The Bright Lights Of Croydon

As predicted I did not run Christmas Eve. Christmas Day my wife said I expect you will be doing park-run(guess she had seen an email on the computer) When it came to it, I couldn't drag myself away from the kids and I think my wife appreciated the moral support as she cooked the mammoth meal.

Boxing day, I kept my eating and boozing under control with the expectation of getting out on a run. When I got home, my will power had evaporated, so I hit the food and booze.

This mean today I had to get out. And it better be the full 2 hour long run. We had spent the day at the Winter Fayre in Hyde Park. Terrific fun but lots of loafing around small children.

One of the hard things when doing the long run is deciding where to go, especially at night. When we drive up the hill just past Kelsey Park at night you can see the Office Blocks of Croydon. I always joke with my wife about the bright lights of Croydon calling. Tonight I answer the call.

The first 5km are tough. Fortunately the ice is not causing to much of a problem and in the odd place where it remains it is not slippy. I get to the slightly dodgy area the other side of Tesco's. A group of youths in cars look up to no good, but I sail by.

A couple are lighting a cigarette as I run by. He says in a sarcastic tone:
"Watch out for the ice, don't slip"
I am tempted to reply
"Watch out for the fags, don't get cancer"
But I resist. Probably for the best, I'm not wearing my stab proof vest.

It seems uphill most of the way. I console myself with the knowledge that it will be easier on the way back. I reach Croydon town centre right on the hour point in time to turn back.

At first I'm flying. As I reach Tesco's at Elmers End I start to flag. It has seemed uphill most of the way back as well. Down past Kelsey Park I notice that it doesn't look as "downhill" running down, as it it does uphill when running up it.

I make it back, and looking at the watch it was 1:58'34. I had stopped for a wee on the way back (perhaps a minute) but a pretty even run both ways.

It was hard in places, but I enjoyed it. Maybe my head was turned by the bright lights of Croydon.

Route on GMAP pedometer http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4205620

18.5km 1:58'34

On the Christmas Wind Down

I shouldn't be running today as according to my training schedule it is a rest day. I have also a couple of days of hard snow running. I know I may not get out Christmas Eve or Christmas Day so best to get the run in the bank.

I decide to take it easy and wear the aqua shoes. I set off fast. I know what will happen, I'll run like crazy for a km or so and then slow to a crawl. But I don't. I run down across London Bridge and then down towards Tower Bridge. Two fast looking runners join the path outside the London Assembly. Sorry, not today boys and I quickly dispatch the first one. The second one takes a little longer, but I gradually reel him in and then fly past, flap, flapping in my aqua shoes. By the other side of Tower Bridge he is long gone.

I keep running fast and my form feels good. This is fun. I fly down London Wall, zig-zagging through the crowds. It is cold though!

I get back to the office and feel great.

Around 4.5km 23:30

Bad mood run

I'm in a bad mood. I consider the canals (my usual outlet for a bad mood) but I worry it will make we worse.

I opt for one of my favourites runs, down to Blackfriars, along the Thameside Path, up past the Tower, Leadenhall and down London Wall.

The barriers on the Thameside Path are closed by the refuse site which is just bloody typical. I have to run back up to the road, round and back down to the path.

I hope to see some Christmas cheer at Leadenhall. And to be fair, it is a little Christmassy.

I only really get going on the final run down London Wall.

I had a sore ankle possible from two days of running on snow but I decided to run anyway. Afterwards I feel fine.

5km 30:00

Orpington Snow Runners

It is the draw for 3 places in the London Marathon at my running club tonight. But they have cancelled the runs because of the ice. After last nights truly wonderful run I want to be back out there in the snow.

I get word of a snowy, offroad night run with ORR. I'll do this and then go to the draw.

At the start there is the usual chaos and confusion but I tag on to the back of Jerry and off we go. I put on my powerful bike light to light the way. There are some runners without lights and I don't think they appreciate someone with a big powerful light. Which is fair enough but it is too dangerous to run without light with all the trip hazards. I use the light pointing downwards to light my steps.

The 11 of us work our way through the beautiful snowy countryside. It is impossible to notice the cold. Every now and again I know where we are. I recognise High Elms. The leader obviously knows these routes well even with a covering of snow.

The snow is still fresh and so is not slippery. Eventually we come upon the village of Downe. It is lit up for Christmas. We stop for photos.

On the way back we come to a huge field covered in snow.
"round the field or through it?"
The answer is unanimous.
The snow through the middle of the field is a virgin, even white blanket. Any fantasies about making the first footprints in new snow are massively indulged here. The edges of the field fades away into the frozen fog. It is an experience like nothing else I have ever felt.

On the far side of the field there are some snowy trails to run down. My concentration is intense. This is a kind of running I love. I am so focussed on moving and flowing I no longer feel effort.

I love running with Petts Wood but I love the countryside and I love running in the dark. I get the feeling that ORR do this kind of running throughout the year. I may be doing more runs with them if that is the case. In the summer PWR go through the woods but ORR have the advantage of a better start location right next to High Elms.

As we arrive back at the lamppost I look at the time. I only have 5 minutes to make the marathon draw over in Petts Wood. I shout a thanks to the group and zoom off to the car.

I make it to Petts Wood just in time for the presentations and draw. Jerry shows up a little later. We tell a few people about the run, but words don't capture the experience.

I didn't get the marathon place which isn't the end of the world as I have the Brighton to do (which is the week before). The London place would have just complicated things. I want to do London one day, but it will not be this year.

On a post on the forum my best description of the run is
"I have never felt so alive"
And that is probably true.

10.1km 1:05:00

Snow Long Run

I missed the long run yesterday and so tonight I need to make it up tonight. There's snow on the ground and there is more forecast during the run.

I was going to take the camera. As I leave it feels like rain so I leave it behind. This feels more and more like snow and it starts to settle. Rapidly so.

I get to Pickhurst Park and switch on my bright bike light. I run down through the woods. By now the snow is so heavy that I can only make out one set of other footprints.

I run through Old Hayes and up to Baston. It's then offroad all the way up to the top of Keston Ponds. It is quiet and beautiful. It does not feel cold at all.

I stop at the ponds. They are frozen and covered in snow. You could easily accidentally venture on to them if you did not know they were there. Everything is bright because of the snow. In reality I only need the torch to see my footing.

At the top of Keston and by Wilberforce I stop to take a picture. It has been a slog uphill all the way here. The way back is Downhill.

Straight away I am flying and feel noticeably faster. Halfway back in the woods. I see someone standing in the woods. I panic, before realising it is a tree and a shadow cast by the light. I am now moving quickly, buoyed by the adrenaline. Suddenly I smell burning. It is to cold for anything to be burning. I am freaked out and maintain the pace. Eventually I reach the road and calm down.

The snow changes and becomes little pellets. I run back up through Pickhurst Park. My foot prints are already gone from earlier. At the bottom of Broadoaks Way the snow becomes big chunky flakes blowing in the wind.

I pickup the pace on the final section home. It's been a fantastic run. The snow has limited the pace. Only 10 miles in two hours The important thing is that I have done the two hours on my feet.

2:00 16.2km gorgeous snow.

Pre-snow park run

After yesterday's efforts I decide to just jog park run. It is going to snow heavily today and if I work up and it was snowy I would have to run there. But it hadn't. The snow would come later.

As it was the last race before Christmas there was a fancy dress contest. Super heroes, Santas, Christmas Trees. Some really good efforts. I put on a santa hat over my usual beanie. Hardly a stirling effort, but it is a token.

I've never managed to do it before, but today I actually run a steady even pace. I resist the temptation to race. The ground is frozen solid and it is safer to run on the grass than the slippery tarmac.

I cross the finish and go for a coffe and a mince pie. The snow is starting to pick up.

5km 24:30

Hare and Hounds Winner

According to my marathon schedule I needed to run Wednesday or Thursday. Today is Friday and I ran neither. It's the Hare and Hounds 5 mile time trial at work. Time to redeem myself. I want to do a sub 38 minute run for the 5 mile route. A quick bit of math tells me this is 4:45 / km. (23:30 5k I believe)

I turn up at the start and it is freezing cold (-3C?) and snowing heavily. Martin(The timer) is not there. Dafyd, the hare decides to start. Deidre a first timer shows up. She's due to start 50 seconds ahead of me. Eventually Martin and arrives and the race is properly started.

I set off and the snow gets heavier. Despite it being the centre of London, the snow settles. I am trying to run 4:45 min/km to set a new PB. The Garmin is all over the place like a drunken sailor. On the outwardbound journey just short of Vauxhall Bridge I catch Deidre. But she clearly has spirit. She holds me all the way to the mini-hill over Lambeth bridge where she gradually slides away. I also dispatch Dafyd at this point.

I keep pushing with the Garmin oscillating around the 4:45 mark. On the final push towards the South side of Blackfriars Bridge the Snow becomes very heavy. The Garmin is still at or around 4:45min/km. Looks like I will do it.

On the final sprint, the Snow has reached a level where it is slippy. I still sprint, but am careful. As I cross the line knowing that I have won the handicap. I look at the distance and it is 5.18km. I had run 4:44, and the time was 38:30. My previous best was 38:15. Not a PB, but jolly good.

I clap the other runners home. I then jog back to the office with Deidre.

Later in the day, the email comes out. There were 6 runners in the event, but I had won. Not just the handicap, the overall race. Usually the winner does around 33 minutes. It's near Christmas, and cold so lots of people had dropped out. But that's not the point. I had won (maybe by default). But I had won!. I was the fastest runner!

Later an end of year mail came out for the running club. The top 3 Hare and Hounders this year. In 2nd and 3rd place with 5 runs, Charlie and Mark. The winner myself with 8 runs and one Race Director. I may not be fast, but I am persistent!

5.18 miles 38:30 Snowy, Cold. WINNER!