I’d been planning for my long run this weekend to see me over the thousand mile mark and had also planned to meet up with my pal David so he could join me on the momentous run.
Back at Hyde Park Corner, with pre-made message in hand
Saturday saw him have to spend time with the family and so we moved the run to this morning, lopping three miles off the distance we were going to do as I wanted to finish on as close to 1,000 miles as possible.
At around 6.50 this morning, I got a text from him saying ‘ready to go’ at which I have to admit having a small groan when I read it… Last night, Laura and I were at a Eurovision party so I’d woken up with a slightly sore head. Nontheless, I jumped in the shower and then the car to get to our meeting point, Hyde Park Corner.
David – who runs like a whippet anyway – put me to shame by having run from his house in Hackney, so he already had six miles on the clock when we set off on what turned out to be quite a lovely route.
From Hyde Park Corner, we cut through Green Park to Buckingham Palace and then rounded St James’s Park, coming up by Horse Guard’s Parade where everyone is getting ready for Trooping The Colour: barriers were going up, the chairs in the parade were being laid out and guards were practising their marching.
From here we cut through Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Circus, taking the long steady climb up Regent St, over a very empty Oxford Circus (all the shops were closed, it was so early), past the BBC and on into Regent’s Park. It’s the one central London park I had yet to run around and, as we passed London Zoo, you could hear animals squawking and roaring as we past.
David joins the celebrations
By the time we got to Baker Street, the streets had started filling up, meaning we had to do some pavement dodging before coming back into Hyde Park. We passed 1,000 miles just before coming back to Hyde Park Corner. A fabulous run with a fabulous and supportive mate.
Click here for a link to Garmin Connect for a route map and details of the run
Miles today: 7.40
Target: 759
Miles to date: 1,000.17
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2 comments
Steve Swift says:
May 30, 2010 at 23:12 (UTC 1)
Very well done, 1,000 miles is a hell of an achievement with the injury you’ve had to carry.
Keep on running!
Ben says:
May 31, 2010 at 20:52 (UTC 1)
top work mate, a very impressive feat, keep it going