I can be ignorant at times. Very ignorant. The tube goes to Zone 9? What the fuck! You can get a tube to an area of natural beauty? What the fuck? I really need to escape London more.
I’m fortunate to have met a group of friends who are less ignorant than I am. The sort of people who arrange stuff and invite you along. The sort of people who educate you and open your eyes to the world around you. The sort of people who like to run!
Cool Cats came calling. April 1st (no joke), Easter Sunday, we were heading to the Chilterns. The plan, a 30km loop of the Chiltern Hills starting and ending at Chesham. The last stop on the metropolitan line.
As it was Easter weekend I was well rested. The early morning alarm wasn’t a problem. It had been two weeks since my ‘incident’ in Cyprus and I’d 10miles under my belt. I felt good, rested and optimistic. I was eager to hit the trails. I jumped on the metropolitan line up in Wembley Park and found some of the group ready and waiting. A few stops (but what felt like ages later!) and we are in Chesham, all present and off we went.
If you couldn’t tell already, I’d not been to the Chilterns before. It welcomed me with soft ground and undulating trails. Leaving the town we soon hit the highest point of the day, a gentle 200ft or so incline over about a mile of distance. The views from the top were spectacular. Fields all around. This was to be the story of the day, as we continued at a ‘party pace’ (a few of the group have marathons and ultras in the coming weeks) we ventured towards Great Missenden and then Little Kingshill and absorbed more fields and views of spring creeping onto the scene.
It was the perfect run. The weather was ideal (chilly but not windy, dry but with soft ground), the paths were full of mud (we love mud) and the company as ever enthusiastic and chatty. With each cool cats run I go on I meet more and more people with exciting plans and memorable experiences to be shared.
Looping around Amersham we headed back towards Chesham where Yvette would be waiting. The reward, the Pub and Easter Dinner! A few laps of the high street (I got confused by the directions to the correct pub!) and we were sitting patiently for the food to arrive. And arrive it did. Sunday roast with three Yorkshire puddings? Hell yeah. Free desert included? Hell yeah.
Another Burger run and another Saturday I find myself waking up stupidly early to go running. I decided to to run to the meeting point, an Estimated 7-8 miles. Why?? No reason, I just felt like I wanted to and should. I was slow to leave the house and it was looking like I would arrive about 08:55 and would need to “freshen up” (switch T-shirts) before the 9am start, so it was going to be a fairly fast run to begin with. Which was fine as I was pacing the gentle 9:30 – 10:00 min mile pace group today.
On arriving and walking in I was immediately presented with the familiar smiling faces and we were all ready to go. Outside JayZ leads us in a quick warm up to the A-team theme. The route is explained and, after bumbling around with the Suunto and setting up the navigation (I really dislike this watch I’ve decided!), off we go.
Get those knees up
Within minutes I’ve lead us the wrong way already as we navigate the different parts of Hyde Park. As long as we are heading in the general direction I do not care though. The first part of the run I admit I felt was pretty dull as we head through the urban jungles of Kensington and Fulham (with some more wrong turns taken at Parsons Green). We eventually hit Putney Bridge though and from here we will follow the river to Millennium Bridge which, for the most part, will be much more pleasurable to run.
First though, an unplanned (but welcomed) stop, as one of the girls encounters a nose
I’m kinda busy….
bleed. Whilst she nips into the cinema to clean up, we stand around refuelling at the local market. It’s good. Well, it looks and smells good. I had baby food to eat, no fresh sausage rolls this time. Oddly, at this point there was a “phone” on a moving trolley of some sort that a guy kept calling. Some weird street entertainment thing. It made for an alright photo I guess.
We carried on and headed along the river towards Battersea Park where we had another quick stop. Looking at the watch our 14.5 miles was likely to be more like 15.5. Still, there were smiles a plenty. Navigating around Battersea power station at this time is pretty grim as a lot of the Thames Path is blocked off for construction. Something that made me a little frustrated as we neared Vauxhall and I tried to lead the group off the main road and back onto the river path, only to be blocked by a glass door/gate as part of the private developments recently opened. So frustrating!
We carried on and headed towards the mayhem that is Southbank at midday on a
I think they had fun?!
weekend. A busy place at the best of times, but at this time the volumes of tourists mean the run becomes a walk as you force your way past the London Eye. This wasn’t so fun, but I knew it would be the case. Avoid the area if you can! We were close to the finish now and over the bridge and along Cheapside we went. Finishing up after 15.5 miles in Bank where the majority of the group carried on with laps of the restaurant to round their miles up to meet the ‘long run distances’ specified on their training plans. Runners are an odd bunch aren’t they! I was glad I’d done my extra miles (for the sake of it) beforehand. Not quite sure when a planned 13 miler becomes a 24 miler for the sake of it though.
With plans for the afternoon and evening I didn’t stick around for the baptastical burgasms promised. I was off the have a wash…
Saturday am. I’ve just finished running with Evossi Explore and it is time to go home, re-fuel and get ready for the next run. It isn’t often I run twice in the day. Very rare actually. But I just couldn’t say no to either of these events and there were people I wanted to see and meet at both. So I decided to do them both. Conveniently they were at opposite ends of the day and would be completely different adventures. Where as the run with Evossi was a city run in the morning, the run organised by Wild Trails was going to be a night run, on the trails of Wimbledon Common.
I packed lightly (it was such a glorious day), and headed off to the meeting point, meeting up with Yvette on the way. Shortly after arriving and meeting Weronica and Maggie (again) – the brains and sweat behind Wild Trails – the runners started showing up. It was great to see so many people turn out on a Saturday night to go running. Gone are the days where alcohol and parties fuel my weekends. Now it is mud and sweat.
Weronica herds everyone to the car and hands out head torches (they partner with Silva head torches) and it was good to sample and try something other than my cheapy little Decathalon number. I need to start thinking about decent equipment like this ahead of all my runs and particularly the CCC later in the year where the mandatory kit list is somewhat more serious than most other runs.
‘tooling’ up
Lights on and layers shed we head off to the common. I’d not been to Wimbledon Common before and didn’t know what to expect. Yet again, after a decade(!) in London I’m amazed I haven’t explored such places before. It was a trial runners dream. Winding paths, mud, lakes, hills and trees aplenty. The head torches did wonders to light our way (although some were brighter than others) and we had great fun winding through various paths and routes that Maggie and Weronica had planned out.
Given the numbers (I think there were about 30 of us) the girls did a fantastic job of leading and keeping everyone together. Naturally the pack spread out a little but they were on top of us making sure nobody ran off or got left behind. Great effort!
Finishing up back at the car after about 15km we headed to the pub. So alcohol still forms part of the weekend, only it feels slightly more deserved and satisfactory after a good run! It was nice to sit down and spend sometime getting to know the other runners. You don’t always get a chance to share some conversation when running in such a large group. Meeting new faces, learning people’s stories and adventures and sharing plenty of laughter. It was a great evening and I’d highly recommend tagging along to one in future!
Sometime before Christmas I went on my first group run. I came across it after speaking with Ed from Evossi on Instagram. He organised frequent runs and on that occasion we ran from Old Street through Stratford to the Olympic Park.
A lot has happened since that first group run I atteneded. I’ve covered some mileage in that time and fallen more and more in love with running. Here we are a few months later and I get a tag – the Evossi guys are meeting up again. Hell yeah, I’m in for that!
Spot the tag along!
We gathered at Mile End station on a chilly Saturday morning. The cold has probably put a few people off as the turnout is smaller this time. There’s five of us and I recognise all the faces, either from the last Evossi run or from the NSL sessions. Another reminder of how small the London running community actually is. I’ve not been going to groups for long but I’m already meeting some amazing people and making friends. It isn’t as scary as it seems.
We decide no one else is going to show up and off we head. Rich leads us all in a quick dynamic warm up in Mile End Park before we start running. Initially we run through the park, passing all the morning park runners still going strong. We head down the canal and past Limehouse Basin and then into Canary Wharf.
The Wharf is a strange place at the best of times but has that eery weekend feel as all the workers are home. Surprisingly though there is a large number of people ice skating away to some banging beats at 9:30 in the morning! Good on them.
Back in the Thames we continue south skirting the Isle of Dogs before hitting the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. I’d not been here before and it didn’t disappoint. I absolutely love Victorian architecture. Even in its crudest form, those Victorians knew what they were doing.
Resurfacing on the south of the river at the Cutty Sark, a quick run up the hills of the to the observatory and our finishing spot in Blackheath. The views were absorbed and we all went our separate ways (In Rich’s case for another 20km!) another great run was had and shared!
6:30am and the alarm clock is buzzing. As they day dawns, so does the realisation that I know get up earlier on weekends to go running than I do in the week for work. What has happened here?! I’ve plenty of time before I need to catch a bus so I leisurely have breakfast, prepare my bag and start to wake up. I’ve time to spare and I’m waiting outside for the bus when I realise I haven’t got my running hat. I need my hat! I don’t run without a hat anymore now. I find the wicking of the sweat, the sun protection and generally the keeping the hair out of my face a bonus and one less thing to think about when running.
I run back up to the flat (fortunately the bus is a moment from my front door, grab it and am back down waiting with a minute to spare. The bus doesn’t come. Shit. It must have been early. Now I’m touch and go whether I’ll make the connecting train. Great. Morning stress and panic that wasn’t necessary.
I do make the train on time (thankfully quiet Sunday morning roads!) and walk the carriage until I find the noisy bunch of excitable runners dressed similar to me. Salomon hydration packs are everywhere! I join up with a few familiar faces (Jana, Yvette, Giffy, Suzanne and Gwyn (the yappy dog!) and meet some new faces – Maggie, Stefano, Vanna and Jakub. We’ve an hour on the train until we reach Eastbourne. Jokes and laughter are shared and the customary ‘Before’ black and white headshots taken.
We bounded off the train and straight into the run as soon as we left the station. Stefano helped me set up the navigation on my Suunto Ambit3 as, once again, I’d failed to even attempt to understand this watch and how to use it. I’m still struggling to come to like it. To embrace it I’ll need to step away from the familiar convenience of my Garmin Forerunner, and I’m just not willing to do that yet.
Mama Cat Leading the way!
The first stretch of the run is down to the coast and along the sea front to the South Downs Way path at Beachy Head. I remember this from a previous run, it’s a steep incline to start but it rewards you with fascinating views of the Coast and Eastbourne. We could see the end goal, Brighton, in the distance. A mere shadow on the Horizon. It looked a long way off…
Following the coastal path we ran towards Beachy Head Lighthouse before hitting the Birling Gap and Seven Sisters – series of seven chalk cliffs on the English Channel. The sun was shining bright and the light on the white cliffs was mesmerising. As too were the sudden drops and ‘up and unders’ we’d run for each cliff. The Wind was blowing strong and we were struggling to speak to each other as there was no protection given we were on the coast. So we all followed up and down the cliffs, walking where we had too. Some of us having more fun than others – Yvette rolling down a hill being a prime example. A heap of photos were taken, it would be foolish not to record these memories!
As we progressed further along the coast, the group split into two and we lost sight of a few of the runners. We needed to loop inwards at Cuckmere Haven (as the tide was in enough to prevent running along the shore) and around the Cuckmere river via the road. As we reached the coast again and started to climb the hills, the group reformed and off we went.
It was around this time, after a few hours of running, that many of us were starting to feel the effects of hill running in the wind. It’s tough. Naturally with it come the aches and pains and the niggles as well as those demon thoughts that start to beat you down. It isn’t a nice feeling. My own physical complaint being a bout of sciatic on my left side. I had it once before and it flared up earlier in the week. I’m not sure why, either as a result of over training or being knocked off my bike one night. Occasionally I could feel the pain depending on the angle my left foot was making as it hit the ground. A few of the group decided they’d power on until Newhaven and then leave us to carry on. They’d meet us in Brighton later for the journey home.
For me, the run across Seaford was a right bitch. After hills and trails, running on the concrete path, flat, with a clear view into the distance, was a struggle. I was so glad when we reached New Haven. Again the group had separated a little but reformed at Newhaven station where we said good bye to those stopping and welcomed David who joined for the next 20km.
Food was consumed as we strolled up Fort Hill for yet more amazing views, and to welcome back the wind. The next stretch of the run has become a blur for my memory. I was in and out of phases of joy and phases of darkness, wishing the run would end. I get this quite a lot on long runs and presume so many others do too. You find a way to block it out and keep moving forward. It’s times like this where it is great having company even if you do not talk to those around you. Taking comfort in knowing you are not alone and there are others there to keep you motivated.
Somewhere near Peacehaven we were joined by Sarah. She was running into Brighton and recognised a few faces from some of the North Face’s Never Stop London Trail sessions. She joined us for the last stretch. It was great talking to Sarah as we ran, she pointed out various points of interest to me and gave me an insight into some of the history of the coastal path (her parents live in Brighton).
Passing Saltdean we headed down onto the Undercliff Walk. Like before we were once again on flat, hard concrete ground. A clear view of Brighton in the distance. We could see the Marina which was pretty much the end goal. Sand being blown in our faces, it was head down and power through. The end was near. We hit the Marina and carried on down to the Pier. Regrouping at the Aquarium. We were done. Smiles and hi-fives all around.
A few of us headed off for some Fish and Chips (had to be done!) whilst the rest headed to the pub to meet those already there. We all then headed off to the train. The ‘after’ headshots were taken and the journey home filled with laughter and reflection. Next stop – Hot Bath!
Thanks Cool Cats! (and credits to them all for the photos!)
Last month I joined the LdnBurgerRun, a social group of runners organised through Instagram running for a burger. Simple concept. Great concept. I had a great time and was definitely going back for some more.
I’d met Tommy a few times now and he was looking for some support with the group. I’d let him know I’d be happy to help where I can and he asked me if I could pace one of the groups for the February run. Abso-bloody-lutely. I was to pace the 9:30 – 10:00 min mile group along with Kirsty who I’d met at the last run. We’d be popping out 13 miles on the way to Byron Burgers.
Leading up to the day I’d been banging on about it to so many people. In the end a number of mates joined me for the day – Alex (who came to the last one also), my flat mate Nathan (who doesn’t do long distance), Yvette from NSL/Cool Cats, Nick from my last Run With Dai and Mike – who’ll soon be joining me for a run! It was set to be a good day.
Alex is balls-deep in his training for the Brighton Marathon now and was looking to up his distance this weekend. 20miles was his target. I told him I’d join him for 5 miles before the run (he was going to join the faster pace group who would cover 15 miles on the day). The night before I plotted out a route from Stockwell to Hyde Park to get us those 5 miles. We were prepped. It would be an early start (me getting up at 5:30 to get to Stockwell in time to do our 5 miles before the burger run began).
My neighbours were having a party that night. Me and Nathan had agreed to go so we popped in to say hello and have a chat. Not quite what we were expecting as the flat (currently in between tenants) was set up for a bit of a rave! Turns out the owners like a bit of a dance and a party and there was a lot of time spent ‘mixing the tunes’. It was a little odd, as there were less than 10 of us there. We couldn’t really talk with the music so loud but either way tried to enjoy ourselves before making the excuse (valid!) to leave. Whilst we went to sleep the music continued, Nathan’s room vibrating to the beats. Ha, he’d be a barrel of laughs in the morning!
Amazing sky as the day was dawning.
Morning came and I was up and out to meet Alex. We headed off chatting all sorts of shit, looping to Vauxhall and into Battersea park before heading through Chelsea to Hyde Park. As we cooled off outside the café in the morning chill, the numbers of runners started to arrive. And arrive they did. The turn out this month was huge. There must have been close to 50 runners from all backgrounds and experiences. It was set to be a good day!
Jon (the other face behind the group) led us in a warm up and gave an overview of the route. There would be hills. This caused a few sighs and groans in the group, but a big smile from me. To be fair, chatting to Jon in the week and having downloaded the route, I knew what was to come!
Everyone moved to their pacers and we were set to go. Sadly Kirsty wasn’t able to make it on the day, so Tommy joined with me to herd the group around. This meant one thing – Party Group! With his speaker on and selection of 90s hits pumping, we set off.
Leaving Hyde Park with big smiles
This was only the second time I’d used my Suunto and followed a pre-planned route. On the way in the morning I had to google how to set up the navigation and breadcrumb trail. I might have been a tad unprepared! On the whole the route was easy to follow. Given the granularity of the breadcrumb trail, there were a few wrong turns in Regents Park and Hampstead Heath. But we were broadly on track.
The first part of the run saw us leave Hyde Park, up into and around Regents Park before regrouping at Primrose hill. The first 4 miles were done, the first hill conquered and the first photo stop posing completed. The next section of the route saw us head through Camden and up Belsize Park towards Hampstead Heath. The long, gradual stretch of uphill running was starting to take its toll on the group, but they all powered on like champs! We cut over into Hampstead Heath and veered slightly off the track, but, there were muddy paths we could wind along in the general direction needed. Result. Hills and mud. I was smiling at least. We took a little detour out at the top of the Heath to stop at Kenwood house for a much needed toilet break. Some snacks consumed and off we went again, heading towards Parliament Hill where we found all the other pace groups already waiting. Somehow along the way, probably with the few wrong turns and detours, we’d ended up ‘at the back’.
A few moments and more photos later it was time to get moving again. Thankfully we had now conquered most of the hills and it was simply a matter of the long straights back down towards Soho.
The rain was starting to fall but the tunes were still pumping. There was a sudden sense of urgency from some of the group (combination of the music and the desire to bet the rain I think) and the pace increased somewhat – we were running some 9 min miles. To those who felt this increase more than others – my apologies! I was struggling to contain it at this point. Something I’ll improve if I get the chance to pace again!
As we were approaching Tottenham Court road we had some wildly varying distances covered on the various GPS devices runners had. My own was already saying we’d covered the 13 miles. I was pretty sure our detours weren’t that substantial! Either way, the group soldiered on. This wasn’t an easy ask for those already running further than they had before. Big respect to you all for powering through.
As we reached Piccadilly Circus, a few of the group carried on for a few more miles. The rest of us headed to the restaurant to warm up, consume some (loads) of calories and chat with everyone else. The burger was filling and the milkshake intense. I was done. I couldn’t move.
A huge turn out of enthusiastic runners!
What another great day of running and meeting people. So many new faces, so many new stories shared. It’s exciting and inspiring to hear about all the adventures and journeys people are on. There were those casual runners, those training for marathons (so many doing London, Brighton and Berlin this year!) and those training for the insane – like 100 miles in the Florida Keys! Great to talk to everyone and promises to chat more in future to those I didn’t spend much time with!
As I relaxed that evening I started to wonder, how have I ended up at the stage where a 13 mile run on a Saturday becomes a 20 mile run as standard?! I just cannot say no to running!
I’ve always loved a good sugary doughnut (A jammy bastard from Sweetmans Bakery back in the day were the best ones!), so when I came across the @dougnut_run_club on Instagram, I knew I had to get involved. Doughnuts and running, yes please.
The shout out was done, Saturday 25th November, a group of like-minded sugar fiends would be meeting at the Tate, running a 5km route to the Doughnut Time on Shaftsbury Avenue. Here we go…
I was in good shape off the back of the Lisbon Marathon and had continued my running (January and the 2018 challenge would be here sooner than I’d like). I was out for a long run so decided I’d run to the meeting point, do the 5km and then run home also. I had a plan.
I rocked up at the Tate and hung around until I spotted a few other runners who looked equally lost, how exactly do you approach someone and ask “are you running for doughnuts?”. But I did. Intros done and we were on our way. The route was planned and we headed across millennium bridge, along the embankment, into St James park and into Soho.
Chatting away it was great to get to know fellow runners, find out about their experiences and stories and also find out the back ground to the run club – a few friends, after a run, went for a doughnut and were challenged by the seller as to whether they should be eating doughnuts. So they thought, feck it, let’s run specifically for a doughnut next time. And they did, then others joined them and it grew from there. Such a friendly bunch with regular runners, ultra runners and newbies to the running scene.
The doughnuts themselves were sickly good (I had a honeycomb crepe number), although I don’t think any doughnut is worth a fiver! Give me a 5 pack from Sainsburys for 90p any day! I’ll certain run with them again and eagerly wait the next time I can join the guys.
After a coffee (and a warm up!) we headed our separate ways. For me, another 8 miles or so home to round off a 20 mile trip.
I’m at that stage now where all my social media feeds, all my advertisements and all the recommendations are running related. Over Christmas one flashed up that caught my attention – “The Big End of Year Run” set up by a dude going by the alias of ManVMiles. Yep, I want some of that.
It was the 31st December and I’d dragged that mate Daryl out with me. The plan was to meet at Marble Arch, run a half marathon and see out 2017 the only way runners know how. Daryl was delayed on the trains and I was left to mingle with the masses. I fucking hate mingling. Not something I’m comfortable with. I am now getting used to the frequency of it. The running community (in London at least) is surprisingly incestuous and it wasn’t the first time I’ve recognised some faces and had to say “I think I know you from Instagram”. A theme that would continue throughout the run!
Before too long it was time to get underway. A brief intro from the organisers (including the background to the event – two of them did a run a few years back and over time its grown) and we were off. The route leading up and around Regents Park, up to Primrose Hill (for a quick group photo) before heading down into and around Hyde Park (where some more runners joined), through Westminster and along Southbank before crossing the river and ending in Embankment Gardens.
I mentioned how incestuous the running community, both Daryl and I knew people at the event as well as Mark, whom I’d spent 6 hours running with the day before (yet not once either of us hinted at the run we’d be doing the next day!). It turns out that we both know Mark and he was the reason I did The Nohtaram all those years earlier. Small world.
Run With Dai 