Reminder – this Wednesday there is a WRW coffee at The Elgin in Maida Vale –\u00a0255 Elgin Ave, W9 1NJ from 9:30-11:30. \u00a0It\u2019s informal – come have some coffee and nibbles courtesy of WRW and start to meet other runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK \u2013 a few things for the run this week:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Use this run to try out what you might wear in Milan \u2013 your shirt, waist pouch, hat, leggings, socks. If the weather isn\u2019t cooperative, it\u2019s OK to wear different bottoms, but it would be good to wear your expected shirt so you make sure it doesn\u2019t chafe. We want no surprises on race day that something that worked for a 6 mile run suddenly starts chafing at 9 miles. Right now, the weather in Milan looks to be highs in the mid-upper 60s (19-20 C) and a lows in the mid 40s (6-7 C). With the race at 10:30 am, the temp will probably be in the mid 50s (12-13 C) to start. If it\u2019s sunny, it will feel warmer. Generally, the rule of thumb is to dress like it is 15-20 degrees F warmer than the actual temperature.<\/li>
- Bring your Oyster card or contactless card to take the tube back plus money for Starbucks<\/li>
- Bring a gel, maybe two and maybe something like jelly beans, starbursts, etc.<\/li>
- Bring water (with no electrolytes please!)<\/li>
- Eat well and get a good night\u2019s rest the night before and don\u2019t go out partying <\/li>
- Stretch the night before if you can<\/li>
- Eat something for breakfast<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019ve said this to everyone already, but you do not have to wear the hat in the race if you don\u2019t want to. \u00a0Not everyone is comfortable in the hat. \u00a0However, please do bring it to Milan with you. \u00a0If it\u2019s sunny, you may want to have it because it will help keep the sun off your head which can make a huge difference. \u00a0It\u2019s also a good identifier for other WRW people to connect with you and\/or cheer you on in the race – some people opt to hook it on their water belt.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nA note about bathrooms along the run \u2013 around mile 5, there is a Costa Coffee attached to the Hilton Hotel on the Kensington High Street (just past the intersection with Holland Road) which has a few toilets. \u00a0There is also a Starbucks at mile 5.7 but it only has a single toilet. \u00a0We are not going to plan a stop \u2013 it\u2019s better to keep running \u2013 but if you need to stop, a coach will wait for you and other coaches will continue on with the group.If you have any questions\/concerns, let one of us know. \u00a0Otherwise, we\u2019ll see you Wednesday and\/or Thursday!
The route:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe start out the normal way running to Hyde Park. Once in the park, we\u2019ll turn to the left and run down the main walkway as we regularly do, to Hyde Park Corner. At the end of the walk, turn right to follow the main cross route in the park\u2014beware of the bike lane! When this ends at West Carriage Drive, cross the road at the crossing and continue on the pathway towards the southwest corner of Kensington Gardens. We\u2019ll run out of the park at the Broadwalk, turning right onto Kensington High Street and continue for about two miles until we reach the Hammersmith Tube gyratory. Run counter clockwise towards the left, ending up on Queen Caroline Street which gets you to St. Paul\u2019s Church green. Run along the green to the right, heading to and crossing over Hammersmith Bridge. Exit Hammersmith Bridge Road to your left, go down the stairs and run under the bridge onto the Thames footpath. Now it\u2019s time to enjoy the view as we run along the Thames for almost four miles\u2014it\u2019s beautiful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the bridge just BEFORE the bridge we exit on. \u00a0I find it useful to know what this looks like because then I know it\u2019s the next bridge where we get off the path (and it\u2019s distinctive):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womenrunningtheworld.com\/beginners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/09\/Kew-10-bridge.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe will exit at the Kew Bridge, see photo below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womenrunningtheworld.com\/beginners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/09\/Kew-11-Bridge.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womenrunningtheworld.com\/beginners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/09\/Kew-11-steps.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womenrunningtheworld.com\/beginners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/09\/Kew11mi.png\")
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