Adam in Runderland

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 ...

a tempo Allegro: Onward apace With rapid cadence. Feet driving the beat, Pavement cracks my staves, Measuring the metres. Accelerando: Choreographed movements, My own unique time signature. Heart, lungs and limbs A running rhapsody, The rhythm of the street. Affrettando A movement in B-ing Sharp senses pushing the bars Higher, further. Bellowing Lungs gasp  As if in the hands of an accordionist. Motion is my melody. Adam Pope

Running is not just a healthy and social pastime it is also a way for people to highlight good causes. The London Marathon alone has now raised over £1 billion for charity in its 40 year history. Many charities rely on people fundraising to enable them to continue making a positive difference. In the past I have fundraised for a number of charities including Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs, Whizz Kids, Cancer Research UK and The Rainbow Centre. I believed strongly in the good work of all these charities. This year, however, I wanted to raise money for something very personal to me - Autism. My daughter is autistic and was diagnosed early. We were aware of the signs and able to get help and support. This isn't the case for all.  The National Autistic Society was founded to provide support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.  Autism is a lifelong developm...

No regrets 6am. I open the front door to the frozen air, The silent, dark street beckons. Exposed cheeks tingle with cold,  Frigid fingers fumble into gloved cocoons. I'm cloaked in a mist of my own making. My breath takes form and clouds my sight. I await the connection tethering me to circulating satellites Beep. I take my first icy step. Frost rimmed leaves crunch and shatter,  Brittle fragments scatter to the north wind. Street lights glow, mirrored in stone hard puddles. Black ice, black night. I step carefully, cautiously,  My eyes glued to the slippery surface, Like a snowy owl searching for prey. A mis-step and I myself become prey to the silvery skeins of ice. Leafless arboreal limbs in silhouette scar the brightening sky. Rising, reaching toward the pale amber glow of dawn. Their myriad patterns reminiscent of my own bronchial trees, Warming the frigid air that I greedily inhale. Here comes our glowing star.  How patiently we must wait as it bides. The epit...

What a weekend. It involved some running, some supporting runners and a bit more running. Saturday dawned wet and windy. 300 runners were assembling in Wendover ready for a 43 mile run into London. The fields were boggy, the paths were waterlogged and it was cold. Well, what do you expect on January 8th. These hardcore runners set off while I was driving from east to west London. My first stop was Bushy Park. This, as many will know, was the birthplace of parkrun. On 2nd October 2004 13 runners completed the first 5k with support from Paul  and Joanne Sinton-Hewitt. 17 years later it is a global phenomenon. This was my running pilgrimage. I have wanted to run Bushy since I ran my first parkrun in September 2012. This would be my 291st. A gentle rain was falling as I parked up by the Diana Fountain just across from Hampton Court. To stretch my legs - and kill some time, I was an hour early - I ran around the park exploring the tree lined avenues, gated gardens and open marshland....