Hello, runners! Suddenly, here we are in June– how did that happen so fast??
It’s the last full week on our running schedule, and everyone is pulled a hundred different directions for end-of-year commitments. So our routes this week are familiar ones, and they each have early exit options for those who need to get on to the next thing on the schedule. Monday is Hyde Park– always a pleasure, but especially when it’s beautiful outside! For those who might need to do a shorter run but want to maximize time in the park, consider ending at Green Park for the quick tube ride back to SJW. On Wednesday we will head for Notting Hill via the canal. And Friday we will work in one last run to Borough Market (do it for the juice lady– just think how much she’s going to miss our group over the summer!).
Collecting names for next year’s beginner group
If you have any friends that are interested in being part of the beginner group for next year, please tell them to email [email protected]. As a reminder, the beginner group is for women who have never run before. We start at the very beginning with running for one minute and walking for two minutes. Many of us who went through the program can testify: it works, and it’s life-changing!!
Summer running
In the summer months we don’t officially plan routes and meet as we normally do, but those of us who are in London do meet up as we’re able for M,W,F (or whenever) runs. In the past, it’s been really enjoyable to run with people from all different pace groups and just do whatever route we fancy on a given day. If you will be in London and you’d like to be included in a “summer running” WhatsApp group to help make meeting up easier, please drop an e-mail to [email protected] we’ll make sure you are in the loop.
Pedestrian caution
Sorry to repeat this, but we’ve actually had complaints both in person and by email about us crowding and knocking into pedestrians on Lisson Grove, which we’ll be running on both Monday and Friday this week. While I feel like we are generally a veryconsiderate group, please use extra caution in this area so we can avoid any further issues with this person.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Hope you’re finding a chance to take a deep breath before all the frenzy of the next couple weeks– whether your particular brand of frenzy is visitors coming for graduation, movers arriving with their boxes, or simply getting through the last days of school and packing for summer trips. I look forward to seeing you at Barclays!
x Micki
Monday, 4 June– Hyde Park – always versatile! (5 – 8 miles)
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!
Wednesday, 6 June – Notting Hill (6 miles)
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 Blomfield Rd. Instead of entering the canal on Blomfield, we will run along the street sidewalk and cross the Westbourne Terrace Road bridge (this route change avoids the spot just before the bridge, where we’ve had several women fall this year).Turn right after the bridge, follow the sidewalk along Delamere Terrace, and join the canal path heading west at this point. Run to the Ladbroke Grove exit then run down Ladbroke Grove 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.
Friday, 8 June – 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 Thames until 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.
