London Tourist Run

I have to paint the deck in our Garden tonight. The weather the rest of the week involves rain. It has to be tonight, running club night. Best be a lunchtime run then instead.

My wife was taking the kids for a picnic so she made my lunch. This is good as means I can extend the lunch time run to 40 minutes (I usually have to budget 20 for getting changed and 10 for getting my lunch leaving 30 minutes for the run)

I set off down London Wall and through the insurance-land of Fenchurch Street. I then run down past the Tower and under Tower Bridge. Then through St. Kathryn's Dock. I toy with going down the canals but head down the river instead. And it is really, really beautiful. I eventually emerge onto Wapping High Street. I spot the famous pub "The Town Of Ramsgate". I then decide to run as far as the other famous pub "The Captain Kidd". It looks beautiful in there, but I turn and head back.

Then the heat of this sunny day hits me. I have flashbacks to the Brighton Marathon. I keep going, but it feels like I have slowed.

As I run through Leadenhall Market I realise how fortunate I am to be able to run through such a beautiful landscape. The tourists buzzing have probably paid a lot of money and travelled many miles to experience see these fantastic sights I get to absorb in my run for free.

Because of the heat I decide to try and take a more direct route back. Usually I run the return leg quicker, and with the short cut it should be, but it is 2 minute longer. The heat must have really had an impact.

I am hot and thirsty when I get back. A good solid run. Now to the bloody decking...

7km 43:13

Evening perk-up run

Lunchtime's short run left me wanting more, so after the kids are in bed I go for another run. I decide to take this easy, sit back and enjoy. Definitely a run for the aqua shoes.

I run up past Ravensbourne Station to Beckenham Place Park and a short way through the woods. It is a lovely evening and running in the aquas enlivens the senses.

Through the woods is a gravel path and I have to run a little gingerly to avoid upsetting my feet.

The last 10 minutes as I start to warm up and it is really enjoyable.

4.5km 27:37

Chicken Pox Run

My little girl has Chicken Pox and I promised to buy here a treat. I feel the need to run at lunchtime as well. I run to Spitalfields looks for something suitable. I stop off a couple of times stopping the watch each time.

The elapsed time was probably not much over 16 minutes, but in the end I found a suitable present

3km 16:00

Crystal Palace Park Run

I feel the need to Park Run. But Bromley Park run is cancelled due to the Bromley Pageant of Motoring. I decide to give Crystal Palace Park Run a go. When I turn up there are lots of Bromley Park Runners wandering around.

Eventually we find the start and off we go. The original Crystal Palace was built on the largest hill in South London. The park is hilly. But it is a Victorian Park and it is beautiful. Proper old trees.

I have my new Vivo EVO II barefoot shoes on. I had bought some Evo barefoot leather shoes that I could get away with at work and absolutely love them. I can't resist running to or from the station as they are soooo lovely. That is why I incurred the wrath of Mrs. Squirrel by ordering a pair of the running shoes.

But they aren't as lovely. They are made of recycled bottles which is all good but they don't feel wide enough and a little bit "tacky"?. Still they are better than any other "running" shoes.

I had a few relaxing drinks the night before so it was never going to be a staggering performance. It is 2.5 laps of a hilly course. A big slog up a never ending hill and then big flows downhill. I hate running downhill.

What amazed me was that there were 3 people running with Prams. 2 of which beat me. One by a particularly lean looking lady. The other guy ran neck and neck with me at the half way point. The baby was saying "Dad-Dad-Dad", so I jokingly interpreted this as "Come on dad-dad" for the benefit of the runner. As they overtake me I ask if the baby counts as a place. I jokingly sprint yo make up the "place" and then relent.

Later on I took my son to the shops. I ran back with the buggy. Running in a barefoot style where you run upright makes it definitely easier when running with a pram. I can see some walks with the new baby turning into gentle training runs.

I start of the run bold, but then it dawns on me how hilly the course is, and so I pace myself. In then end it is a lovely run.

At the finish I glance over my shoulder and then sprint a little to hold my position. I was expecting a slower time because of the hills and the residual beer-iness. But it's 24:30. Not too bad.

After checking in I decide to jog back to the car. In front of me the grass looks tempting. So I whip of the shoes. I then run truly, and heavenly so, barefoot back to the car. I try and continue it across the gravel car park, but end up gingerly picking my way across.

The Vivo EVO 2s were nice to run in. Not as nice as the shoes(I think) but better than the aquas and any other running shoes. Whether they are as FAST as the Piranhas, I doubt. As you can see from the photo, my form is looking good.

I loved Crystal Palace Park Run. Not as big as Bromley, but enthusiastic volunteers and a beautiful park.

5km 24:30

Midweek Slugishness

A lunchtime run down to Blackfriars, along the Thames Path. At Cannon Street a diversion up to Lower Thames Street because of Building Works.

My legs are in shape, but the lungs and spare tyre drag.

5km 32:00

Running on a sunny evening in Summer

The toe is sore, but I think it's on the mend. So out with PWR. My sluggishness tempts me to go with group 3, but I decide to push myself into group 4. It looks like there has been some reworking on the groups and the mythical group 6 will be running. This hopefully will even out the pace across the other groups. (People running in groups too slow for them disrupt the pace)

James leads us on a beautiful run on a still Sunny evening through the woods. I am comfortably able to hold the pace. It's not until the last 400 or so meters where a couple of people zip of the front that I can't hold the pace at the front.

I need to ditch the spare tyre and get back some form before the summer 5Ks. I've set myself a new target of running in group 6 at least once.

9.08km 52:05 (05:44/km)

On the recovery road

You will have noticed the gap in the blog. A funny thing happened...I was going to a talk by Barefoot Ted (Born to run fame) on Barefoot Running. I was wearing my normal work shoes when I stumbled outside and stubbed my toe. It was really painful for a week. I really was convinced that I had broken it. Just as I was recovering, I managed to stub it again and do the same thing! So for that reason the running has been non-existent the last couple of weeks.

Today it has healed a little. It's still sore, but it should be possible to run on it. I'm feeling a bit tubby and sluggish and realise I am once again back at the foot of the fitness mountain.

I decide a quick half an hour down to Waterloo Bridge and back at lunch time. It has been raining very heavily since yesterday morning. The rain radar suggests it may still be raining, but in reality there is no rain of significance. I wear the aquas, being very careful not to stub my toes.

It is enjoyable and my technique is good, but he spare tyre round my waste feels heavy. The toe is noticible but not agony. Don't think the running did any damage.

4.5km 26:13