Agatha Christie London Run! 28 miles, 26.12.2020

About 3 years ago, I designed a run around some Agatha Christie landmarks in London, for a Christmas present for Andrew. He was so excited by this, that it took 2 normal years, followed by 9 months of being locked up (I mean, locked down) in London, and exhausting all other plans, before we finally got to do it yesterday. Hurrah! Merry Christmas, Andrew!

The route started with a nice 5 miles along the Regents Canal, before coming off at London Zoo (no animals about) and up Primrose Hill and through Hampstead, to Stop #1 - The Isokon Building (in the Bauhaus design) on Lawn Road, where Christie lived from 1940-1946.

Then, we retraced our steps to London Zoo, for a stint through Regents Park and a loo stop (I thought I'd mention this, as all the Royal Parks loos are now contactless, so instead of rooting around for 20p, you can just tap in, like on the tube!). A little loop around Marylebone, to Stop #2, 5 Northwick Terrace where Christie lived in around 1918. There is a current number 5, but it is a newer building as the original where Christie lived was destroyed by a bomb in WW2).

The one Christie lived in would have looked more like next door.

Quick mince pie stop, then back through Regents Park and along to Stop #3, UCH. Christie worked at UCH during the Second World War, as a Medicines Dispenser, and learnt much about poisons here, which informed many of her plots. For example, the thallium poisoning in The Pale Horse was suggested to her by UCH Chief Pharmacist Harold Davis!

Then it was down Tottenham Court Road to the West End, to see Stop #4 St Martin's Theatre, where The Mousetrap has been running for well over 40 years, and before that, it played at the Ambassadors Theatre next door, so has been running for about 68 years now...the longest ever run! 

And then it was on to Stop #5, the Agatha Christie Memorial close by.

Through to Leicester Square and a stop to admire the Christmas tree.

Along the Mall and up behind Green Park to Stop #6, Brown's Hotel on Abermarle Street, thought to be the setting for Bertram's Hotel. 

And a bit of extra bit of sightseeing to see the Batmobile!

Through Hyde Park and a close encounter with a flock of parakeets, to Notting Hill and two more places where Christie lived. Stop #7, where she lived in 1930-1934 at 47-48 Campden Street, writing three Poirot books (Murder on the Orient Express, Lord Edgware Dies and Peril at End House), one Miss Marple book (The Murder at the Vicarage) and two other books (The Sittaford Mystery and Why Didn't They Ask Evans) here. 

Which sounds a lot, but is nothing compared to when she moved round the corner to Stop #8, 58 Sheffield Terrance in 1934 (until 1941) where she wrote 16 novels (including Death on the Nile and Murder in Mesopotamia)! 

From here, south through Kensington to the river, via Stop #9, 22 Creswell Pace, where Christie lived in the 1920s.

Down to the River Thames at Chelsea, for a quick stop (very quick, thanks to Tier 4) at the Cross Keys pub (Stop #10), a favourite haunt for Christie and others.

A quick detour to Stop #11, 48 Swan Court, where it is believed Christie wrote Witness for the Prosecution. 

Then it was back to the River for a nice few miles, through central London back towards the East.

With an extra stop (none Christie related) to see another fancy car.

Before the final Stop #12 at Florian Court in Charterhouse Square, which is Whitehaven Mansions, Poirot's home in the TV series. 

Agatha Christie Run = mystery solved! 

The Jolly Christmas Jingle Christmas Pop-Up Marathon, 11.12.2020

 

A Friday marathon, in what is probably going to be a bit of a brief period between lockdowns!

My first time on the Saturn Running Staines route - 6 x 4 and a bit mile laps along the north of the river. I think it's my new favourite lap route. Starts and finishes at a brewery for one thing. And the path is nice and wide, all along the River Thames, with nice views of the river and of peoples posh houses. 

Great to see lots of familiar faces. Ran all the way with Craig, plus Simon for three laps. Thanks for the company chaps! Time really flies when you're with friends, especially when you haven't seen them for ages, and it felt like it was over before it started really. Did 4:18 and, it felt fine. 2020 may have been a disaster in many ways, but at least I can still run a marathon.

Saw a little white dog with dreadlocks. Lots of swans. And a giant real life Christmas tree decorated with baubles.

I love my medal (the Nearly But Not Quite The London Marathon medal). The little bus has 26.2 on it (for a marathon), and the bus I get from home to Waterloo to get the train to these races is the Number 26! This morning, on the bus, whilst we were going through the City near Bank at about 06:30, in one of the giant office blocks I saw a security guard up a ladder with a really long (like, really long) feather duster, dusting all the baubles on a giant (maybe, 20 foot tall) Christmas tree. I don't think I've ever dusted a bauble. Ever. Definitely not at 06:30 am.

That was a fun day. Thanks George and Saturn Running Team for another great event!