Hello Runners!
Hope this finds everyone healthy and in good spirits!  Such strange times we are living through.  The photos you’ve posted and sent this week have really been uplifting, as we all try to find a new, temporary sense of ‘normal.’  Lots of new running partners– kids and husbands– and more solo or duo photos, but the really important thing is that the smiles are still there!  
We did manage a last group run on Monday before new restrictions were announced, and the beginners did squeeze in a very happy run to Kew together on Tuesday.  I know the animation above moves quickly (no way to slow it down– I’ve searched!), but it’s worth a couple of spins through it to see those triumphant faces as they achieved their 11 miles!  And with this e-mail, they are officially joining our main group, so a great big WELCOME to the Beginners’ class of 2020!  In addition to your own awesome moniker:  “The Social Distance Runners,” you will always be remembered as the group that kept going, no matter that everything else got cancelled along the way!

WRW Global Run MONDAY!  Our wonderful founder, Paula Mitchell, reached out with a suggestion for this week– a virtual, worldwide run together (except, you know, NOT together)!  The idea is just to get as many of us as possible– from all around the world– out for a run on the same day (but again, solo/duo to respect physical distancing rules).  We’ve chosen this Monday as WRW Runday!  If you can get out, even for a few miles, please take a selfie and either post it to the WRW Facebook page or e-mail it to us.  Amy will make sure it gets posted to our group Flickr page, and you can view all your WRW campadres around the world as their photos come online at this link!  If you are self-isolating, or are in a region where you are not allowed to go out for a run, please send a selfie anyway– we know that you are running in spirit!!

Running this week.  Our Routes Team is thinking about all of our best interests, as ever, and we’ve decided together that we will refrain for now from posting specific routes by day.  That’s to keep us from all encountering each other and facing the irresistible temptation to run in a big group or do a group selfie.  In addition, now that we are not meeting in central SJW or taking public transport back, each of us needs to tailor routes to our home location.  BUT… we would never leave you without maps or directions if you need them!!  Please check out the extensive collection of routes on our website!  And we will still highlight one route that’s not on the website each week, just to help keep it all fresh.  Thanks to all our routemasters through the years for this collection, and a special award to webmaster Amy Grace for having the foresight earlier this year to invest hours and hours into updating this site and making all the maps so clean and interactive– what would we do without her??  

Pace Group Running Challenge.  The Perfect 10s have created a fun challenge to help stay connected in our time of solo/duo runs.  They have challenged themselves to running 500 collective miles by April 17 (they’re killing it– they’ll definitely have to up their goal!).  Each runner who wants to participate is tracking her mileage by week on a group Google Sheet.  The 9s (okay, sometimes known as the Naughty 9s) have joined in with their own sheet now, so it is possible there could be a friendly rivalry stirring up.  And another great thing is that our alumni who have stayed connected can also join in.  Here’s a screen shot (from earlier this week) of the sheet Devy came up with if any other group wants to jump in and create their own!  Thanks for the model, Devy!

I believe the 11s are doing something similar with overall exercise minutes, which is another great idea, especially as we don’t know exactly where things will go with how much we are allowed to be out and about (more on that below).  In addition, we’ve heard about groups within WRW having virtual meetings/hangouts via Zoom or Houseparty, and the Beginners even doing yoga together via a video chat platform.  I love hearing how you’re all staying socially connected despite the physical distancing– if you have any other great ideas or fun experiences, please share!

Coming soon.  We are working with Karen Hough, known to some as ‘The Boss’ for her Thursday bootcamps, to create a shared workout experience that doesn’t rely on being able to get outside and run.  Karen is also a coach on fitness platform Beachbody, and she has agreed to extend an invitation to all of us who want to join a private, nonmembership group with her to complete and track together challenges and workouts set within the group.  If you are interested in joining this group, please register your e-mail on this Google form.  There’s no commitment and no cost, but we will keep you in the loop and let you know when we’re ready to get started.
You are truly a strong, resilient group of women.  I’ve seen nothing but positivity and humor in all the chats and communications I’ve been a part of as we’ve transitioned this week to a new kind of community.  Keep chatting, keep lifting each other up– you are all inspiring!  Most of all, as always but especially now, take care of yourselves, and take care of each other!
xx Micki

FEATURED ROUTE OF THE WEEK
Camden/Mornington Crescent – 5 Miles
Head to the canal going eastbound to Camden Lock, where we cross the small, cobblestone bridge, exit the canal and turn right onto Camden High Street (alternatively, turn right just at the bottom of the bridge and go through the opening between the buildings to get to Arlington Road). At the first intersection with Jamestown Road take a right after crossing Jamestown Road and then the first left onto Arlington Road. Run straight down Arlington Road, make a slight right onto Mornington Crescent, follow it around and turn right onto Hampstead Road. At the first intersection, turn right onto Granby Terrace and the second left onto Stanhope Street. Continue down Stanhope until we reach Trinton Square. Turn right and run between the office buildings at Regent’s Place, past the nice fountains, to the end of Trinton Street. Use the pedestrian crossings to cross Osnaburgh Street and Albany Street. Head left to the intersection of Euston Road, where you take a right and run briefly along Euston Road. At Park Square East, turn right through the gates towards Regent’s Park. We enter the park at the Outer Circle intersection and stay on the path on the far right (east side) of the park, cross the Broad Walk at the ornamental fountain and head along the path with the Zoo to our right. Turn left onto the Outer Circle, past the Avenue Road exit, and right at the second exit (where we usually enter for the canal or park). Run up Charlbert Street to St John’s Wood Terrace and make a left to head back to the High Street.

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Website:  https://womenrunningtheworld.com/
Facebook Group:  Women Running The World (request to join)
Email: [email protected]

Hello Runners!
What a week. 
I’ve delayed sending this e-mail as things continue to change so rapidly.  At the moment there is no official advice to prevent or discourage our meeting up and continuing to run, so long as we are following guidance on self-isolation if one of us, or someone in our family, is feeling unwell with fever, a dry cough, or breathing difficulties (though as someone pointed out, running up Fitzjohn is not the right time to assess whether you are short of breath!).  We will keep sending routes and encouragement as long as being out and about falls within public health guidance.  We know you all will do what you need to in terms of taking care of yourselves and your families, as well as keeping up with our responsibilities to public health.  
In thinking about our disappointment over the weekend, and looking at the photos you sent this week, I was struck again by how we smile, and run, and take care of each other through it all.  If you didn’t see this on our WRW Facebook page, here is a “cheer up” slideshow from the photos you’ve sent in over the last weeks of our training.  

Running this week.  Monday was our planned 11-mile run to Kew Gardens, and we’ve heard from quite a few people who are still keen to go on this favourite annual trek!  So we’re keeping that on the schedule.  But of course you are welcome to switch gears to a different route if you’re not interested in pushing to this training milestone.  Wednesday we are planning to do the Primrose Hill to Regents Park 5+mile route.  And Friday we’ll go back up to the Heath, but head for a change of scenery in the Pergola for about 6.5 miles.  All maps and directions can be found in the Routes section below.  
Important change to meet-up time/place!!  As ASL has now closed school until at least April 17, we will move to the 8:30 meetup time, as we generally do when there is no school for one reason or another.  In addition, thinking both about public health and perceptions, we have decided to disperse our morning meet-up so we are not such a big group massing on the Barclays corner.  Let’s be sure this is just a temporary measure– we will all come together again for our morning meet-up whenever this virus dies down!  In the meantime, here’s the new arrangement:
8’s will meet in the courtyard next to the old Post Office (across the street from Barclays)
9’s will meet in front of the SJW tube stop
10’s will meet in front of the Duke of York (across the street from Pret)
11’s will meet at Barclays as usual.

Shoutouts.  I first want to say an immense, slightly teary thank you to all of you from those of us– particularly Carolyn, Sue, Amy and myself– who’ve been involved in planning the race, as well as in the decisions over the last several days.  You have been SO gracious, supportive, positive, and appreciative!  We’ve appreciated every single note and word you’ve offered.  You are an exceptional group of women, and we each feel lucky to get to run with you and serve WRW.  
Another thanks to Magali for organising our Elgin breakfast last week– that was lovely, and such a great opportunity to come together after the news of the day before.  And though I hope we will have the chance to do a celebration dinner and properly recognise all who worked on the ‘race that never was’– I can’t miss thanking a few people right here, right now, just in case.  As you know, Carolyn worked tirelessly both planning and cancelling plans regarding everything around the trip.  Sue has spreadsheets of her spreadsheets from keeping all of our data straight.  Amy spent countless hours putting together our annual photo directory, in addition to the countless other things she already does for us!  Marissa designed and procured such fabulous kit– we would have looked amazing all running together!  Megan has a BAFTA-worthy video ready for our entertainment.  Julie, Mariya and Devy organised tours and meals, respectively, working initially to expand capacity to include our huge numbers, and then going back and securing refunds for us when we had to cancel.  This was a fantastic, efficient, great team working behind the scenes, and I hope we have the opportunity to give them all the appreciation they deserve, in person!

Looking ahead.  We all know that things are changing daily at this point.  For the time being, it seems like running is one of the things we can still do– as it’s outside and not a contact sport.  This article in Runner’s World is encouraging, saying “it’s safer to be outside than inside when it comes to disease transmission.”  But of course we know some may not be comfortable coming out to run with the group, or perhaps not able to, given school closure.  Know that we understand and support everyone’s personal decision in these matters!  We will continue to watch for the latest guidance, and will make any changes to our running plans as necessary.  In the short term, that may mean the Routes Team will work out a new schedule with runs that rely less on public transportation.  It’s reasonable to assume that at some point our schedule may be disrupted, but we will get through that together, too!
Stay healthy and sane through all of this, and keep your connections to each other tight no matter what your physical distance!  Sending each of you my best,
xx Micki

ROUTES
Monday, 16 March – Kew Gardens (11 miles)

Bring your Oyster or contactless card and wear running shoes you don’t mind getting muddy if you have them! You’ll be feeling exhilarated as we do our 11 mile run to the cute village of Kew. We start out the normal way running to Hyde Park. Once in the park, we’ll turn to the left and run down the main walkway as we regularly do, to Hyde Park Corner. At the end of the walk, turn right to follow the main cross route in the park—beware of the bike lane! When this ends at West Carriage Drive, cross the road at the crossing and continue on the pathway towards the southwest corner of Kensington Gardens. We’ll run out of the park at the Broadwalk, turning right onto Kensington High Street and continue for about two miles until we reach the Hammersmith Tube gyratory. Run counter clockwise towards the left, ending up on Queen Caroline Street which gets you to St. Paul’s Church green. Run along the green to the right, heading to and crossing over Hammersmith Bridge. Exit Hammersmith Bridge Road to your left, go down the stairs and run under the bridge onto the Thames footpath. Now it’s time to enjoy the view as we run along the Thames for almost four miles—it’s beautiful! We will exit at the Kew Bridge, see photo below:

Run UNDER the bridge and then turn left, past a couple of tiny shops and garages. Run through the small parking lot until you see the stone steps leading to the top of the bridge.

At the top of the steps turn right towards town (not back over the river) and run along this road [Kew Road] for about a third of a mile until you reach a 3-way intersection. Here there are two options. Option 1 is on the route map but option 2 may be easier to remember. The distance is the same. Option 1 – At the 3-way intersection, veer left on Mortlake Road, then shortly thereafter turn right on Cumberland Road, which will merge into Kew Gardens Road. You’ll do a turn to the left onto Station Approach [follow the Kew Gardens Station signs]. There is a Starbucks around the small bend where we’ll all meet up to congratulate ourselves on such a great run! Option 2 – At the 3-way intersection, veer right and follow Kew Road along the boundary wall to Kew Gardens until you reach the first main pedestrian entrance to Kew Gardens, the Victoria Gate. Across from Victoria Gate, is Lichfield Road (it is only sign posted on the left-hand corner). Follow Lichfield Road straight into Kew village. Starbucks is on the left where we’ll all meet up to congratulate ourselves on such a great run!

Wednesday, 18 March – Primrose Hill/Regents Park (5+ miles)
Start out as if we’re headed for the Heath, running down St Johns Wood Terrace until it reaches the T.  Turn left, then right, then left again at Avenue Rd.  At the crossing just a short distance up Avenue Rd, cross over and run down Elsworthy Rd a short distance until you see a small road on the right that ends in the entrance to Primrose Hill park.  Once in the park take the path that angles to the left, then bear right at the first fork and left at the second.  This will take you up for a fantastic view from the top of Primrose Hill.  After you’ve caught your breath, take the path that goes down on the right (if you are looking out toward London), then curve around to the left at the first split.  Follow this path all the way down the hill to the crossing at Prince Albert Rd.  Cross at the zebra and head straight into the park via the bridge and across the Outer Circle (NOT a zebra, please note!).  In Regents Park, take the path that angles to the left, running behind the zoo.  Cross the Broad Walk by the fountain and continue across on the path that heads toward, but not all the way to, the perimeter of the park.  Follow this to the far corner, and then turn right to run along the southern edge of the park, inside the fence.  Continue to follow this around  the boating pond to run across the little bridge at the far end of the pond, then bear right to follow the contour of the pond to its end.  Continue on the same path until it meets the diagonal path that runs behind the zoo (the same one we ran in on).  Turn left to follow that to its end and then turn left onto the Outer Circle and follow it for a short distance to the crossing at Charlbert.  Exit the park and take Charlbert to St Johns Wood Terrace to finish at our Starbucks/Pret corner of the High Street.

Friday, 20 March – The Heath Pergola (6.3 mile)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.

Hello Runners,
Happy Saturday, and well done on a strong week of running!  Monday’s Canada Water run was a fun way to get another long one done and dusted, and it’s also great for our photo library, with those Tower Bridge views from both sides:)  But with a sunny Friday run, and a celebrity-sighting on Wednesday, we were spoilt for choice on photos once again.  

Running this week.  Monday we will repeat the new 9-mile Battersea to Big Ben route.  Directions and the map are below, as always.  Wednesday we are doing a 6+ mile Notting Hill loop that will end at The Elgin in Maida Vale for an All-WRW Coffee!  The Elgin is at the corner of Elgin Ave and Lanark Rd, near the Maida Vale tube station, and we will be there from about 9:30 to 11:30.  So even if you can’t make the run, please do stop by the pub (I’m so sorry to warn those of us among the injured that the function room is upstairs… but you know you will have all the assistance you might need– or maybe more than you need– from all of us!).  This is also a chance to meet some of the Beginners’ Group, so be sure to introduce yourself and make them feel welcome!  Friday?  We’re going to the Heath again, of course. 

Prague update.  I know it’s very hard to wait for news and decisions when the whole world is responding to the COVID-19 virus, but that is the space we’re remaining in for now.  You all will have received an e-mail from RunCzech on Thursday with their current status and thinking, and they set an expectation for an update on Monday afternoon.  Our plan at the moment is still to go if the race is on, but we are considering it from many angles, taking in all the new recommendations, and carefully watching all new developments.  Carolyn continues to be in touch with the race organizers, the hotel management and the restaurants to gauge their flexibility, and we are factoring both of those inputs into our thinking as well.  Please bear with us as the situation continues to develop.  And meanwhile… if you haven’t sent in your photo directory google survey yet, please do so!!

Shoutouts and Announcements.  We had several women run the Vitality Big Half in London last weekend, and I missed a few in the shoutouts!  So here’s another try… congratulations to Laura Beal, Jess Browne, Veena Gopal, Alysia Hoyt, Axelia Larsen, and Charlotte Sinclair!  Well done, ladies– and what a great day for running!  As I sit here sincerely hoping I haven’t missed anyone, it feels like a good time for me to remind you to let us know at [email protected] if you or a friend are running a race– we love to give shoutouts, and it’s completely free!!  
Send out a happy birthday wish for our founder, Paula Mitchell, as we do our lovely run around Battersea Park on her birthday Monday!  Many of us would not be running if it weren’t for her– myself absolutely included!  

And finally, I really, really hate to ask this question… but it’s the time of year when we start to think about who will be leaving us at the end of the school year.  Please let us know if you will be moving away from London, so that we can include you in our plans to give the fondest of farewells.  You can drop us an email (again, [email protected]) or speak with Megan Marine, myself, or your pace leaders.  And if you’re not quite sure and you want us to keep it quiet for now, just let us know that as well!

Looking ahead.  Don’t forget to come to the all-WRW Coffee on Wednesday morning at the Elgin after the run!  Spread the word amongst your pace groups and to anyone who doesn’t read the e-mail!
Our last long run before the scheduled half will be Monday, March 16 to Kew Gardens for 11 miles.  It’s a great run, so mark your calendars and try not to miss it!  After the half marathon, we will send out a new list of noteworthy runs to work your schedule around– we always do lots of fun ones in the Spring, so there’s plenty to look forward to!
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and I just want to tell you all how inspirational I find your strength, your solidarity with and support for one another, and the deep well of joy and gratitude within each of you despite whatever big or small issues you’re dealing with in life.  You are amazing, individually and collectively!  Raise a thought, or even better a glass, to yourselves and one another sometime on this day!  Looking forward to seeing you at Barclays Monday morning, as always…
xx Micki

ROUTES
Monday, 9 March – Battersea Park to Big Ben (9 miles)

Start out from Barclays to Hyde Park, along the eastern edge of the park, and head towards Sloane Square down Sloane Street the usual way.  Cross Sloane Square onto Lower Sloane Street (which turns into Chelsea Bridge Road), then over Chelsea Bridge to the south bank of the Thames.  Turn right into Battersea Park and run along the outer perimeter of the park.  The park paths will meander some but that’s the fun of running in a park!  Once you make your way around the park and back to the Thames, run along the river path back to Chelsea Bridge.  For the final part of the run head back over the bridge and run along the north side of the Thames along the Embankment all the way to Big Ben and Westminster tube station. 

Wednesday, 11 March – Notting Hill to The Elgin  (6.3 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 along the street sidewalk and cross the Westbourne Terrace Road bridge. 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 left along the canal until you can cross the blue bridge at Westbourne Terrace Rd. Run along Blomfield, left on Randolph Rd, left on Randolph Ave, right on Sutherland, and left on Lanark until you reach Elgin Ave and The Elgin.

Friday, 13 March – The Heath (8 miles)
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.

Run down Circus Rd past Starbucks to the end and turn left on Townshend Rd. Turn right on Acacia then left on Avenue. Cross diagonally over Adelaide Rd to run past the Swiss Cottage tube and proceed up Fitzjohn’s Avenue. Run up the hill to the Hampstead Heath Tube. Continue up Heath St (to the left of the Tube) all the way to the stoplight at E Heath Rd. Cross at the light, continue past the roundabout, and enter the Heath at the first trail entrance on your right. Follow this major trail down past Lime Avenue and other smaller trails, fields and forested areas. As the trail starts to veer right, take the sharp left to run up Parliament Hill. Enjoy the spectacular vista (and catch your breath before continuing down the other side of the hill), keeping left when the path splits and taking a sharp left at the bottom of the hill. Run past three ponds on your right, turn right after the third pond and up the rise to a wide gate (loos on your left here). Go through the gate and turn left along the eastern edge of the Heath. Follow the path downhill then up until you reach the gate on the left that marks the entrance to the Kenwood House grounds. Enter the grounds, turn right to run past Kenwood House, then right again through the gate onto a gravelly path. Follow the path through a gate, and stay on the path as it bears left and passes a wooden bench on the left. Keep your eye out for a small clearing ahead on the left with another bench — when you see it (but before you pass it!) take a hard right down a steep path that crosses a small bridge and heads uphill again. Turn right at the main trail intersect (this is the same trail you ran down at the beginning of the Heath, in the opposite direction) and run back up to where you entered the Heath. Turn left on Spaniards Rd and retrace your steps all the way back to SJW and Starbucks.

If you are not up for a hill run, no problem. 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. 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.