Busy Olympic Greenwich

I fancied running part of the way to work this morning.   I get the train to Catford and run from there.  Greenwich is busy with people heading to the Equestrian events.  Suddenly, it happens and I am in the unlikely, impossible, rarely experienced feeling of running bliss.  I move freely without effort.  I catch a glimpse of myself in some shop windows and the form looks smooth and tidy.

On the way through the docks I stop and read some of the history on the information boards.  It's no struggle to get running again.

As I reach my office, I bump in to my boss on his way in.  He asks:
"How was the run"
"Magnificent" I say.  And it was

8km 48:00

In search of the Great Eastern Launch Site

When I bike to work I go past a sign that says "Great Eastern Launch Site".  Knowing this was Brunel's last great ship, I was intrigued.  I decided to go and run there to take a look at lunch time.

Paul from work  joins me.  We run down to the start of the tunnel and then along the Thames Path.  No launch site to be found.  We give up and run back along the west side of the Isle of Dogs.

Nothing to fast or fancy, just a gentle potter round the Isle of Dogs.

When I get back to my desk I look up the launch site on the internet.  I now know where we went wrong.  On the cycle back from work I stop to take a look.

6.5km 35:00

Out with the club

I've cycled to and from work and done a punishing lunchtime run.  But I was determined to get out with the runningclub tonight.  I jump in the car and rush there.  I see my usual group but decide to move down a group and take it easy.

Peter leads the group and there are enough people I know to move around the group and have plenty of good chats.

We run through Petts Wood and it's lovely to be running outside in the warm.  Gradually the light starts to fade.  Pete says that once we reach the bridge we can go at our own pace.  At the bridge I start to pickup speed.  In the end I have gone to early and slow down.  I do put on a token sprint to stretch the legs.

10km 57:10

Lunchtime round the Isle of Dogs

A lunch time run with Paul and Ben, both faster than me.  We run round the edge of the Isle of Dog, admiring the aircraft carrier parked of Greenwich.  I grimly hold on at the back.  We swing round back into the docks.  Paul Allen's $200mm yacht is there.

Ben and Paul decide to tack on a few more miles at a faster pace but I head back to get out of the 30C heat.

7km 35:05

Not all the way to Greenwich

Despite riding to work by bike to avoid the Olympics chaos (didn't work, ran in to the Torch Relay) I decide to try and run to the Greenwich Observatory.  I suspect Greenwich Park may be closed, but I decide to give it a go.  It's 25c and very sunny.

Running through the tunnel, is nice and cool as you are down under the river.  The stairs are less pleasant  I reach Greenwich Park and it is shut to non ticket-holders.  I turn and head back.

My form still feels good and I'm not too hot.  Until I stop and then become a sweaty mess.

8km 42:00

Water Fountain to Water Fountain run

After a busy day I decide to do the Water Fountain to Water Fountain run on Keston Common.  I've got the kids in bed (eventually) and the light is gradually slipping away.  I decide to take my bright light.

The run out (the uphill) bit I feel strong, knowing all the time that it will be easier on the way back.  I touch the far water fountain and turn back.  Eventually I stop and put on the light.

Towards the finish I really pick up speed and feel that I am moving well.

5km 26:30

Inaugural Cat and Canary

The 5 miles Hare and Hounds time trial has been moved to Canary Wharf and renamed "The Cat and Canary".  I had run the course the other day.  Today was to be the real thing.  I had decided to have a week off running before embarking on the training for the Beachy Head Marathon in October.  This run had come before that week off was over but I decided to run it any way.

From the start I do not feel particularly fast and perhaps a little sluggish.  This doesn't  stop me going off too fast.  Even before I reach the pond at the half way point I am slowing down.  Coming back on the canal I am being passed.  The final set of stairs a little way before the finishing points kill me off.  Fortunately it also kills those around me off as well.

At the finish lots of people had gone wrong but I'm sure they'll know for next time

8km 38:08

Trial of the Hare and Hounds route

Martin the club captain sent a mail out saying that he was going to run the new Canary Wharf Hare and Hounds route to try it out.  I asked him how fast he would run it (nice and easy, 7 or 8 minute miles)

I turn up and there are four of us.  Martin and Paul were beering-it with me last night and Rik.  All considerably faster than me.  We run down to the canal.  I hold on at the back.  We see the barges and the canal life.  We run past the chimney that Steve and me had run to the other day.

We do a loop of the pond and head back.  I'm now really battling to hold on, but I keep going.  We stop at the start/finish and it looks like the route is set.

Back at the changing rooms, I point out that it was a gentle jog for the other three and a tempo run for me!

9.6km 52:00

Not so Great City Run

About 6 O'clock the rain storm came through.  Our company has a building about 10cm from the start area. The problem is that I need to queue up to get to the front of my pen.  I man-up, go out in to the rain and get at the front of my pen.

Unlike the impeccable organisation at the Corporate Challenge the start is messy.  The pens aren't separated and they do not go off in waves.  

I had to many beers last night so it's not going to be a great time.  After 100m the race comes to a halt and then off again.  It's running in a crowd.  Around the corners everyone slows down.  There aren't km markers.  The halfway point is marked.  I look at my split 11:32.  This disheartens me but I keep going (forced to slow down for the corners)

I see an attractive female runner in front.  I try and catch up but she keeps edging away.  I then decide to ensure I finish ahead of her.  I move up to a sprint and she is dispatched.

The final time is not great.  The after-party in a local pub is fantastic.

22:34 

Corporate Challenge 2012

I've been nervous for days.  I want to get there early to get down the front of my elite-1 starting pen.  Fortunately my team meets play ball.   I get there early and ready to go.

The elite blue section go, and then two minutes later we step forward ready to go.  I run with my mantra of "Use your experience"  And that is what happens.  Like the Sea, the crowd rushes out ahead of me.  Then they stop.   At 2.5km I see Sam from work.  He had blown.  Later on when I see him, he doesn't think that has happened, but it did.

The tide stops going out.  Then I start to reel people in and then the tide starts to come in.  Towards the finish I pick the pace up and the tide comes rushing in.  On some of the grass areas, it is starting to get boggy.  Not to bad for me, but I imagine some of the later runners will struggle.

I manage to sprint.  Initially I am elated by my time.  Then I realise it is 10 seconds slower than I thought.  But still good.  10 seconds faster than Larry's time last year when he beat me by 5 seconds.  (Larry didn't run this year)

Back at the hospitably tent I catch up with some of my team members.  Some of them think they may have beaten me.  Next day the truth becomes apparent.  No one has got within a minute of me.

Job done.

5.6km 24:54

Down the "New" Canals

The hare and hound 5 mile time trial has a new course in Canary Wharf.  I'm planning to run it soon.  So today I decide to go and scout the course.  I notice Steve from work is going for a run and so we go together.

I would have gone the wrong way, but Steve is more switched on and gets on route.  It's nice running down the canal away from Traffic and Noise.  It's also good to have some company.

We get 15 minutes out, run a few more metres to a big chimney and then head back.

A nice easy run ahead of the Corporate Challenge

5km 30:00

Park Run before the Corporate Challenge

I was hoping to put in a good performance today to build on my okay-ish performance at the Assembly League.  Chris is pacemaking the 24 minutes.  I joke that he'll need to push himself.  As I run round I think that it would not be good if caught me.

To be honest I'm still a bit jaded from Thursday.  More from the drinking beer on an empty stomach rather than the running.

Half way round I start to fade.  Towards the finish I hear Chris encouraging his runners on and closing in on me.  I step up the pace and finish with a semi-sprint.

Rather than build confidence for the corporate challenge this has knocked it a little.

5km 23:25

Battersea Park Assembly League 5km

I'm here with Steve from work.  It's a practice for the corporate challenge next week.  I meet the guys from the club.  The race starts and I battle my way through some slow starters.

Unusually for an assembly league match, there are 1km markers and it looks like it will be 5km.  I set myself into a good pace.  I pass through 3 particularly attractive young ladies, but there is a race to be run so I push on.

At a later point  get into a battle with another lady runner.  We jostle for a bit and then she edges ahead.  But I summon up some strength and knock her back.  In the last 400m I work up a sprint and she is gone.  I set my sight on the lady runner ahead.  I do all I can to reel her in but she escapes.

The final time is disappointing, but I'm happy for giving it a good go.

5km 22:07

Lunchtime Run, bumping into old friend and seeing Billingsgate

The title says it all.  I was planning to go and run down the canals after someone else had pointed out the route via a group email.  As I get near, I see my friend Pia running the other way.  I haven't seen her for ages so I abandon my plan and go and run with her.

Eventually we return to her office (next to mine)  I've only done 15 minutes and need some more running.  I head off in the opposite direction.  Eventually I get to Billingsgate Market.  I run round the perimeter..  Having watched a program on the telly about it, I'd love to come back and explore it when it is open.  I turn and head back.

A gentle saunter about the Wharf, but racing tomorrow!

5km 31mins

Lunchtime River Run with the team

Matt, Steve, Samuel and me from the office all head out for a run.  Samuel is leading and he has a planned route.  The pace is faster than I expected but I am still comfortable.

We run to the Canary Wharf ferry point and down the stairs.  It soon become apparent that we are going to run the route me and Steve did a while ago.

The only difference is that Samuel pushes on to do a lap of the dock.  This pushes the distance up by at least a km and pushes the time out.  On the way back Samuel starts to push so I go with him.  We stop and wait for Matt.

We head a more direct route back to the office.  As we get near Steve puts in a sprint.  So I start I sprinting, and fast.  But I sense I can move my feet faster, and I do and by then end I am absolutely flying, as fast as I have ever run and it feels good.

6km 35min

Nash Circular Walk Run

It's a beautifully sunny evening and was determined to go for a run.  I get the kids in bed and head for the Nash Circular Walk.  I think the last time I ran this was on my Birthday a couple of years ago in the snow.  Today is the polar (hah!) opposite.

The sun and rain have left the whole route overgrown.  There are nettles everywhere.  The running is fine and it is great to be in the outdoors but the overgrowth makes me itch and itch.

In the end I'm quite pleased with the pace and the effort of the run.  I'm not pleased with the Itchy Legs.

6.72km 43:50