  I get the train to Nunhead  and then run the 8km or so to work.  Nothing to grand, but still nice all the same.

I probably should Garmin the route to get the accurate distance

8km 45mins

Beckenham Assembly League

I have been off work the last couple of weeks.  I had been eating healthily and cutting back on the beer.  The last couple of weeks, due to holidays has been less healthy.  I weighed myself before the run and I was 81.5kg (I need to be much less than this, but based on the last 20 years, this is very light!)

At the start I see John, Richard and Hannah from the club.  I also see Deidre and Martin from work.

I start of well and power up Ravensbourne Hill.  Then at the Millwall FC training ground I start to struggle.  My legs feel stale. Interestingly my upper body feels strong from lugging kids around.  In reality I need to keep up the running and build up the upper body strength.

Eventually I enter Beckenham Place Park.  As I run up to the hill to the finish, all the other running clubs are standing around encouraging their runners home.
 
Someone looks at me and shouts at their runner,
"Come on you can take him"
Except he can't.  In the last 200m no-one beats me.  So I pick up the pace.  They try and battle but I stay ahead.  Then suddenly, someone flies round the outside even faster, so I step up again.  Of course, I finish ahead of them.  At the finish I am breathless, and yet I could I have sprinted faster.  Maybe I am the Mark Cavendish of the running world, but alas your team can't drag you to the finish for a glory spurt in running.

A great evening, good to catch up with people but then it's back to the baby!

4.5km 20:01