I've had a look at the weather it is going to be rainy tomorrow. So best I do my long run tonight(Saturday). I'm not in the mood to run laps of Shortlands Park. I try and think of a flat route. I seem to the think the A205 (aka the South Circular) is flat. It would be funny to go and run somewhere like Clapham where I used to hang out in my earlier days. I think an out an back route to complete 18 miles.
I am a bit weary but after getting 2 out of 3 kids in bed I head. I am loaded up with 3 good podcasts. I get to Catford where I join the A205. Then I get to Forest Hill. Forest Hill is one of the biggest hills in London. There is a radio transmitter on the top. You can see Wembley on the other side of London. I clamber over the hill and into East Dulwich. Suddenly I realise I am on my way to Peckham. I didn't think the A205 went that way.
On the spur of the moment I decide to turn off. My friends used to live in East Dulwich when it was a real dump (long before it was trendy) I used to rollerblade or walk back to Herne Hill Station from their house. I decide to retrace my old steps and head for Herne Hill before heading for home. If I still have mileage left to burn I can do some laps of Shortlands Park.
As I get to Herne Hill, I notice that I can rejoin the A205. I am confused. Intrigued I follow it back and end up at Forest Hill. I had missed the turn by Horniman's Museum down towards Dulwich Park.
Once I am up over Forest Hill it is good as it is a nice downhill roll to Catford. The run back from Catford I know well. Except that I know when I get back I will need to do a few laps of Shortlands Park.
Through out the night my pace has been good. It has seemed to sit just over 9 minute miles. I don't feel like I could ever run faster but I know race day I will. Last year I ran 17 miles at 8 minute miles and I had not done anywhere near this level of training.
At Shortlands Park I calculate around 3 and a bit laps should see me up to 18miles. I really push myself and soon I am flying up the hill back to home. In the end I am 0.2 short of the 18 miles but I had run over Forest Hill. It's not been a real struggle and I've had many more hard long runs.
I have run a mile further that last week, over hills, some of them pretty big but at a fast pace than last weeks flat effort around Shortland's Park. I've also had a hard week with 2 tempo runs with Paul and a vicious Interval Session. I really feel like I am on track.
28.48km 2:41:35
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