RUN 133 - Thames Path; runners heaven

A near perfect run today, I could have kept going all day if i had the time... this pathway is going to become a great friend, at low tide there are river banks where i can vary the terrain too. Stretching in 20+ miles in both directions, into the countryside and into the city of London, the potential is great, and its right outside my door too... I'm very happy about that! [12.19m - 1:37:15 - 07:58/m]

[Rowers to race along the Thames path too]

RUN 132 - Thames River path, Kew

Still not getting much love from my fellow runners on my new beautiful run route, despite my ever cheerful "hello" or a little wave. Maybe there not happy another runners on their route, they've not all shunned me, some have been friendly, maybe they're just too focused, i can understand that, maybe they say hello to every other runner only; it can be busy out there sometimes, so that's understandable too. I'm going to keep saying hi and see what happens. Toady's route got diverted, planning routes is fun, sticking to them is often tricky, sometimes i try harder than other, other days I embrace the diversion and see where it takes me... like today, you just never know where you're feet are going to take you each time you step out for a run. [6.12m - 49:02 - 08:00/m]

[one of many beautiful and forgotten bridges over The Thames river]

RUN 131 - Purdown, Bristol

Sometimes runs are squeezed into a busy day, sacrificing sleep or some other part of life to dedicate the time to training. Other days work out much more simply, and the run can literally take you somewhere, A-B runs are always more satisfying for me that A-A, so i was excited by today's outing, 6/7 miles to my Nan's house to watch the 6 Nations cup opening game, Ireland v Italy! [5.96m - 51:19 - 08:36/m]

[Monument to Duchess Elizabeth Somerset, struck by lightning 1860]

RUN 130 - Wandsworth Bridge, London

Starting to ramp up my schedule again, feeling out my condition. Did some speed work across the bridge today and got a thumbs up and a "keep going!" from a bloke on the bridge... the general public and runners in London have been quite disappointing in their silence, unwilling to speak up words of encouragement as freely as the people of Chicago. Nice to get the support today as i pushed a little harder over a short run today. [3.24m - 22:36 - 06:58/m]

[Wandsworth bridge, i think?]

RUN 129 - Battersea Park & Power Station

Its been 10 days since the Portland marathon, feeling fully recovered and strong, im going to keep running on instinct and listen to my body for the next few days or week before figuring out my training program to the next marathon in Cornwall in April. Each of these 4 races of the Endurancelife Coastal series are the most difficult races ive ever run... im looking forward to planning a road marathon in September or October and see how my pace and performance have improved. [5m - 50:04 - 09:47/m]

[The infamous Battersea Power Station, due to become apartments]

RUN 128 - Streatham Hill & Hillside Gardens Park

Legs are feeling much more flexible and stronger today, went out for another short steady run including a slight hill up to this small park and then back again, the weather is starting to get a little milder, 35/40+ degrees, which I'm looking forward to, although this winter has been much better than recent ones living in Chicago. My next trail coastal marathon is in Cornwall in April so i have a couple of months to prepare. Having done two already since December i have a much better idea of what to expect, my difficulty is going to be hill work in London. I might have to plan some train journeys outside the city for my long runs. [1.8m - 16:00 - 08:53/m]

[Hillside Gardens Park]

RUN 127 - Happy speed signs & a ultra fit Santa look-a-like

Cleaned off my trail shoes from Saturday's marathon and ventured out for a short jog today to loosen up a little, the muscles felt strong but still a little tight so just a quick loop around the common today. You never know what you're going to see when you step outside the door, i made this speed sign happy as it clocked me at 6mph as i approached it, its smile back encouraged me on to wish an ultra fit santa look-a-like good morning as he changed past me at a steady pace. Getting out into the world whether walking, hiking, cycling or running exposes you to the infinite potential this world has to offer; and the more you get out there the more potentially enriched your will be. [1.5m - 14:20 - 13:00/m]

[not that i stood a chance of breaking the 30mph speed limit,

this speed sign was happy with my run today]

RUN 126 - CTS Stage 3; Portland

Today I completed the 3rd Stage of the 2009/2010 Endurance life Coastal Trail Series, in Portland! I finished in 5hrs 27mins, about 40 minutes faster than The Gower, although that doesn't properly reflect the intensity of the pain this race required me to push through, once again. The course lapped the Island of Portland twice, navigating our way from the Sailing Academy, Naval base, rising the first 400ft to the top of the island and around the prison before hitting the east coast, through ankle twisting rock strewn paths, cliff edges, through abandoned quarries, leg scratching brush and across miles of punishing pebble beaches... my ever loyal wife was joined by my parents, sister and her boyfriend forming a truly awesome support crew who navigated back and forth across the island to cheer encouragement, louder and more positively the more pain I put myself through. And there certainly was pain! ... the first lap was actually pretty good, i paced myself and felt good at the first quarter, which was the toughest... except for the pebble beach at the halfway point... first time round I ran across at a steady pace, second time around, after 23 miles and more than 1,600ft in total assent, plus decent... the beach beat me, and I, like everyone around me put my head down, and walked! Just as my race in The Gower, miles 20-23 were the most intensely painful... lack of salts this time caused massive muscle cramps through my thighs, quads and hamstrings cramped up so tightly i could not bend either leg at all. I took my time and squatted slowly to stretch out the muscles enough to be able start running again, i had hoped to finish in 5hrs, it seems each of these races will teach me something about setting expectations, and like always i learn a lot about myself too... about what I'm capable of, and how strong my resolve is to finish what i begin. While my finish times will never likely compare to those of the winners, that doesn't concern me, completing even one event such as this in a lifetime would be a major achievement for most people, each new challenge I set and complete makes me feel more complete, a periodic test of my mental and physical strength, which I come away from with renewed confidence. I'd recommend it to anyone, find something that makes you think "i could never do that" then commit to it, train, practise, rehearse, study and you WILL surprise yourself... my next "i could never do that" moment is April 23rd... come back and see how i got on. [26.2m - 05:27:00 - 12:28/m]

[West Coast of the Island, muddy paths and vertical cliffs]

[The decent to Chesil Beach, the easiest footing
followed by the most challenging]

[The awe inspriing view ahead]

[part of the reason for debilitating muscle cramps]

[Rock strewn paths just waiting to brake my ankles]

[So often no other runners or supporters in sight,
time to focus and push through ]

[The infamous Chesil beach I hated so much, which i finally beat]

RUN 125 - Tapering & motivation

The recent beautiful snow has thawed to muddy trails for great cross country running. Tapering these last 10 days before Saturday's marathon is always difficult, reducing mileage i always have excess energy and frustrated not to run it off. The part of London were staying in currently is great for longer runs to more interesting areas, shorter runs like today are less stimulating, basically running around the block is difficult, so as soon as i saw it start raining this morning i ran straight out! ... the weather is great at motivating my runs, not necessarily by 'good' weather, running in a variety of conditions is most interesting to me. [3.0m - 24:31 - 08:11/m]

[Beautiful snow becomes beautiful mud]

RUN 124 - The Crystal Palace

Took my run today towards Crystal Palace, football stadium, park and 2nd site of the Crystal Palace of the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, relocated here it burnt down in 1936. 6 days until my trail marathon on the island of Portland near Weymouth. I feel confident about this race, my first trail marathon a month ago in The Gower, Wales was brutal, i think the footing will be better here, im still not placing any expectations on time. My strength feels good, although my stomach hasn't been 100% the last few days, it shouldn't be a problem tapering this week and should be fine by Saturday. I'm better prepared for this race, and know how i need to pace myself. Running teaches me the power of confidence and its ability to make the seemingly impossible possible. [8.59m - 01:12:13 - 08:24/m]

[2nd Site of The Crystal Palace 1854-1936]