Hi Everyone,
I hope you had a good week of running. I’ve missed you very much! As part of my Jury Duty I was put on a trial so I’ve been in court all week. There’s nothing like being prevented from running to make you want to run! I’m really hoping that the trial ends ASAP, but at the moment I’m back in court next week. Cross fingers that I’ll be running with you very soon!

We have some great routes planned for this week. On Monday we head through Hyde Park to Sloane Square and then to the Embankment. The weather looks great at this point for a Monday run along the beautiful Thames. You can stop at the Westminster Tube for a 6-mile route or continue to Green Park for 7 miles. (If you prefer a short run, you could also take the Tube from Sloane Square for about 3.75 miles.) Wednesday we have two options. You can meet at 9:45 for the group going to watch the Queen’s Procession (more below) or meet at the normal time for the Kensal Rise route. Friday we’re going to Happening Bagel through Highgate and the Greenway. I know it’s busy at this time of year, but come join us!

Going to see the Queen!
Wednesday is the State Opening of Parliament, which begins with the Queen’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster escorted by the Household Cavalry. We have a group meeting at Barclays at 9:45am to run down to the Palace to watch the procession. We’ll follow our standard “Big Ben” route until we find a good place to watch. The procession begins around 11:00 but we should plan to be in place around 10:30, she arrives at the Houses of Parliament at 11:15 so there’ll be a bit of waiting around and dealing with the crowds, but the group that went last year were able to see the Queen and all the magnificent procession that precedes her arrival. A London adventure! Last year we had a relatively small group so we decided to stick together and we waited for each other along the route. If we have a large group that might be more difficult to do. Here are a few tips from last year in case I’m not there. When we got to Buckingham Palace there were huge crowds along the gates. Don’t be tempted to stop here. Keep going along the gates where we usually run and cross the Mall as we usually do when we run to Big Ben. (If they don’t let you cross, you could run along the Mall on the other side.) Run along the Mall until you find a good place to watch. We found an empty spot along the Mall and were able to stand in the front row. Here is a link to the route for the procession
http://changing-guard.com/ceremonial/state-opening-parliament.html

Tuesday AM Strength Training for Runners
Toni Franz wanted to share some information about a local strength training class for runners at Primrose Hill that she has been doing this year. She found it very helpful for her running and contributed to a huge improvement in her half-marathon time in Nice. The information flyer is below or if you have any questions you can email Toni at [email protected].

Save the Date
Mon May 23 – Brick Lane – Beigel Bake
Wed May 25 – Sights of London and Leaver’s Coffee
Friday June 3 – Borough Market
Mon June 6 – Adventure Run (more details to follow) or Big Ben
Wed June 8 – Last official run of the year

That’s all for now!
Keep running,
Jane

ROUTES

Monday 16 May – Sloane Sq/Westminster/Green Park–3.75 to 7/10 miles Your choice!

Today’s routes are fun because you can pick whichever distance suits you–in this case one size can fit all!

Everybody starts out to Hyde Park, taking the usual route: west on Circus Road, left on Grove End, all the way down to Seymour Place where the road ends. Right on Seymour, across Edgware, left on Stanhope and enter the park. At the silver orb, turn left and run down to the southern edge, following the path to the right before it leaves the Park. Run to big gated exit before the tall ‘One Hyde Park’ complex, cross over Knightsbridge at William Street, quick right on Knightsbridge then a right onto Sloane Street.

3.75’ers: at Sloane Sq, take the Tube home!

6.33’ers: continue past Sloane Sq down Lower Sloane St/Chelsea Bridge Road to the Thames. Turn left on the Thames side of Grosvenor Rd and run along the embankment to Westminster Tube–you’re done!

7+’ers: continue left on Birdcage Walk, cutting through St James Park to the Mall, then left on the Mall towards Buckingham Palace, crossing before the circle to reach Green Park. Run up to the Green Park Tube on Piccadilly St and head home!

10 milers: for anyone needing a longer run today, continue past Green Park Tube, through Mayfair to Baker Street and head to SJW Starbucks–this will give you almost 10 miles.

Wednesday 18 May

TWO OPTIONS TODAY—TAKE YOUR PICK!

1. OPTION 1: Chasing after the Queen by heading to Big Ben (4 miles) LATER START TIME at 9:45!!!

Big Ben 4 miles:
Remember we’ll meet at 9:45 at Barclays to head down to Westminster to see the Queen’s procession. We’ll follow the regular Big Ben route until we find a good place to watch. For this run we head to Hyde Park via the usual route and run along the eastern edge of the park to Hyde Park Corner, under Wellington Arch and down Constitution Hill. Run pass the Victoria Memorial down the mall and enter St. James Park. Run over the pond and out of the park, turning left onto Birdcage Walk and down into Parliament Square to Big Ben. Depending where we stop, we’ll take the tube home from Green Park or Westminster.

2. OPTION 2: Kensal Rise (4-5+ miles). NORMAL 8:15 START TIME!!!

If you prefer not to head into Central London for the Opening of Parliament ceremonies, then Kensal Rise is a good alternative run.

The beginning of this run takes us along the canal to the west. Please be aware of bikes along the canal and move into single file whenever you hear a ‘bike!’ shout.

Start out heading west on Circus Road, turn left on Grove End to St John’s Wood Road and go west, turning left on Cunningham then right on Aberdeen to work your way to the canal entrance on Bloomfield. Enter the canal heading west and run to the Ladbroke Grove exit. Here we turn right and run over the bridge along Chamberlayne Road to Harvist Road. Turn right on Harvist, which turns into Brondesbury Road, and take that to Kilburn High Road/Maida Vale. Turn right and follow Maida Vale to Hall Road where you turn left and run back to Starbucks. [Note, some ladies like to turn at Carlton Vale rather than Hall Road—your choice!] If you want to shorten this route, run west on the canal and turn back at your desired half-way point.
(The 1.8 mile mark is at the point on the canal when the Westway highway is over our heads.)

Friday 20 May – Happening Bagel via Highgate and Finsbury Greenbelt (7 miles)

For this run we start up Fitzjohn’s like we’re going to the Heath but pass the entrance and continue up Spaniards/Hampstead Lane to Highgate. At the very top of the hill bear right and run slightly downhill towards Highgate High Street. At the second circular intersection, cross the high street at the zebra crossing and go down Southwood Lane. At the bottom of the hill veer to the right onto Jackson’s Lane (which is a very narrow road). Continue down Jackson’s to Archway Road, cross the road and make a right, then a relatively quick left onto Holmesdale Road. Run a short distance on Holmesdale and the entrance to the Finsbury Greenbelt will be on your left. Follow the path until it ends, turn left, cross the bridge over the train tracks and enter Finsbury Park. Turn right and run along the western edge of the park until the entrance on Seven Sister’s Road. After we stretch we will head over the street to the Happening Bagel. Once we’ve bought our bagels we will cross back over the street to Costa for coffee and then take the tube home from the Finsbury Park Station.