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!
One early influence on my running thoughts was Murakami’s “What I think about when I think about running”. I can draw so much from his attitude and perspective, and in particular his “rule” that, he doesn’t have to run everyday, but if he doesn’t run one day, he must run the next. I like the structure yet flexibility this approach brings. I never adopted it though and, running everyday certainly never crossed my mind before.
You only need to spend a few moments on social media to see the abundance of runners completing a run streak. “Run Every Day” (RED) for some cause, for some defined period (run every day till Christmas, run every day January being two recent examples) can be seen in so many posts and pictures. Honestly, I’m not sure I ever got the craze. The why? The challenge? The motivation? And so on. Then you see some of the crazies – those runners who seem super-human like Ron Hill and Jon Sutherland. Mind blown!
I saw these challenges popping up on my daily feeds and my thoughts were always “nah”. Not for me. Then, somehow, I found myself immersed in my own run streak. Wait. What. How did this happen?!
Have a look at my Run With Lydia & Louise – I met these two women who were running every day for 100 days. Nut bags! But, they inspired me. I was mighty impressed. Running with them and getting to know them started to enlighten me a little to those ignorant questions I hadn’t answered. In their case the “Why” was partly to do with charity awareness – FORWARD – check their blog for more info. Also partly for their own sense of achievement and personal reasons. Their companionship though was driving them forward, keeping them running, keeping them motivated. I started to get it, a little bit. I could understand some of the difficulties they’d encountered with raising awareness, getting others to join them on runs etc. I too had seen that. Being the ‘weirdo’ sending messages out on social media to strangers. Most get ignored or never acknowledged. If I’m lucky some strike up a conversation and there is a glimmer of hope for a meet up and run one day. Nevermind enticing your friends out for a run. Most just tell you straight up to do one and jog on (you usually know which friends will actually come out for a run). Anyway, I’ve gone off topic… I was impressed and inspired right. Nothing more. No desires here to do a run streak still. Nope, none at all.
Then I hear that, on day 75 of her run streak, Lydia has gone and got herself injured being an absolute hero and trekking up K2. Nah. She didn’t, that’s not how she got injured. She tried to jump over someone doing the plank or something. Who’s the plank now, doh! Sad though, she’d been forced to end her streak, her time was over, for now.
I can’t really explain why, but, my first response to Lydia was “what if I pick up your last 25 days?”. Classic jumping in with two feet there. I’d not thought this through. But, she was delighted. So I stuck to my word….
Besides the every day part, there was one simple rule. It must be a minimum of one mile. Pah. I eat miles I thought. That’s not even running. What’s the big deal. I’ll be doing what I usually do and running frequently, so it’s not even really 25 days, it’s just the days I wouldn’t normally be running that I need to run. That was how my mind processed it. That’s all I need to do. I’ve got this. So yeah, I’ll do it.
I had one little concern – this was less than two weeks before I would fly out to Oman for the Muscat Marathon. The thought of running before flying, after the marathon and then again when I return to the UK didn’t exactly appeal to me. But it’s just a mile. Whatever. I’ve still got this.
And so it begun. Giving it a little thought and thinking out the days, I’d already run the day before, and the also the day I’d agreed to start, so the first two runs were done. I was underway, even better, mentally I’m starting on day 3.
Day 5 was the first time I couldn’t really be bothered. I didn’t want to run. So I dragged my arse out for that single mile. It felt fake. I didn’t even put my running kit on. There was no real effort involved and I was just going through the motions. Conveniently, leaving the house and looping round the nearby lake was bang on a mile. That will be useful. Another day done. And so the journey continued.
Factoring in runs around work and social life was another challenge, a more obvious one. I’d started attending some community-based workout sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays, I guess I could have recorded the miles covered in those session (about 2 miles each night I think) but that felt wrong to me. So a 6am run before work it would be. These would often also be 1 mile efforts which seemed irrelevant and were very much a tick-box exercise for me. 10 mins running followed by the hour commute on the trusty bike. I don’t think I even sweated on these runs. Certainly my times were slow and I just wanted it done. But, I kept doing them.
Day 8, time to fly to Muscat… the first day was easy, the flight was at night so I’d run at home as usual. The next few days would need a little planning though. With some adventures planned and a few hundred KMs to drive on Thursday, a run at night before bed was going to have to be the way to do it. So, exhausted from a lack of sleep and hours of driving I did a quick 10 mins on the streets of Muscat. Angela joined me to flex the legs following the day’s excursions. Day 9 done.
Friday, Day 10, the run was the main focus this time, it was marathon day. I’d probably covered more time and distance on this day than most of the 25 days combined. Saturday, similar to Thursday would need some planning. This time a mile in the early hours before we left for our trip to Wadi Shab. Another mile and Day 11 done. Sunday, arriving back into the wet gloom of London after a few days of glorious heat was hardly inspiring. Time for yet another single mile around the lake. Yawn. And so it continued. Another week of little runs before work. Occasionally I’d feel motivated to push it to 3 miles or so. Can you tell I wasn’t feeling the token 1 mike runs?
I tried to keep my own plans going, the odd training run, running with Louise again, a few ‘Run With Dai” runs included and some great weekend escapes to trails all helped me run everyday in a more enjoyable sense. The rest of it became a formality.
So here I am, writing this with 25 days done. My run streak complete and the 100 day challenge reached (albeit split over two people) and 101 days for Louise! And what do I feel now?
Different. Empathetic for sure. I’ve learnt something valuable, to me at least, appreciation. I’ve had my eyes opened and I see and respect the challenge now. It’s not time nor distance, pictures nor recognition, kudos nor comments. None of that. It’s something I already knew too well but had blocked out, as I do – the mental challenge of running. The hardest part, finding that motivation. Motivation to push out those negative thoughts. The ones that put a little excuses before you. focusing your mind and saying ‘I’m doing this’. I’ve got this and I enjoy it. To keep going, keeping that streak alive. That challenge is something else. Harder I’ve found that running for hours on end. With long distance there is the benefit of recognising that you have to keep going because the finish might be closer than the alternative. Or something, or someone, is waiting when you do finish. There’s nothing waiting at the end of a streak. Satisfaction and achievement perhaps, but nothing you can touch, nothing that you can easily channel and visualise to turn into that motivation to keep going. I don’t think so anyway. I’ve learn this now and feel I understand it to some degree at least. It only increases my respect for those out there on a run streak of some form. Fair play to you. You’re smashing this.
For me, I’m done. I don’t want to continue. I don’t know where it would stop if I did. I’ve done what I came to do and I’m happy. And I hope it’s helped Lydia and Louise. I hope its contributed in someway. How they did 75 days and 101 days I’ll never know. But my streak is over. 25 days and out.
In the end my run streak saw me cover around 150 miles, make 2 new friends and come away a more enlightened person.
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.
It was late one Friday night on the 22nd April and I received a text from Daryl. “What are you doing tomorrow night?” (I assume it said that, I honestly can’t remember, but it makes for a good story so let’s go with it.). “Nothing” I respond. “Want to run a marathon” he replies….
Now then. What’s all this about? Daryl explained that there was an unofficial London Marathon taking place the night before the race. In a nutshell, you meet at 2am at the finish line, run the course in reverse and finish before the marathon starts in Greenwich. This did sound appealing. I was generally in a good state of fitness. I hadn’t run more than about 10km that year though. Either way, I understood it would be a casual run. No pressures. No expectations. Fuck it. Why not.
Saturday evening I was in a pub watching Man United vs Everton with two friends. They’d arranged to go out and ‘make a night of it’. I was thinking ‘when the game end will so I can get some sleep’?!
I met Daryl in the city near his office. Our plan was to leave our stuff there and head back afterwards for a shower before joining his running group – Run Dem Crew – to support the marathoners doing the actual race. We prep’d up, had a laugh with the security man on duty about how ridiculous what we were about to do was, and headed over to Birdcage walk and the meeting point.
The runners started trickling in before a large group, who’d met at McDonalds for some calorie loading, showed up. I distinctly remember overhearing one guy say he’d just come straight from a wedding for the run. He was loaded up on Gin. Crazy fool / legend! I think there was close to 200 people in total who showed up (or would be showing up as there was also a second pace group starting later).
Someone gave a little speech. I don’t think they said much other than “Off you go” and that was it. We were running a marathon. At night. Through the heart of London. It wasn’t long before the mayhem of a large group of runners took over. People headed off on their own, at different paces. Runners were separated at traffic lights and junctions. People took slightly different paths/cut corners at their discretion. Daryl and I stuck together as we intended though. I think somewhere along Embankment we found ourselves in a little group of about 6 people, we started chatting away and settled into a pace we were all happy with.
The vast majority of the run was uneventful and can be summarised as follows: Drunk people, Canary Wharf – getting lost, pit stops & cheese, getting to know each other, Canary Wharf – always visible, Woolwich – so dull, The hill – the damned hill! Let me elaborate…
As we ran through the city, I realised that, in all my time in London, I’d rarely (if ever) enjoyed London at night Sober. But one thing was immediately clear was the volume of drunk people staggering around at 2:30am. We got plenty of cheers from the drunk revellers searching their next party.
We reached Canary Wharf at some point. I don’t know when or how. This was back when I wasn’t recording/tracking runs. We were just running. Whilst the majority of the route was prepped with railings ready, Canary Wharf wasn’t. We were running the major roads with traffic in all directions. We were going round in circles and had no idea where we were. Fortunately one guy had a pretty strong understanding of the route (you’ll find out why in the next section) and he managed to direct us through the dark concrete jungle. Two fingers to you Canary Wharf. We win.
In our group was a gentleman (I forget his name) whose friend (I forget her name too) had decided to cycle the route with us. Whilst she had to take different roads a lot of the time, we’d often find her waiting up ahead. This was brilliant for two reasons. Firstly, it made us regroup and stop and re-fuel. Secondly, she’d packed a tonne of food in her bike bags. We were treated to homemade flapjacks, fruit, chocolate and cheese. Cheese on a run?! It’s been a staple of my running nutrition ever since! Whoever you were, thank you!!
And so to the runners we were with. It was a mixed bag. There was a woman who was training for an 8 day, self-supported ultra across Scotland. A man who would be running the marathon straight after this one following a bet from a friend to raise an extra £500 for charity, the gentleman who knew the route as he paces at the London Marathon as a guide for partially-impaired runners (he too would be running the race after completing this one) and some dude who was dressed as Spiderman. I don’t know why. Then there was Daryl, running his first marathon and me, the tag along with a days’ notice. A mixed bag! I remember the woman’s story was particularly impressive and touching. She was a keen runner and cyclist but last year was knocked off her bike. She broke both her legs. Less than a year later, against her doctor’s advice she was running marathons and ultras. In her own words “it doesn’t hurt when I run. But it does when I don’t run”. She was one determined lady!
Running through the capital at night
The second half of the course was tough going. As we entered South London the streets were quieter and there were less distractions. For me, Canary Wharf become the bitch of my fascination. She was so visible, all lit up in the dark. Everywhere we turned we could see her. She never escaped us. Always teasing us. She was doing my head in! We then reached Woolwich, I’m guessing around 5am. It was very cold by now and raining. Woolwich isn’t the most attractive of places at the best of times. On a grey, damp, pre-dawn April morning it’s an absolute shithole to look at for an exhausted runner. The chatting had gone. We were all in silence. Just running. Plodding along. I (and probably a few of the others) knew what lay ahead. Daryl didn’t….
Back when I ran the London Marathon in 2013 I remember the starting few miles. The crowd is split over 3 different coloured running starting points. Just before you enter Woolwich Arsenal all the starters merge together as you run downhill. Yep, downhill. It isn’t particularly steep or much of an elevation but, running the course in reverse and having to go up the hill after 20 plus miles was going to be a struggle. I was mentally ready for this. Daryl wasn’t. Eventually we hit the hill, and with it the runners wall. None of us were particularly good at this point and we all slowed and walked where we had too. Daryl dropped off slightly as he vocalised his mantra “Daryl made for hills, Daryl made for hills” repeatedly. We eventually regrouped at the top again as we reached Blackheath. It was completed.
The people that got us through the run! Thanks
There was no fanfare. No supporters. No cheering. No congratulations. No medals. No anything. Just rain and a desire to get the fuck out of there and find somewhere warm. We took a photo with the group. Said our thanks and all parted different ways. Daryl and I headed down into Greenwich. We were freezing as the dampness and morning chill combined to make us shiver. All the restaurants and cafes were still closed (it was before 7am after all). We sacked off waiting to meet with other runners completing the run and instead jumped on a tube back to Daryl’s office. Warm showers and some more snacks and we started to perk up.
We headed out to East London to join the Run Dem Crew supporters. They were in amazing spirits with music, instruments, banners and loud voices. We spent most of the time in a busy café eating huge breakfasts. I don’t remember what happened after this but I know I slept well that night!
Watching and cheering the marathoners with tired legs of our own.
I’d signed up to Race to the Stones, but I’d never run a trail run before. It was time to get some practice. Facebook kept prompting me with the Salomon Sunset Series adverts. A 10km around the infamous Box Hill. It was set up by Salomon as part of their Sunset Series across the UK, the race taking place at 8pm a night as the sunsets (duh!). I was in.
This is where I mixed it up a bit, I decided to combine the 10km trail experience with a long training run and also gain some experience of running in the dark (because I had no idea how long I’ll be out on the course for Race to the Stones!). So the plan was, head down to Box Hill, enjoy the afternoon, take part in the workshops (trail running, Yoga etc.), run the 10km, pick up my bag and run the 18 miles back home to London. Simple.
The event itself was great. It wasn’t a big crowd in the day, although numbers increased for the race start. I’d gone down to Box Hill early and had me a little wander. It was early afternoon and I just lay in the field, my eyes closed, enjoying the relaxation and wind before I realised I was getting bitten to pieces by an army of ants. Fuckers. Inside the race village there were some stalls and products available as well as workshops on trail running and yoga. I enjoyed both. The techniques for running up and down hills particularly useful! Afterwards it was time to grab some food and listen to the professional Salomon athletes talk in a Q and A session. There was something ironic about me sitting there eating a pie whilst listening to them talk training and nutrition. I was happy. Before long it was time to run.
Stay classy!
Part 1 – The 10km race. This in itself was tough but manageable. It was good fun getting on the hills and properly testing my trail trainers. There were a few very steep sections that required ‘power marching’ – a technique taught in the workshops earlier that day – and I certainly felt the effort this required! Towards the end of the race though it started to rain, pretty heavily. There was no “Sunset” on this run. Finishing up at Salomon’s Memorial I decided not to stick around. I grabbed my finisher’s coaster (better than a medal!) and ran back to the baggage store and quickly getting changed and setting off for home…
No sunset here!
Part 2 – the run home. This was going to be dull. It was dark. It was wet (very wet!). I was soaked before I’d even begun. I was committed though (I had miles to do!) and I had recently bought a waterproof jacket (OMM Kamleika Smock if you care!) so this was the perfect opportunity to also test running in that! There would be a lot of testing on this run!
Best pizza ever!
Do you ever get that Deja-vu feeling? I’ve often experienced that in London, mostly being in a place I recognise from a drunken night out somewhere, well it happened here again. Many many years earlier I’d spent some time with a woman who lived out in Reigate. This one time she took me to a pub in the middle of nowhere where I had an awesome Chinese duck and plum sauce Pizza (I know right!). I never knew where that pub was (or even what it was called)…until my route home took me past it shortly after leaving the race village. It’s the Arkle Manor for those interested. Get involved.
As I continued running I soon realised I’d planned my route home based on roads, not necessarily those roads that were safe for pedestrians, never mind pedestrians in the pitch dark. I did not enjoy running those country roads in the dark and the rain, although I was so glad of my head torch.
After about 6 miles I took a stumble in the dark after a short detour through some paths in the woodlands. I stumped my toe pretty hard and now I was also grumpy bastard as well as wet and tired at this point. The rest of the run was uneventful though until I rocked up in Croydon shortly after midnight on a Saturday. Seeing all the drunk party-goers on their nights out spurred me on to get home to bed! Hah, how times had changed. I was home a few miles later. Finally.
Run With Dai 