RUN 219 - East/West city running

A to B is entirely different from B to A, city commute running can provide a much more varied running experience than weekend long runs which I typically head to the river trail for.  Dodging the pedestrians and watching out for cars requires a level of attention which more relaxed longer runs does not, it’s actually good experience for the coastal trail marathons which require very precise feet placement, acceleration, deceleration, navigating narrow paths and avoiding obstacles… there are plenty of 10-15 storey staircases in the Tube system too to mimic those hill climbs!

[street art in the east end]

RUN 218 - West/East regular route

This is now easily my most regular run route across the city, longer than my regular weekday runs used to be, it helps to keep my mileage up when I don’t have the time for longer weekend runs.

No idea what this arcade is on Picadilly, will probably never go in]

RUN 217 - Wintery London day

Something about the weather makes running so much more exciting, it’s a massive factor every time you step outside the door, figuring out what to wear can make a run great or terrible if you get it wrong.  That’s probably why I like days like today, I can tolerate the cold pretty well, the added challenge of rain or snow just makes it more exciting for me, the tougher a run and the more varied the experience the better equipped I feel to take on the next run.  Although I probably need to work on my warm weather running… that still causes me the most problems!

[a rare chance to run in snow in London]

RUN 216 - South side sun!

Running south is even more varied and beautiful, quieter and more residential, this icy lakefront can be all yours on a day like today, pretty amazing for a city home to millions.



[Definitely the most beautiful section of the lakefront, bbqs and weddings!]

RUN 215 - North side ice!

Back with my favorite running partner, on the shores of Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline beckoning me, the tranquility of this place, especially on an icy winters day like today its absolutely awe-inspiring.  I feel massively fortunate to know this place and to share in its contrasting beauty… big city buildings and miles of unending varied shoreline.

[Worth running even covered in ice!!]

RUN 214 - Stop and look, there’s much more to see

Running connects you much more closely to the world around you… it heightens the senses requiring a level of observation which isn't otherwise often experienced.  Especially in city life, there are always other objectives which discourage us from taking the time to stop and really observe the unending detail around us.

[Beauty in the most simple of things]

RUN 213 - My running ‘perfect storm’

There are times when everything falls perfectly into place and a run magically naturally evolves to appear before you.  Having the time free of constraints, and pressures to complete it to allow another task to begin, combined with visiting family or friends to create a destination A to B run rather than A to A, returning to a near perfect and varied route, with roads, fields, forestry.  These things provide a clarity of mind which seem to make the difference between a typical and an amazing run.

[one of my favourite places in the world to run]

RUN 212 - Training schedule, or schedule training?

Finding the constants which running can slot into seems to be my best bet to maintain the level of mileage (and sleep!) I’d like to maintain in my life, I live 7 miles from work and can run there faster than the public transportation system can take me there, combining it with my work schedule is the challenge; perhaps adjusting my run schedule and committing to that morning routine rather than the bus/tube/tube interchange is the key?

[Picadilly Circus]

RUN 211 - Every little helps

It matters very little whether you run a mile, ten or twenty, the distance is insignificant compared to the psychological boost in confidence of stepping out of the door and making the effort, keeping it a regular priority is the challenge of a busy city life.

[Heading to the street below]

RUN 205 to 210 - I've been a bad, bad blogger! ... must do better

I've been lazy, pure and simple.  Making time to run during the week in addition to commuting and at the expense of time with my wife or socializing seems to be an eternal struggle which I feel like I’m barely winning. My next marathon (In Angelssey, North Wales in January) means that December I need to get back on track and ramp up my long runs… my mileage has been good with a 7 mile run either to or from work, but I need to push myself again, its so hard to compare the coastal trail marathons, but id really like to come in about 5hrs in Anglessey.  2011 I’m going to refocus on road races, begin with a few half marathons and 5-10k races and build some speed, with marathons in the final two thirds of the year, with a view to a bigger challenge in 2012! …

While I love the freedom of running to work and avoiding public transport, urban running is definitely different to my usual distance runs along the river where I can control pace and form, although avoiding pedestrians and cars is good practice for marathon racing, working your way through the crowds.

I’d like to get to the point where my fitness level and mileage is consistent enough to be able to build up to a marathon within a month or so, racing or running a marathon every other month seems like the best way to get that consistency and rhythm of training going, and that’s the advise I’ve had while racing around the coast of England and Wales over the last year.

I’m kind of a lone runner, I’m not really interested in joining a running group or training in a team, I’m not anti-social, it’s just that even if your running partner is of the same fitness level, either one can have a bad day, feel tired or unwell, its completely personal for me and I don’t really bow to peer pressure, my own success or failure is the biggest motivator for me.  Although there are a few really good friends who I’ve run with at different stages; when I started, and needed her help to push me forward (Nici!)  when we discovered a common passion and were able to share it (Victoria!, Ron!), now recently my friend (Ika!) recent ex-smoker(!), who is discovering her (perceived) boundaries and learning the biggest lesson; to push through them!… but there’s always something for me to learn too… it’s so easy to become complacent with my fitness level and fall into a pace pattern, 8:30 marathon, 7:00 half marathon, 6:00 5k… seeing Ika push through the final mile as I shout at her not to stop; that she can do it, reminds me that I can do it too… I have many other friends who have become runners, hopefully I’ll be able to run with them soon too.

I'll keep up with the daily posts from now on, promise!

[Ika & the Chicken]





[Sunrise over west London]





[Harry Potter World Première]





[Beautiful woodwork, but slightly awkward]




[Tunnel vision sets in sometimes, just run to the next light]