RUN 249 - Hello humidity!

How fitting to return to the place of my first blog post, 248 posts ago... its comforting to know these places, to know they have always been here, and continue on without me, each place feels like an old friend i haven't seen in a while, or a best friend that i always hang out with.  Catching up with them again is a beautiful thing.

[Oak Brook, IL, USA]

RUN 248 - Post Stag

From 32 mile to just one... like i said, every run has its purpose, sometimes its simply to make it a mile, sweat our a hangover and to try and kick a hangover... im certain it helps... especially in the beautiful New Forest of England.



[New Forest, England]

RUN 247 - 32m for Japan

Every run is for a reason, they're usually selfish if were honest.  Occasionally we get the opportunity to do what we love and help other people out too.  www.justgiving.com/hike-for-japan was one of those occasions.  Setting a challenge tougher than you honestly think you can achieve is really the only challenge worth setting, and must be the definition of a challenge.  If you have no doubt you cannot enjoy your success.  I ran and hiked 16m + 16m along Beachy Head in England today, and my friends and i raised over $2000 for relief efforts in Japan, you can still give at the link above, many thanks!



[The undulating chalky south coast of England]

RUN 246 - Perfect Putney

One last time along the river, a suspiciously perfect day to run, almost like London is stating its case, i'm trading these tidal river banks and tow paths for a shoreline of another sort on another continent.  The only comfort is that they've been here for hundreds or years and will be there for me anytime i need them.



[Putney Bridge on the River Thames]

RUN 245 - Must stretch more!

Sometime i wonder if there's a natural universe conspiring against me, giving me shin splints at the most perfect moment to encounter the beautiful world around me, hobbling along stubbornly i catch this most beautiful view, how else would i ever have found myself here; what better reason to run?



[Battersea Power station, London]

RUN 244 - Look

Running through the city, you spend a good proportion of that time looking at the ground; watching your footing; the closest i've come to rolling an ankle has been on kerbs rather than cross country... im an observant person, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded to truly look at the world around you, especially while running, there is so much more to see if you look past the obvious.

RUN 243 - Run 'till you catch the sun

Chasing the sunset home from work, seems so simple, run till you catch the sun.  Like the Thames or Lake Michigan, its a powerful larger than life running companion which inspires greatness and mocks petty complaints of fatigue.

RUN 242 - The Banks of the Thames

This spot on the banks of the Thames near Kew Gardens is fast becoming my regular turn around spot on my weekend longer runs, about 8 miles from home its a good hours run which feels even better as each step i take is one i know i'll have to take home making a 16+ mile run.  Im not precious about training or timing anymore, ill happily sit and enjoy the view and its infinite detail before heading home, there is so much more to running that the physical fitness it brings, i don't ever want to forget that.

[Low tide, but coming in fast!]

RUN 241 - The perfect run

A run doesn't get any better than this... 10+ miles through unexplored countryside from my parents house to visit my nan, going off my usual route to explore a little more, getting 'lost' and picking a new direction to run somewhere familiar again, discovering a small stream and following it, across varied terrain grass mud and hills through forests... and waiting at the end a happy face pleased to see me and a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea.

[no idea how i found this stream, but it took me home]

RUN 240 - No Swimming

After 10 miles along the beautiful south bank of the Thames in 75 degree sun heading towards Richmond from the city, the only thing i want to do is jump in that water and swim... not ever going to happen though, killer currents and bacteria... 

RUN 239 - Tide racing

The turning point of my preferred run route going west along the Thames, regardless of the time of day, the tide is always there.  The power of it is inspiring, and the effect is obvious, always plainly revealed on the return run, i like feeling part of a bigger world, having something to put ones efforts into perspective always gives me strength and confidence to complete them and push harder.

RUN 238 - Regular Route

Home to work or vice versa, its a regular route which lets me avoid public transport (but not the public!) it provides the perfect transition from one part of life to another, combined with the physical exercise, its a mental break between the two which i maintain helps me be better at both of them.

[Central St Giles, Renzo Piano]

RUN 237 - Back on the Thames again

Having been away for a while its good to be back to a familiar place, sometimes that familiarity is encouraging, other times distracting, especially on a challenging run, being reminded how much further there is to go, and how much more i'll be asking of myself can be a difficult mental struggle, but inevitably at some point that changes in my favor and becomes comforting.  

RUN 236 - The Corniche, Abu Dhabi

Business travel is not always as glamorous as it seems, there often are not opportunities to see the places you're visiting and working in... running is a great excuse to explore... the Corniche is like Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, a road, park, boulevard, beach along the waterfront.  Abu Dhabi isn't the most beautiful place in the UAE, but still a beautiful place to run.

[The Corniche Waterfront of Abu Dhabi]

RUN 235 - Greve in Chianti, Tuscany

It doesn't get much more idyllic than the rolling Tuscan countryside! an early start on a frosty spring morning exploring the hillsides, surprising a pack of dogs and not getting mauled, trying to keep the blood flowing to my frozen fingertips and wishing id brought gloves... none of it matters when the world is this beautiful!

[The countryside around a stunning Tuscan B&B]

RUN 234 - Rome, Italy

Take the chance to explore a little further and trust your instincts, run with a flexible plan and you'll never be disappointed, i always seem to discover a natural climax on runs like today at the top of a hilly Roman public park.



[A perfectly roman public scene]

RUN 233 - Rome, Italy

Being away from home is exciting as a runner, every step will be something new and unfamiliar, you're guaranteed to be surprised and delighted... its also a great way to scout out places to return to, like this hilltop cafe view hidden away near our hotel in Rome.

[A Roman hilltop view]

RUN 232 - 1940s dress design sketches in South Ken.

Even in the city there are always beautiful interesting things to see, and you see so much more when running... there may not always be beautiful vistas, sun rises over impossibly large lakes or the banks of a powerful river, but make the effort to open your eyes and you'll see so much more.

[40's dress designs in a Knightsbridge shop window]

RUN 231 - London drizzle is a runners friend

I'm actually more of a 'poor weather' runner, i love the challenge that weather presents, snow, ice wind, rain... i love sunny day runs too, but its hard to keep cool... a drizzly day is fine by me too.



[Got to watch your step though]

RUN 230 - Post run Rooftop

Running A-B is always so much more satisfying; home to work or vice versa, every step is a step closer to your destination and is filled with a little more confidence.  It translates more directly to our life experiences, and reminds me that so long as we have a direction, a destination or a purpose, make every step a step towards that place and no matter how much you tire, you can draw strength from the knowledge that you're making progress.

[West London skyline from our roof]