Welcome back! I hope you had a nice spring break. This week we’re back into training, getting some basic mileage at a relaxed pace in preparation for our longest training run next week. This would be a good time to get a sports massage and/or see a physio for a MOT tune-up. Since we’re three weeks from the race, we’re finished with our speed/tempo work – I know you’re very disappointed! Continue to be very good about STRETCHING especially if you had some time off last week.
Monday we’re doing the 8-mile Big Ben loop and Wednesday we’re doing the Kensal Rise route. Friday we have two options. If you’ve finished your filming session (more on that below) you can run to Happening Bagel via Highgate and the Greenbelt. If you haven’t done your filming, plan to do a regular Heath route so you can make it to the 10:30 start of the Friday filming session.
VIDEO FILMING – This Week!
As many of you know, each year the very creative women of WRW put together a fun video to celebrate our year of running together. We would like everyone to participate, even those who aren’t going to the race. We’ll be filming this week, times below, at Chris’s house in Hampstead. When you go to the filming wear your brightest running clothes. Also, if you are going on Mon, Wed or Fri bring any props you have as if you were going to bed (curlers, bathrobe, slippers, sleep mask). If you are going on Tues or Thurs bring props as if you are going out on the town (make up, hair done up, jewellery, heels). Make sure to wear your colourful running clothes this week and take lots of pictures and videos with your pace groups on the runs. Send them and other photos from the year (highest quality possible) to [email protected]. This is great fun – don’t miss it!
Filming this week:
Monday, April 4, 11am-1pm
Tuesday, April 5, 9am-11am
Wednesday, April 6, 11:30am-1:30pm
Thursday, April 7, 10:30am-12:30pm
Friday, April 8, 10:30am-12:30pm
Nice, France PHOTO BOOK – DUE FRIDAY
For those of you going to the race, please submit your information and photo ASAP. You should have received an email from WRW with all the details. You can email your submission to [email protected] or Amy Grace. If you went to the Padua race last year, we just need a new fun fact to update your entry.
Sunday Dinner Selection – DUE ASAP
For those of you going to the race, we are sending in the Sunday menu order this week. If you haven’t already done it, please email [email protected] or Chris Roberts with your selection today.
Keep running,
Jane
ROUTES
Monday 4 April Big Ben and Back (8 miles)
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 the 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, then turn around and run the same route back to Starbucks.
Wednesday 6 April Kensal Rise (4-5+ miles)
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 8 April
OPTION 1 – Regular Heath routes (if you need to go to filming)
5 miles: The Betsy Route
6-7miles: The partial Heath route
7.5 miles: The Highgate route
8 miles: The full Heath route
Click here for maps of all of the Heath routes.
OPTION 2 – Only if you already did your filming!
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.