I love this photo! Here’s Paula Mitchell, the founder of WRW, at the finish line after running 154 miles in six stages over seven days in the Mauna to Mauna Ultra! In a race where finishing is a Herculean accomplishment, Paula not only finished but also placed 42 out of 63 finishers. In addition, she was strong enough on the last day to be placed in the starting group with the fastest/stronger runners. I love the idea of our Paula lining up with a group of professional Ultra runners! The race was even more difficult due to days of torrential rains, many changes to the course route and running up and down mountains of razor-sharp lava. Wow! The fact that Paula can compete and flourish in these super-human races gives me inspiration about all the challenging things that we can tackle in our own lives.

I’ve missed running with you! The good news is that after falling down the stairs, (so stupid!) my foot is not broken, just sprained. The bad news is that I’ll be off from running for a bit. I hope to be back as soon as possible!

Monday is a Bank Holiday so if you’d like to run plan to meet at Barclays at 8:30 and the group will decide on a route together. Wednesday we’re running to Sloane Square, Embankment and Westminster. This is a very beautiful route and one that has many options in terms of distances. Friday we’re back up the Hill again.

I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the beautiful summer London weather!

Keep running,

Jane

ROUTES

Monday, 29 May – Bank Holiday

If you are in town and want to run, plan to meet at Barclay’s at 8:30 am and decide your route.

Wednesday 31 May – Sloane Square/Westminster/Green Park (3.75 – 7+ miles)

This route is fun because you can pick whichever distance suits you – in this case one size can fill all!!  We start out by running 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 left onto Sloane Street.

3.75 miles:  Take tube at Sloane Square back to SJW

6.33 miles:  continue past Sloane Square down Lower Sloane St/Chelsea Bridge Road to the Thames.  Turn left on the Thames side of Grosvenor Road and run along the embankment to Westminster.  Take the tube to SJW.

7+ miles:  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 and head home to SJW

Friday 2 June – The Heath (4-8 miles)

It’s Friday [again!], so everyone up the hill! You can pick your distance and whatever you choose, there will certainly be someone else interested in running that distance. These routes are on the website. If you are not up for a hill run, ask around at Barclays; every week there is a group who prefer to do a flat run and you can decide together which flat route to tackle.

4 miles:  A great way to ease into running the hill. Run up to the Hampstead tube station and back. If you have trouble running up, think about how easy it will be running down!

5 miles: The Betsy Route
6+ miles:  The Partial Heath route OR the Reverse Heath route
7.5 miles: The Highgate route
8 miles:  The Full Heath route

Click here for maps of all of the Heath routes.

I want to thank each of you for helping to make this year at WRW a success! Thanks to everyone who came out for our Sights of London run and also to everyone who was able to join us at coffee afterwards. A huge THANK YOU to Megan Marine for organising the Leavers Coffee. What a great morning – except that we’re going to miss all our leavers so much! Our last official day of running is on Wednesday 14 June, the last day of school at ASL, but we’ll still have a group running over the summer. We don’t send out official routes, but whoever is in town meets at Barclays on M-W-F at 8:30 and we’ll decide on the route on the day.

The weather forecast (at the moment) looks great for next week and we’re planning to run in our beautiful local parks – Monday to Hyde Park, Wednesday to Regents Park and Friday to the Heath. The Wednesday route is a new route that we’re testing out. It’s pretty simple, but let us know how you like it.

Congratulations to our Moon Walkers!
Congratulations to Tamar Brooks, Rekha Kumar, Melissa Kay and Tamar’s daughter and friends for completing the 15-mile, middle-of-the-night walk last weekend to support breast cancer research and survivors. Well done and we love your spirit and dedication!

Save the Date – Upcoming runs
Monday 29 May – Bank Holiday
Wed 31 May – Sloane Square/Embankment/Westminster
Friday 2 June – The Heath
Monday 5 June – Tower Bridge – New Route!
Wed 7 June – Kensal Rise
Friday 9 June – Heath Pergula Route
Monday 12 June – One last run to Big Ben!
Wednesday 14 June – Regents Park

RSVP Richmond 10-mile Race, Sunday 4 June
If you are planning to run this race, and you haven’t done it yet, send an email to [email protected]. I’ve heard from many runners already and I’m going to send an email to the group that is running so you can coordinate. At the moment we have 15+ women running this race. Richmond Park is very beautiful and I imagine this is going to be a great race. It looks like they are still accepting entries if you would like to still sign up. Richmond Link

Looking Ahead – Monday 19 June, The State Opening of Parliament
The past few years we’ve run to Buckingham Palace to see the extravagant procession when the Queen travels to Westminster to officially open Parliament for the year. This event is usually in mid-May, but this year it is 19 June due to the election on 8 June. The last few years, this has been a great London event and we even got to see the Queen. I have heard reports that the Queen is scaling back the procession this year and she is going to ride in a limousine instead of her carriage. So you probably will want to confirm the details before you decide to attend. (I’m going to be out of town, so unfortunately I’ll miss it this year.)

Keep running,

Jane

ROUTES

Monday, 22 May – Hyde Park – always versatile! (5 – 8 miles)

Click here for all of the Hyde Park interactive route maps

Everyone knows the way to Hyde Park so pick your favorite route.  An easy 5 miles or a push for 8 miles.  It is up to you!

5 Milers:  At Hyde Park Corner continue back up/north on the carriage drive.  Exit the park at the Animals in War memorial and follow Upper Brook Street.  Turn left on Park Street, which becomes Gloucester Place and then Park Road back to SJW.

6 Milers:  upon entering the park, turn right at the silver sphere and run until you meet N Carriage Road where you turn left.  Run down to the Serpentine, crossing over the bridge then left to run along the Serpentine. At the end of the Serpentine, turn left again and make your way to the eastern edge of the park.  Exit the park at the Animals in War memorial and follow Upper Brook Street.  Turn left on Park Street, which becomes Gloucester Place and then Park Road back to SJW.

8 Milers: follow the 6-mile run but do not turn left at No. Carriage Rd, instead cross over [this is tricky, be careful of the traffic] and follow until you reach the large broad walk where you turn left.  Run past Kensington Palace (on your right) and take a left to run along the southern edge of the park towards Hyde Park Corner, then turn left on the eastern edge of the park.  Exit the park at the Animals in War memorial and follow Upper Brook Street.  Turn left on Park Street, which becomes Gloucester Place and then Park Road back to SJW.

Wednesday 24 May – Regents Park (inner and outer loops) (5 miles)

From Barclay’s head down Wellington Road to the traffic circle at Lord’s Cricket Ground and bear left onto Prince Albert Road. Run to the pedestrian crossing where we will cross and head to the Outer Circle. Turn right and run on the inside of the circle past Winfield House which will be on your left. Continue around the Outer Circle until you reach the traffic light at intersection with York Bridge. Turn left and proceed to the Inner Circle. Run one complete loop of the Inner Circle and back out across York Bridge where we will take a left and continue on Ulster Terrace which is part of the Outer Circle. At the next large intersection take a left and continue on the Outer Circle, heading north back towards the Zoo and Camden. Pass the entrance to the Zoo on your left and continue to the bridge at North Gate which we will cross to reach Charlbert Street. Run up Charlbert Street until St John’s Terrace where we turn left and run back to Barclay’s for a stretch before heading to Starbucks.

Friday 26 May – The Heath (4-8 miles)

It’s Friday [again!], so everyone up the hill! You can pick your distance and whatever you choose, there will certainly be someone else interested in running that distance. These routes are on the website. If you are not up for a hill run, ask around at Barclays; every week there is a group who prefer to do a flat run and you can decide together which flat route to tackle.

4 miles:  A great way to ease into running the hill. Run up to the Hampstead tube station and back. If you have trouble running up, think about how easy it will be running down!
5 miles: The Betsy Route
6+ miles:  The Partial Heath route OR the Reverse Heath route
7.5 miles: The Highgate route
8 miles:  The Full Heath route

Click here for maps of all of the Heath routes.

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.

Wednesday 17 May– Notting Hill (4 – 6 miles)
Keep your eyes open as this is often a celebrity spotting route!

Start out by heading west on Circus Road, turn left on Grove End to St John’s Wood Road and go west, working your way to the canal entrance on Blomfield. Enter the canal and run to the Ladbroke Grove exit then run down Ladbroke Grove, past the tube stop, to Elgin Crescent and make a left. Cross Portobello Road and continue on what is now Colville Terrace until it meets Ledbury Road where we turn right and then left at Westbourne Grove. Run down Westbourne Grove to the top of Bishop’s Bridge, then left down the steps into Sheldon Square (across from the Paddington Station entrance). Stay along the canal to where you entered, then run back on Blomfield to SJW and Starbucks.

You also have the option of a shorter run by not running as far as Ladbroke Grove. Instead, run half the distance you want, turn around and head home. For example, running to the Westway flyover and back is about four miles.

Friday 19 May– Sights of London run and Leavers Coffee

This is a great run!  Even if you haven’t run in a little while – come along!  We run as a (BIG!) group and we wait for everyone at the lights so we can stick together.  (If we get separated we’ll wait for everyone at the photo points.)  The total distance is 4 miles and we stop often.

We’ll stop for group pictures at:
– Hyde Park Speaker’s Corner
– Buckingham Palace
– Big Ben

We head to Hyde Park via the usual route. Start heading west on Circus Road and turn left on Grove End and follow south as it becomes Lisson Grove. Cross over Marylebone Road and continue on Seymour Place until the end. Turn right and cross over Edgware Road and then left to enter Hyde Park at the intersection with Stanhope Place. Run along the eastern edge of the park to Hyde Park Corner, under Wellington Arch and down Constitution Hill. Run past 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.

Monday 8 May – Richmond to Hampton Court (8 miles)We will meet at the Finchley Road and Frognal Overground Station at 8:30 for the 8:41 train to Richmond. We will arrive in Richmond by 9:15 to start our run.You can take a bus up Finchley Road to the station or take the tube to Finchley Road, turn left and walk up to the Overground Station.

Leave the Richmond Overground Station, cross the road at the traffic lights and go down Old Station Passage. Turn left at the end and run a few yards until you get to Richmond Green. Cross the common, using the paths on a diagonally right direction, aiming for Old Palace Lane. Follow Old Palace Lane until you reach the river and turn left.

Now we stick to the river path along the Thames for the rest of our run. We will pass Petersham, Ham House and run briefly along Lower Ham Road. We keep right at Canbury Gardens and run into Kingston. In Kingston, we run as close to the Thames as possible, first on Thames Side past the pier, then right onto a small path which leads to the bridge pictured below.

Bridge in Kingston – Richmond to Hampton Court run

At the bridge you have two options:

6-mile route:  Go up the stairs on the near side of the Horse Fair bridge and turn left into town. Follow the road to the Kingston train station.

8-mile route to the Palace: Go up the stairs on the near side of the Horse Fair bridge and cross the bridge.  Come down the stairs and turn right under the bridge to continue along the Thames on a very pretty path called Barge Walk. This path continues all the way to Hampton Court Palace where we will pass some of the gardens and see the palace from the outside. If you can stay for a coffee, we’ll meet at the Tiltyard Cafe which is one of the restaurants on Palace grounds. If you cross the courtyard in front of the palace and then walk past the rose gardens you’ll see the Cafe. (No need to pay Palace  fee.) Enjoy a coffee and a treat before we get on the train back to London.

We will head back to London from the Hampton Court train station which is across the bridge from the palace. Coming from the path with the palace on your right, turn left across the Hampton Court Bridge and the train station is on your left. The train runs every 30 minutes, at 24 and 54 past the hour.

 Wednesday 10 May – Camden/Morningside Crescent/Regent’s Park (5 miles) 

We will run to the canal going eastbound to Camden Market, where we exit the canal and turn right onto Camden High Street. We’ll run down Camden High Street to Mornington Crescent Tube Station and veer right onto Hampstead Road, which we will take down towards Euston Road. Just before reaching the huge intersection at Euston Road we turn right at the Sainsburys/Itsu and run between the office buildings at Regent’s Place and past the nice fountains. When we get onto Triton Street stay on the right side, cross Osnaburgh and continue to the zebra crossing to cross Albany Street. Run to the corner at Euston Road, take a right and the next right to enter the park. We make the first left onto Outer Circle and run around the loop to the Charlbert Street exit (where we usually enter for the canal or park). We’ll run up Charlbert Street to Allitsen Road, make a left, and head back to Starbucks.  

Friday 12 May Borough Market via Westminster Bridge (6 miles)

We head to Hyde Park via the usual route. Start heading west on Circus Road and turn left on Grove End and follow south as it becomes Lisson Grove.  Cross over Marylebone Road and continue on Seymour Place until the end.  Turn right and cross over Edgware Road and then left to enter Hyde Park at the intersection with Stanhope Place.   Run along the eastern edge of the park to Hyde Park Corner, under Wellington Arch and down Constitution Hill.  Run past 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.  Continue past Big Ben and cross Westminster Bridge. After the bridge turn left to run along the Thamesuntil the river path ends after Southwark Bridge. Borough Market is under the railway bridge near the London Bridge station. The official address is 8 Southwark Street SE1 1TL.