The parkrun 20202020 challenge - Number 9

-


I ran to the East End for my next parkrun. Mile End to be precise. To get there I used the Greenwich tunnel under the Thames for the first time. It was empty and an eerie but unpleasant jog beneath the river.

I emerged on the Isle of Dogs and headed towards the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf via Mudchute Park and Farm. This was a pleasant green space beneath the shadows of concrete and glass.

On reaching Regent’s Canal I followed it north until arriving at Mile End Park. There is an athletics stadium at the base of the long, narrow stretch of parkland. This was the start and finish point of the run.

After 5 minutes to catch my breath after the first 7 miles warm up I started out. There is a double path winding north. The left side in for pedestrians and the right for cyclists. I hadn’t scoped out the route, but it seemed quite straight forward.

The path wound its way for about a quarter of a mile before reaching the Green Bridge over Mile End Road. It was a steep climb and I was relieved when I reached the top and made my way down the other side. The route headed left towards the canal and then followed the tow path for a couple of hundred metres before turning a sharp right.

I now ran in a circle around a small lake and re-joined the path by the canal heading south the way I had come. Once back to the beginning I was halfway. I ran the same loop north and south again and finished back where I started 3.1 miles and 19:00 minutes later.




Popular posts from this blog

Human v Horse

-
Image
The trail is ankle deep in mud. There are large U shaped holes in the ground. My brain is working overtime to relay information from my eyes to my legs to avoid breaking an ankle. I'm descending at speed through pine forest with shouts of 'Horse!' echoing behind me.  Moments later I hear the heavy breathing of a quadruped moving at speed. The drumbeat of hooves on turf are replaced with the splashing and squelching of the sodden earth. I feel a warmth on the back of my neck, almost imperceptible, likely imagined. Turning my head I risk a fall, but I need to see my foe. I glimpse the auburn mount bearing down on me, helmeted rider perched atop. I dive to the side of the trail just in time. The speeding steed is past in a moment. I watch as horse and rider gallop on and vanish into the shadows.  This isn't a recurring nightmare - that's the one about leading parkrun and then getting lost - nor is it my experience of participating in an anti-hunting protest. This was h...
Read more

A bridge too far?

-
Image
A post on Facebook caught my attention. This is how many of my running adventures begin. Bex Band, founder of the women's adventure community Love Her Wild had walked across all the bridges in Greater London. Obviously this meant the Thames River. Less obviously there are 33 bridges in total starting at Hampton Court and ending at Tower Bridge. Of these, 26 have pedestrian access and she had crossed them all. 'Hmm, that would make a good run' was my first thought. Seed planted. A couple of months later on a mild, bright January day I travelled to Richmond. My first run was Richmond parkrun with my friend Vicki and her pal Nicola. 3.1 miles, no dear and a warming coffee later, I ran the nine miles to Hampton Court. Twelve miles done and I was ready to start my run! My goal was to cross each bridge when I came to it. That meant crossing Hampton Bridge and a sign denoting entrance to Surrey before turning and re-crossing it to begin. Yes, I am a pedant. Hampton Court Bridge I ...
Read more

Great Lakeland 3 Day

-
Image
We had been descending for close to a mile. It was a steady descent, more than runnable. A chance to stretch out the legs. At the bottom we stopped at the checkpoint to refill out water bottles from the fast flowing stream when cramp struck.  I watched as my friend Matt grimaced in agony and beads of sweat fell from his brow. The muscles of his inner thighs had completely spasmed. He was unable to move. We were nine miles into day two of our three day Lakeland adventure with fifteen miles and numerous summits still to go. It was a relief when after a few minutes he was able to take a few hesitant steps. Disaster seemed to have been averted. We continued along a flat road before beginning our next ascent. Suddenly, Matt let out a cry and fell to the floor writhing in pain. The cramps were back. The day seemed to be over and we began to discuss how to get back to the campsite. ----------------- Matt, his wife Kelly and I had booked onto the Scarpa Great Lakeland 3 Day that is held in...
Read more