Stubbed toe

I get the train to Lewisham to run back from there.  Not planning anything too fast as I am still recovering from my cold.  About 1km I stub my toe.  Not sure why it happened, but it hurts.  After stubbing it a few times recently I need to be careful not to end up with a weakness.

I did not push the pace, but I feel my fitness and form are good.   The lungs still feel a little scarred from the recent cold.  Plenty of phlegm to dispose of on route.

When I reach Shortlands high street I start to open up a little more.  I power up the hill back to my house.  I feel good, and glad I made the run.

8.3km 50 minutes

Protesters

With today's strikes, I remembered I had not gone and looked at the protesters in Finsbury Square yet.  So I head up that way.  It looks like a big dirty campy site in the middle of the city.  On the other side there is Old Bill all over the shop.  I decide to run slightly nearer on my way back.

I continue up Shoreditch High Street looking at the oh-so trendy shops.  After 15 minutes I turn and head back.

It looks like the Police are staking out the Old UBS building that has been occupied hence why so many.

Nothing to flash at the start but by then end I wish I had more time for a longer run.

4km 27:06

Gentle back on it

It looks like almost a week since I last run.  After the cross country two things have conspired against me, sickness and work.  Thursday I was recovery from the cross country.  Friday I was so busy at work.  Saturday I woke up too sick to go to Park Run.  Sunday, still sick.  Monday, very busy at work.

So today I am determined to try and get back in to the habit.  I'm still coughing like a heavy smoker, so I take it easy.   A gentle jog down to Waterloo Bridge and back.   Recently, on the way back, rather than running back through St. Pauls, I have been running down to the Wobbly bridge and back past New Change.  That way you get a little more river action.  Nice.

The cough is not too bad but anything to intense would probably leave me a spluttering mess.

 I was tempted to try and work something into the journey home but the rain was very, very heavy.

28:30 4.5km

Inter-Financial Cross Country Championships

I did this a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it.  It's a 5.6 miles cross country run in Richmond Park with lots of sharp hills.  The title gives you a clue that I am running for my work team.

I am also wearing my new inov-8 trail shoes.  I'm not used to running in something so bulky.  Someone comments that they look heavy. I had them to them and then they realise, that despite their appearance they are pretty light.

Once the ladies race is finished we set off.  I am initially holding on to Paul but gradually he slips away.  I then follow Charlie for the two laps of the top of the hill.  I get past him a couple of times on the uphill and he takes me on the downhill.  The first lap is hard and I start to wonder how I will get round the second lap.

At the top of one hill, I power through some sticks. One gets kicked up and almost takes Charlie out.  I start to count my steps.  Counting each left stride 1..2..3..4 up to 100 and then again.  At the top of the hill there is a marshal shouting out places.  I am around 67th, this freaks me out as by chance I happen to be at step 67 in my step count.

I crack on with second lap and I edge past Charlie again (he later tells me that he could feel his hamstring going) and then suddenly it all come together.  The shoes are great.  It's not too muddy but anywhere slightly muddy I can power through.  My form is really powering me forward.

I complete the final hill and then it is a long run downhill and then across the flat back home.  As I near the finish   I hear someone closing in on me.  I fight back but they still seem to be closing.  It descends into an all out sprint.  I don't like to get beaten in the last 200m of a race and I put in all out effort.  The person continues to close.  The crowd and the other runners cheer.  I manage to hold him off.  Sometimes in these situation you need to be a bully and show some mental strength to deter the other runner.

At the finish we shake hands.  The rest of my team said that I was starting to get away again at the end.

I ran hard as was delighted with my performance


9km 44:00

Most welcome runners high

Because of the cross-country race tomorrow I need to take it easy.  I decide to get the train to Grove Park and take it easy back from there.

It is a nice easy run back and thoroughly enjoyable.  The only hard bit is running down the hill in Shortlands(Bromley) Park.  I look at the hill and ear-mark some hill repeats someday soon.

At home a runners-high of sublime sweetness kicks in, don't know why but nice all the same.

30 minutes 4km

Whoops, Intervals

It's important to get quality in as well as quantity.  So today I decide to go back to Speed Highwalk for some intervals.  10 sessions of effort with one minute rest in between.

After two intervals I remember I am running in the inter-financial services cross-country championship tomorrow and should be taking it easy.  I am committed to the intervals and so I diligently finish them.  To be honest it was quite enjoyable.  In places it is a little slippy as they were cleaning the tiles with one of those site on machines, but I work round it.

I finish and gently job bag.

10 1minute intervals with 1 minute recovery.

Waterloo Slowly

A weekend of excessive consumption.  Feel a bit jaded.  Unlikely that I will be running at lunchtime.  But I can't resist.

I run gently down to Waterloo Bridge.  On the way back I run along the river to the Wobbly Bridge and then back along past St. Pauls.  I was overtaken by most people today, but that's okay.  I'm proud of myself for dragging my frazzled body out.

4.5km 27:49

Park Run in silly footware

Was maybe targeting a PB today.  I wake up Saturday morning with an air of beery-ness.  Oh well best soldier round Park Run.  The difference today is that I have my evoskins.  These are a fluro-blue silicon layer over my feet.  I'm not worried about glass, thorns, nails, hypodermic needles with aids, razor blades, more the freezing cold.

To be fair they feel good.  Better than the Vibrams  5 Fingers which I am still not sure about.   I cruise round.  Towards the end I here Chris from the club catch up with me with some comment about crazy footwear.  We have a chat, and then I let him go as he is pacing someone to a PB.

Running on the tarmac is easier, though still not perfect.  I try and run down the gravel path on the far side.  I slow down and people stream past me.  Halfway down I give up and revert to the grass.  Running on gravel is easier when your feet are warmer.  Even with the evoskins my feet are still a little chilly.

The footwear is better than shoes, not as good as barefoot.  I am also a little bit aware of slipping over.  My new cross-country shoes would not have this problem.

At the finish I am strangely alone. Maybe no one wants to run near me with such crazy footwear.  I do a mini sprint.




To be fair, the time was pretty good given the fact that I am beery and the amount of time I lost down the back-straight trying to run across gravel.

5km 23:40

Hare and Hounds Winner Again...

The works 5mile time trial down the river Thames.  I am feeling fit.  I have won the previous two (on a handicap basis) that I entered.  Last month I was preparing for Beachy Head Marathon.

I am fully race-kitted up.  I am focussed and run hard.  At the further point I recognise one of the other runners catching me up.  I keep thinking he is going to catch me.  But he never does, a quick glance behind me as I cross Blackfriars Bridge confirms this.

In the finish straight I am still not sure if I have passed everyone.  I see one guy in an orange shirt that I am convinced is in the race. I hammer past him, glancing to check that he was not sprinting.  At the finish I realise he was not in the race after all, and he is left slightly bemused.

At the finish I know I have given it my all.  I was first, and yet according to the spreadsheet it was not a PB.  A quick check of this blog, confirms to me that it was a PB by 3 seconds.  Given how deep I had dug, it makes me feel all the better.

5miles 8km 37:30 (PB) Winner, handicapped

Westminster Loop Backwards

I bought my lunch on the way to work so I had the full 40 minutes to play with at Work.   I think about running the Westminster loop.  I am doing the Hare and Hounds tomorrow and running on the same route can get a bit much.  In the end I decide to do it "backwards" to the usual Hare and Hounds was.

 I run down across Blackfriars Bridge, along the Embankment.  On the South Bank there is a Christmas Market.  I recognise a number of the stalls from the one we went to in Hyde Park.  I then run across Westminster and head back.

It's a bit of a struggle, but I get on with it and get it done.  Heading back along the North Side of the river I spot attractive (obviously not as a attractive as my lovely wife) running behind.  She also looks pretty fast.  Then she disappears and never overtakes.  Then out of nowhere she overtakes me.  Then she turns round and heads back the other way.   Then at the next set of lights she overtakes me again.  I can't imagine what kind of session she was running

I didn't squeeze in a second run half way home tonight as I left my trainers in the wrong building, and well I feel tired so any excuse would do.

7km 40mins

Lewisham and mugging Gary Coleman

I had a late meeting in one of our other buildings so I cunningly stashed my running gear in the gym there.  I'm a little late, but I think the run home from Lewisham is on.

The blast-run to Cannon Street is done as fast as ever.  The train is delayed, but eventually I zoom away from Lewisham.  And it feel good.  I feel like I am properly running not shuffling as is sometimes the case.

As I run through Downham, I see two youths in front of me.  One quite short.  In my minds-eye he looks like Gary Coleman; in reality he was probably just short.  I can see his mobile phone glowing.  As I skip past him, he panics, assuming someone is coming to attack him.  I guess you are more on edge growing up in Downham.  I panic thinking he is going to stab me in self defence.  I zip off.

The rest of the run is done at a good lick.  I keep the pace up and work, but its not unpleasant.

I didn't really time the run but it was fairly quick.

8km 45:00

Leadenhall Loop Backwards

I've lost count of the number of times I have run this route, and it is my favourite.  The funny thing is that I never run it backwards.  All the time I have tried, I have gone wrong which seem crazy.

Today I am pretty sure I will have it cracked.  The interesting thing is, that you notice so much more.  I didn't realise how close to The Gherkin it takes you.  I didn't realise the fantastic Stonework on Leadenhall Market and so much more.

In the end the execution was perfect.  Maybe now I can do it a few more times "backwards"

The pace and form felt good.

5km 27"39

Unexepected Run

The plan was to get the train from Cannon St -> Lewisham.   I am sure I boarded the Hayes Train.  The announcement said Hayes, but the dot-matrix display says Sevenoaks.  After a while I establish that it is a Sevenoaks train.  No disaster, as I can get off at Grove Park and run back from there, a shorter run but I had a longer lunch time run to make up for it.

The run back is nice and quick but pretty uneventful.  The best bit is the lovely autumn leaves.

25mins 4.5km

Long Lunch

I brought my lunch in today so I had 40 minute for my run today.  I decide to run down to Wapping High Street.  There are two classic pubs that I like to go and look at.  I start off fast and then settle into a more realistic pace.

I run past the "Town of Ramsgate" and on to the "Captain Kidd".  It would be nice to stop for a pint, but not really practical.  I stop for a minute and turn back.

8km 38:19

Post Shopping Trip

I now had to return to the shop with my wallet.  I had my running kit and wanted run tonight.  So I run to the shop.  Still at a fair lick.  I pick up my new shoes and run with the bag in hand to Victoria

4.5 km 28mins (broken in two to collect my new shoes)

Shopping Trip

Not enough running and to much eating and drinking at the weekend.  So today I was going to run.  Too busy in the household this morning to think about a run half way to work.  At lunchtime, I slip out.  I have been thinking about getting some proper cross country shoes mindful of a cross country race coming up and the moonlight challenge in January.

I decide to run to the shop near Covent Garden and have a look around.  I don't have my wallet with me so no danger right?  

The helpful shop staff put my new cross country running shoes and Evoskins to one side for me to collect later.

The run there was done in medium pace.  I absolutely hammered it on the way back in a fartlek style.

5km 30mins (broken in two)

Race the train

This morning both me and the baby have stinking colds.  I am also feeling tired.  I skip the lunchtime run.    Rather bravely I had still packed my running kit.  I think from now on I will always pack my running kit.

It's good at work because the dress standards have slipped so far that I can run with my trousers in my back-pack.  Sure they get a little screwed up but I have a smart pair in my locker for those oh-so-important meetings.  This allows me to be more flexible with squeezing in runs here and there without worrying that I will not have clothes for work.

By mid-afternoon I am feeling good again.  I'm not even tired.  As you crank up the mileage and your fitness builds, so it appears your recovery time reduces.  I remember running the corporate challenge when I was 21 and just got back from 6 months in America.  I couldn't walk properly for 3 days and that was only 5km.

For a change I decide to run from the office to Nunhead and then catch the train for the last bit of the journey home.  The risk with this is that if I run slowly I miss my train and then have to wait for 1/2 an hour for the next one.  This would be a disaster in terms of seeing the kids before bed time.  So I make sure the time is definitely do-able and I keep my mind focussed on keeping the pace up.

The run is pretty enjoyable.  I stop a couple of times for traffic but the pace seems okay.  As I near Nunhead I risk a glimpse at the watch.  Then I am confused the time is way faster than I expect.  I end up having to wait ages for the train.  Still, after a good run, I am happy to sit their and enjoy the feeling.

7km 37mins

Autumn Leaves

While I have been running consistently, I have let the length of the runs slip with a few too many easy 4kms.  So today I resolve to do the run back from Lewisham.  I force my way out of work on time.  The run to Cannon Street is not as fast and free flowing as recently, but still fun.

I train to Lewisham and as I am about to launch I see an old friend and stop for a quick chat.  Then I go.  The first half is not too bad but then I start to chug.  Still I keep on.  Outside the Millwall Training ground I can't resist kicking a pile of leaves.  Despite eating lots of food today, I mainly feel hungry!

I manage to power up the hill to myself.  I then mentally pat myself on the back for completing the run.

8.3km 50 minutes

Student Protest Day

The students will be protesting in The City later.  So I go for my lunchtime run at 11.  A lot of the city may be blocked of by the Police so I head South East without aim.  Eventually I decide to go and run around where I used to work near Bishopsgate.  I used to have a favourite Sandwich Shop.  They had two branches, both located near to two of the offices I worked in.  The other one I know had become a Subway a long time a go.

I get to the Sandwich shop (for a look, not a Sandwich) but alas it is now a Beauty Parlour.  I run on a bit further and then head back.  There are some Life Science protesters outside one of the Banks  on Throgmorton Street making a racket.

In the end a fairly short, simple run but I'm proud I made the effort to get out.

4km 25mins

City to London Victoria

For a change I decide to run from work to London Victoria and get the train back from there.  Google maps tell me it is 3 miles on the dot.  I think I should be able to run 10 minute miles (factoring in the Street Running Effect, where you always run slower through the streets)  I am a little delayed getting aways and realise to meet my train I am going to have to push on.  So I do.

I power along, and then dart in and out of the crowds along Charing Cross.  I feel like I am flowing along. Along the mall I see another runner  also running home, and he drops me like a stone.  There's always someone faster than yourself.  I catch him up at the end of the mall as he gets stuck crossing the road at Buckingham Palace.  Makes you realise that it is easy to lose time running through the streets.

In the end I make it to Victoria with a couple of minutes to spare.  The train is busy and the heating on full blast, so I am careful not to drip sweat on anyone else.

3miles 4.8km 28 minutes

Tower Bridge Tourists

At lunch time I run down to London Bridge along the Southbank to Tower Bridge.  Over Tower Bridge, through the tourists and back to the office.  I feel good and run smoothly.

4km 24:26

Blast back from Grove Park

I didn't get into work until late and I want to get back to see the kids.  So I decide a cheeky 4.5km from Grove Park on the way home.  Recently I have bought myself a new pair of Asics Piranha racing flats.  The spring in them makes me realise how worn out the old pair were (I did do the Brighton Marathon in the old pair)

And they are lovely.  Even on the run to Cannon Street I am bouncing along.  The run from Grove Park I really feel that I am running (Rather than shuffling along, as sometimes I feel)

There is the suggestion of drizzle in the air but it never starts raining.  I run down through Bromley Park and even the steep downhill is not too bad.

A really enjoyable little blast both sides of the train journey.

4.5km 26 mins

Lost in the City

I decided to run my Leadenhall Loop Backwards.  But I always go the wrong way when running it backwards and I do again today.  Instead I run towards the Thames Path.  But I go wrong again and run into a car park before being shouted at by the security card.

The pace is not electric but it's very enjoyable.  Still not too cold.  The St. Pauls Protest Camp is getting to dense to run through of a lunchtime.

4.5km 28:34

5 and O, baby

I've been thinking about my 50th park run for a while.  Should I use at a spur for a PB, should I do it barefoot, should I do it with a hangover (like so many have been)

I wake up at 8:48.  Oops, missed it.  Somehow I pull it out the bag and make it there for the start.  I am barefoot and hungover.

The dew on my feet makes it a little cold.  Up by the pavilion I lose my footing and go over.  No damage done.  I joke to the person next to me
"that's cost me at least 5 seconds"

3/4 of the way round I realise I badly need a #2.  I cross the line with a little bit of a sprint.  23:24.  And that sums it up.  For me now-days, a cruisy park run is best described as 23:24.



I have a quick drink afterwards, but I am anxious to get back to a bathroom with some toilet paper.

23:24 5km  50th Parkrun!

Bit of a slog really

I'm feeling tired, but work's a bit slack so I take the opportunity for a lunchtime run. A quick 4km and a bit down to Waterloo Bridge and back. To be honest the pace is languid but I get on with it.

4.5km 28mins

In the rain?

I am trying to get used to run in the rain.  I am fairly certain is going to rain later, so I pack my wet weather gear  for the half way run home.

I get to Lewisham and it is only a mild drizzle.  At Downham it picks up.  It's a bit of a struggle after the Luchtime intervals but I keep at.

I wrap the IPhone up in a plastic bag so I can keep listening to my podcast.

In the end not to bad, but it didn't really hammer it down.

8km 45minutes

Lunchtime Intervals for the Math challenged

I'm struggling with running to working in the morning, so I squeeze in a lunchtime speed session on Speed Highwalk in the city.

After last time, I did some Math and caclulated that I had to run for 22minutes to get 10 intervals in.

I start to struggle.  I do some Math and look at my watch.  I see 17 minutes.  For some reason I think this is 15 minutes (I think some kind of confusion with the 24hr clock) and still a long way to go

Soon I realise I am further than I thought and my spirit lifts.

10 intervals of one minute, with one minute rest.

Cheeky Grove Park Return Run

I had to go and pick up my wet running kit from this morning.  So I decided I may as well run some of the way back.  The plan?  Train from Cannon Street to Grove Park and run back from there.

No rain this evening, and on the brief run to Cannon Street I am flying.  And when I get to Grove Park I keep it up.  No aches, pains or tiredness.  Just good form and a good pace.

The hardest part was running down the hill in Bromley Park.

I get home and feel great.  The kids are kicking off...

4.5km 25mins

Run to Canary Wharf

I had arranged to met Rob and Baldwin at 6:45 by Rob's house in Chislehurst for a run to Canary Wharf.  I was interested in Rob's route for whenwork moves there.  While Rob lives in Chislehurst and me in Shortlands it was easier to meet at his.   I packed my bag the night before and was already to go.

I wake up and can hear heavy rain.  I repack using my rucksack liner to ensure everything stays dry.  I then realise I can't find my wallet.  I eventually find it cosily tucked up in bed.  By now I am running late.

I have to push on quickly to get there on time (I hate being late).  In the end I make it there with a minute to spare.  Rob and Baldwin coming running along.  They are without backpacks having had the sense to take their stuff the day before.

The pace is fast and I am still recovering from the high speed run to the start.  Still the route is autum beauty with lots of off-road through Elmstead Woods.   Then the rain picks up.  We power on. 

It's great running in company and we have some fascinating conversations.

Soon we come to the foot tunnel and go down the stairs.  It's good to be out the rain.  On the otherside we work our way through the docks.  This is the most useful bit for me.  Eventually near the goal, I duck out to jump on the DLR.  I now have a feel for the route.

Greate fun running with others and a lovely run despite the rain.  I feel great the whole day

18km 1hr46