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.