This week, we’re sticking closer to home with the Hyde Park routes on Monday. There are many distance options so it’s a good way to get back into running if you’ve had some time off or try to add some mileage if you’ve been regularly running. Wednesday we’re doing the Kensal Rise loop and Friday we’re back up the hill or you can do a route of your choice.

We have nine WRW women running half marathons this Sunday 8 October. Good luck to Claire Butler, Roni Fransis, Stephanie Gladis, Susan Johnson and Meredith Snizek who are running the Royal Parks Half Marathon. And good luck to Alysia Hoyt, Darcy Fautz and Darcy’s daughters who are running the Oxford Half Marathon. (I’m sorry if I forgot anyone!) We hope you all have a great race!

It’s a great weekend for running! We also have a large group running the Shoreditch 10K on Sunday morning. Good luck to Melinda Bariso, Bjprg Fridbjornsdottir, Amy Grace, Micki Heskett, Jen Iannazzo, Corinna Matlis, Megan Marine, Kathy McMahon, Julie Moyle, Dinae Norris, Vicki Renner, Stephanie Schueppert and Megan Weitz. (Sorry if I forgot anyone!) Enjoy the run and have fun!

I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to stretch when we finish running. It’s tempting to go right for a cup of coffee, but it’s crucial that you spend some time to properly stretch. Here’s a good link to an NHS page that lists some key stretches (with pictures) for after running. How to stretch after a run.

Our friends at the Lululemon Marylebone Store have invited us to a “Fall Sneak Peak” shopping event on Wednesday 11 October from 7:00-8:00pm. Come check out the new collection and enjoy a 20% discount on the evening. RSVP to Kathy Anderson at [email protected]. Lululemon Marylebone is located at 74-75 Marylebone High Street W1U 5JR.

Keep running,

Jane

Click here for all of the Hyde Park interactive route maps

Start:  Everybody starts the same way… head west on Circus Road, turn left on Grove End Road 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 take the first left on Stanhope Place to enter Hyde Park at the intersection with Stanhope Place. Cross into the Park and enjoy your run!

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. If you want to shorten this route, run west on the canal and turn back at your desired half-way point.

(The two mile mark is at the point on the canal when the Westway highway is over our heads.)

It’s Friday which means everyone up to the Heath. You can pick your distance and whatever you choose, there will certainly be someone else interested in running that distance. All of these routes are on the website.

If you are not up for a hill run yet, no problem, just let us know. Every week there are a group of women who prefer to do a flat run. We can help make sure that you find each other.

4 miles:  A great way to ease into running the hill. Run up to the Hampstead tube station and back.

5 miles: The Betsy Route

6-7miles:  The partial Heath route OR the Reverse Heath Route

7.5 miles: The Highgate route

8 miles:  The full Heath route