Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful break.  It was so fun to run with many of you on Thursday!  We are looking forward to running with you this Thursday and hearing how you spent your break.  I hope you all managed to do at least a bit of running over the past few weeks.  If you haven’t, please let one of us know so we can help you take it easy – we don’t want any injuries!  We can help bring you back up to speed over the next couple of weeks – no worries.  We have done this before, we can do it again!  If you’re having trouble getting runs in, please please reach out to a coach.  We are really happy to run with you on your non-Thursday runs if it will get you out there or do your longer run at different/time day if you have an occasional Thursday conflict.

For the next 2 weeks, we will be doing 60 minute runs on Thursday to remind ourselves that we can do this!  We want to make sure you all have a strong base to build on when we start to increase our time and mileage the week after next.  Thursday, we will do a loop that will have plenty of opportunity for red men for most of the run.  I am attaching the revised training schedule based on the race date (which is one week later than our original plan had).

Please note that after next week, most of our runs will start to be destination runs, meaning that we will end someplace that is not SJW.  This is because we need to run further and longer while also trying to keep us as flat as possible and with some interesting places to keep us distracted while we run.  We have mapped out a tentative schedule below, subject to change.  This should help you determine your timing for getting back to SJW after the run.  Please make it a habit to bring your Oyster Card or contactless card.  If you have questions, please let us know.

Week 21 Jan 20 – 60 min – probably a loop going down to Hyde Park and backWeek 22 Jan 27 – 70 min – Borough Market
Week 23 Feb 3 – 80 min = Brompton Cemetery/Whole Foods Kensington
Week 24 Feb 10 – 90 min = Sloane Sq/Green Park (note – this is parent-teacher conf at ASL)
Week 25 Feb 17 – 100 min = Big Ben and back 
Week 26 Feb 24 – February break – 60 min run
Week 27 Mar 3 – 110 min = Wembley
Week 28 Mar 10 – 120 min = Canada Water
Week 29 Mar 17 – 90 min = TBD
Week 30 Mar 24 – 135 min = Kew Gardens
Week 31 Mar 31 – 45 min = easy run through Regents Park 
RACE DAY!

For now, keep doing 45 minutes on Tuesdays and 30-35 minutes on the weekend.  This will increase in a few weeks, but not yet.
Note – SAVE THE DATE – the WRW kit pickup is scheduled for Tuesday 25 January in the morning.  I will give more information as we get closer but I wanted you to have it on your calendar.

This week’s route:
This route takes Elsworthy Rd to Primrose Hill Rd (left) and quick right onto King Henry’s Rd to the end to cross the bridge and turn right onto Regent’s Park Rd then turn right onto Chalk Farm Rd/Camden High Street.  Just after crossing the canal, turn right onto Jamestown Rd and left to Arlington Rd.  After Mornington Crescent, run briefly on Hampstead Rd and then turn right on Granby Terrace (if you can – it may be blocked) or at Vardell or Robert Street to meet up with Stanhope St.  Turn left on Stanhope and run to Triton Rd. Turn right and at the end, turn left.  At the light, turn right and make the next right into Regents Park.  Staying on the pavement/sidewalk on the outside of the hedges, follow the outer loop back to the Charlbert exit of the park then finish at Starbucks.