Hello Runners!
It was so great to see everyone out running this week! I love how much excitement and energy our new runners bring to the group every year– and sharing our routes with people new to the group or the city reminds me how lucky we are to get to run in this city every week. Amy and I attended the ASL SCOOP event Saturday, and we met several new women who are receiving their first e-mail today, and we loved seeing some of the ladies who have already connected with us and been out on a few runs. Welcome to each of you– we look forward to getting to know you over the miles!
Running this Week. Monday we head for Sloane Square and on to Westminster via Embankment. The route offers several different distances, so take a look at the map and description below to decide how far you want to go. Then Wednesday we will run out the canal west to Notting Hill for a 6-mile loop. And Friday we will run up to Hampstead Heath again, but this time to the Pergola, which is a lovely, hidden spot many Londoners don’t even know about– finding these amazing places is one of the perks of running in this group!
Hopefully the runs all felt great this week and you have been energised by the return to our London running routine… BUT, if that’s not the case, please don’t be discouraged! It’s normal to feel a bit fatigued, especially if you’ve just moved, been through some jet lag, or just sent your kids back to school… and I think that covers about all of us? This time at the start of the year is when we are building our fitness base and it’s wise to do it gradually to avoid injury. Most of the routes have a variety of distances available, and there are people running at every pace– so take care of yourself and pay attention to how your body is feeling. Also, please be aware that there are about 30 women in the group who are training for a Ragnar relay later this month. If you are rational enough to not be doing this (I’m allowed to phrase it that way only because I am in the non-rational group), then there is no need to push yourself as hard as the Ragnar ladies may be doing. Similarly, if you are not quite finding your perfect pace yet, keep trying! If you are changing groups, it can take several runs (one veteran runner says a month’s worth!) to adjust to a new pace. So don’t push yourself too hard, but do give yourself time to adapt. Finally, if you are feeling tweaks or niggling pains, consider seeing a physiologist or other expert to work it out before it becomes a real issue. We have resources on our website, or just ask fellow runners and you will get plenty of recommendations.
Welcome Coffee! WRW is pleased to host a Welcome Coffee for all runners next Wednesday, September 18 after our run (approx 9:30) at The Gate, 87 Allitsen Rd, St Johns Wood. Coffee/tea/juice and light breakfast items will be served. Please join us! It’s a great opportunity to get to know a few more people, and to meet some of the women who make WRW work. Even if you can’t run that day, stop by to say hello if you can! A big thank you to Magali Kivatinetz for organising the event for us!
Introductions. I just want to take a moment now that we’ve added so many new runners to the group to introduce some of our women who are giving their time, creativity and energy to help keep WRW running this year:
Webmaster Amy Grace does so much more for this group than most of us ever see or realise. Not only does Amy handle our website and all of our tech needs, but she also runs the amazing Beginner’s Running program and has personally helped many of us move from couch to pavement over the years. She is the keeper of much WRW institutional knowledge and experience, and it is entirely possible we would grind to a screeching halt without her.
Membership- and Money-master Sue Wheeler is another essential piece of the WRW machine. She is the lovely person who greets, welcomes and otherwise assists new members in getting connected to WRW by e-mail, and she maintains our membership list. But if that’s not enough, Sue also manages funds for the spring half-marathon as well as for various social functions such as the upcoming Welcome Coffee.
Tripmaster Carolyn Perelmuter is nothing short of amazing in her comprehensive trip-planning role. She has been researching races, dates, and all the other factors we need to take into consideration when choosing our Spring destination. And now she’s busy talking with race coordinators, negotiating contracts, and doing all the legwork the rest of us didn’t even know has to happen before we announce the race. Resist the urge to try to wrangle the location from her– we’ll be announcing it sometime in the next month!
Routemasters Darcy Fautz, Dinae Norris, Erin Roth and Melissa Kay. Taking into consideration everything from the training calendar to traffic, the weather, and school calendars, these women somehow manage to keep us all covering new ground! Darcy has been quietly working behind the scenes as a route-master for years and knows our old routes like the back of her hand, but still works to keep it fresh and create new ones. Erin joined the route-planning team last year, and has already contributed some new favourite runs. Dinae is incredibly knowledgable about every aspect of training, but she has been especially helpful in putting together the speed workouts we add to our schedule during the late fall and winter. And we are lucky to have Melissa joining the team this year to help come up with new ideas and take us to fun places.
Kitmaster Marissa O’Malia is stepping into the role of our WRW sportswear fashion guru this year. She has already been through a round of kit creation, ordering and delivery last spring and summer– all with a smile– and she is now gearing up to be the creative force behind the WRW kit we all crave (see below)!
And I am honoured to be your “Headmaster” (Micki Heskett). This group has come to mean the world to me over the last several years (since I first reluctantly joined as a beginner!), and I will do everything I can to keep it healthy and thriving! Please let me know if you see a need or an opportunity you’d like to discuss.
There are so many other women contributing in different ways, from pace leaders to unsung heroes who organise events here in London, or buses, tours, and meals on our trip. It’s truly extraordinary how willing you all are to step up and make things happen!
Announcements and Shoutouts. Good news! Marissa O’Malia has delivered all the pre-ordered black WRW hats, and there are a limited number of extras available for purchase at £25 each. Please drop her an e-mail to request one. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Hats can be delivered (and paid for!) at Starbucks this Wednesday after the run, the following Wednesday at the Welcome Coffee, or by other arrangement directly with Marissa.
Kate Ballbach ran a 15K at Dorney Lake Saturday morning (in conjunction with other athletic exploits by her very active family). Well done to the whole family! Please do let us know if you are running a race or you know someone who deserves a shout-out– we love to keep up with everyone’s adventures!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, runners! I look forward to seeing you at Barclays tomorrow morning– or sometime soon!
xx Micki
ROUTES
Monday 9 September – Sloane Sq/Westminster/Green Park– (3.75, 6, 7 or 10 miles)
Today’s routes are fun because you can pick whichever distance suits you–in this case one size can fit all!
Everybody starts out 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 the large gated exit before the tall ‘One Hyde Park’ complex, cross over Knightsbridge at William Street, take a quick right on Knightsbridge then a left onto Sloane Street.
3.75’ers: at Sloane Sq, take the Tube home!
6.33’ers: continue past Sloane Sq down Lower Sloane St/Chelsea Bridge Road to the Thames. Turn left on the Thames side of Grosvenor Rd and run along the embankment to Westminster Tube–you’re done!
7+’ers: 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 on Piccadilly St and head home!
10 milers: for anyone needing a longer run today, continue past Green Park Tube, through Mayfair to Baker Street and head to SJW Starbucks–this will give you almost 10 miles.
Wednesday 11 September – Notting Hill (6.5 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. Run down Blomfield Rd to Westbourne Terrace Rd, being careful at the crossing at Warwick Avenue. Turn left to cross the canal at Westbourne Terrace Rd. 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.
If you’d like a shorter option on this run, simply follow the route to where the highway comes over the canal at about the 2-mile mark, then turn around and run back to St Johns Wood for a 4-mile option.
Friday 13 September – The Heath Pergola (6.3 miles)Head out from Barclays to Avenue Road, then up Fitzjohn’s per all the Heath routes.
Continue past Hampstead Tube Station all the way to the roundabout just beyond Whitestone Pond. At the roundabout, use the pedestrian crossings to cross counterclockwise over to New End Way to Jack Straws Castle (now a personal training gym) and continue past the parking lot entrance and past the bus stop to turn left onto a small street called Inverforth Close. A short way down, there is a trail to the right with a green barrier gate and a sign that says “The Hill Garden.” Here are pictures of the trail:
Follow this trail until you come to an entrance on the left for “The Hill Garden and Pergola”, enter it and go to the right around the big bushes. You will see a beautiful reflecting pool. Run alongside it and up the stairs-you are on the Pergola! Run or walk the length of the Pergola. Don’t forget to look at the beautiful views, admire the flowers and take a pic or two. Please be considerate and don’t run if others are walking the Pergola. When you have finished with your Pergola time and reached the far end, take the stairs down and turn left to run on the wide trail back to New End Road, turning right to run by Jack Straws Castle and crossing left at the pedestrian crosswalks by the roundabout to put you back on the standard Heath route. Turn left from the crosswalk and then right to enter the Heath. Run the wide path as usual but don’t turn left to run up Parliament Hill. Instead, veer right at that juncture and follow the trail across the ponds. After the ponds, the trail veers left and shortly after there is an opportunity to take a right turn on the intersecting trail that heads towards E. Heath Rd (taking you next to the fields used for the Art Fair, parking etc at different times of the year). Cross E. Heath Rd at the pedestrian crossing, then run on Downshire Hill Rd to Haverstock Hill Rd. Turn Left on Haverstock Hill, running home the usual way (turn right on Belsize Ave, left on Lancaster Grove, right on Crossfield, right on Adamson, then cut through the Swiss Cottage public area by the Hampstead Theatre, turning onto Fitzjohns to St Johns Wood Park Rd to St Johns Wood Terrace and then to Starbucks).
And of course there are always the other Heath routes if you prefer:
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 OR Pergola route
7.5 miles: The Highgate route
8 miles: The full Heath route
Click here for maps of all of the Heath routes.