RUN 221 - A Bear window

Like most people who spend a few years at university followed by professional training, I've moved around a lot, between cities and within them. Renting and relocating is exciting as you get to reinvent yourself and explore new places, running is a constant but the places you run change every time, even the same routes vary with the weather, seasons and people.  I've struggled recently with my run/life balance, but I'm ready now to recommit to it and its documentation here.  2011 is about to kick off fast for me this weekend with my first marathon in anglesey north wales, its another of the endurance life coastal runs which I was running last year, this is a new course, level 3 (severe) which is the same as Portland, I'm apprehensive as I always am, but know I'm experienced enough to manage the race, I'm looking forward to meeting new people also crazy enough to run a marathon in north wales in january and to it kickstarting my 2011 season of running and blogging.

[Bear window display]

RUN 220 - Setting goals

Setting a goal provides a challenge and establishes parameters for success, it mentally prepares me to settle into a pace and commit to the success of the run.  Its good practice for race day, I like to have a race plan which I memorize and visualize myself completing.

[Beautiful but stinky too]

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]