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!

Ghost Stories of The City Run

Bit late for Halloween, but we are still in Lockdown, so anything goes. Been exploring the city with Andrew more through running during Lockdown V2.0, using some self-guided city walk routes, which has been fun, but has mostly highlighted quite how gruesome the city's history is. Starting with a ghoulish Halloween route.....

First stop, Liverpool Street Station. Doesn't ever look very scary, but ever since the 2015 Cross-Rail excavation uncovered the burial ground of Bedlam Hospital, and found 30 plague victims, there have been reports of a strange male figure waiting for a train, who disappears seconds later. (I can vouch for this. I've been at Liverpool Street before dawn, usually on the way to a marathon, and it is scary, with plenty of strange male figures around the place, but usually quite solid looking).

Then it was to the Bank of England, AKA the Old Lady Of Threadneedle Street. Who knows why it's called that. I don't, so I looked it up. The Bank has been located on Threadneedle Street for almost all of it's 300 years. The nickname dates back to a cartoon published in 1797, depicting the Prime Minister (William Pitt the younger) wooing an old lady (The Bank of England) - or, trying to get at her money. So there you go. There's also another Lady of Threadneedle Street. She is Sarah Whitehead, the devoted sister of Philip, who was a former employee of the Bank. Sounds like he was a bit disillusioned with it all, and got into forgery, and in 1811 was executed for it, which seems a bit extreme, but that's history for you. The truth was kept from his sister, as it would be too upsetting, but she found out when one day she visited the bank asking for her brother, and the clerk on duty told her what happened. The shock was too much, and she thereafter came every day to the Bank asking to see her brother. When she passed away, she was buried in a churchyard which is now the Bank's garden, and her ghost has been seen many times, sadly wandering along Threadneedle Street.

On to St Pauls, which has a good haul of ghost stories. For a good shiver inducing one, I like this one. Visitors have reported seeing a lady kneeling on the floor searching for something. When they approach to ask if she needs help, they feel a tap on the shoulder. When they turn around, there's no one there, and when they turn back, the lady has vanished. 

Fortunately, all I saw on the floor was a squirrel.

Then it was on to Hen and Chicken Court on Fleet Street, to finish off with the delightful story of Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. He who murdered his clients in his barber's chair (this was way back in the days when people could visit hairdressers freely), before making them into meat pies with the help of his lover, Mrs Lovett, and selling them. I think it's a bit sketchy as to if he was real or not (it's pretty horrific, so probably he was, yes) and if he was, his shop might have been near here, so this isn't altogether conclusive as to being the site of the gruesome deed. 

Anyway, I hope that's been nice and uplifting. Next up is the Charles Dickens run, which is by no means any more cheerful, so that's something to look forward to. 

SVN Halloween 100 Miles, 31.10.2020

This was my 4^th 100 mile run. Up until now, I have done them all with the LDWA. Although these are hilly, hard, self-navigated, include large portions of the route being through bogs etc, they have a time limit of 48 hours, so I am lucky in that I know this should be achievable for me, even if things go wrong. The Halloween 100 had a time limit of only 32 hours, so I was quite anxious about this! I got myself in a right state during the week, worrying about it, comparing myself to others doing it, and feeling convinced I couldn’t do it. All day on Friday I felt so sick with nerves, I could hardly eat, which isn’t great preparation for a long run! So, feeling jittery and like I was about to head off to my first day at school, Andrew and I set off on Friday night to escape London, and stay in Dover ready for the early start.  

I still felt sick when I woke up, but as soon as we got to Samphire Hoe and I started to see everyone, I started to feel a bit better. This was SVN after all, and Traviss and Rachel and Crew always look after us so well and put on brilliant events. I started to feel a bit more confident that even if things didn’t go to plan, it would still be a good weekend. Plus, I now had Foxy the Fox (thanks Sarah!) to oversee things, so it was going to be OK.

Samphire Hoe was created at the time the Channel Tunnel was dug, and is at the base of Shakespeare Cliff, to the west of Dover. It was reclaimed from the sea, and the spoil from the tunnel digging was used to create it - 40 hectares. At the time he wrote King Lear, Shakespeare travelled regularly to Dover…..

“There is a cliff whose high and bending head stares fearfully in the confined deep….Halfway down hangs one who gathers samphire, that dreadful trade!” - King Lear, Shakespeare

….and “hoe” is a piece of land which sticks out into the sea. So, that’s how it got named Samphire Hoe!

Because of Covid, there was no starting altogether, so everyone was starting in little waves (next to the big waves, in the sea). There were a few different events going on today, as well as the 100, and Andrew came to run the six hour challenge, and did his 50^th official marathon/ ultra! Congratulations, Andrew!

Because of the weather, the sea wall had been closed, so the route was changed (and was now much hillier! I clocked about 12,000 ft). The first part was 7 x 6.55 miles on the big route (around Samphire Hoe, through the tunnel, up the cliffs, along and up and down the top of the cliffs, then back, through the tunnel, through Waste Land, and back to base.

I ran the first 5 laps (33 miles) with Andrew. Thank you for spending your whole weekend helping me do this! And also for helping me to develop some really quite sophisticated psychological techniques to get round 100 miles, including the 100 miler version of Jay Z’s 99 Problems “I’ve got 99 problems, but 1 mile is done!” ….. “I’ve got 98 problems, but 2 miles are done!” (etc etc, repeat each mile).

On lap 2 we fell into step with Sarah, Jon and Ollie (who had all run the Track 100 last weekend!!), and I ran the whole of the rest of the run with Sarah.

The weather was wild (thanks Storm Aiden)!! In Samphire Hoe it felt very windy, but when we got up on the cliffs, it made the weather in Samphire Hoe seem like a calm summer day - gusts of at least 60 MPH up on the cliffs Saturday! It was so windy, that running into it was like running into a wall, it picked us off our feet and blew us into fences, and took all of our core strength to stay vertical! It was one of those times where everyone seemed lost for words (not that anyone could hear any words up there anyway) and really all you could do was laugh or cry. But, we were with Andrew after all (who being Scottish, is happiest in bad weather) who was in his element (as well as the elements) and having a right laugh, so it seemed the best thing to do was laugh too. Actually, I really loved those laps, swaying around, aching with laughter and shouting into the wind. The rain from laps 3-7 added a bit more spice to the proceedings, especially when hitting you in the face at 60 MPH, but hey HOE! (sorry)

I have to mention the tunnel. The tunnel in and out of Samphire Hoe has actually been there longer than the place has, since the 70s, and I've only ever driven through it before. I hadn't realised how steep it was. For the record, it is steep. Up on the way out, with the wind behind was the most bizarre feeling, the wind was so strong, it really felt like being pushed up it! On the way back in, it was downhill with the wind blowing us back, it felt like one of those wind tunnels that people practice parachuting in. So exhilarating! 

After 5 laps, Andrew had done his 6 hours, so Sarah and I carried on together, and it was fabulous to run into Richard, and we ran some miles together up on the cliffs.

During the last long lap, Sarah and I realised neither of us had stopped for a wee, and that this was mostly because we were so soaked from the rain that it would be too difficult and too much hassle to take our wet leggings off and try to get them back on again. Ultra running girl problem #99. This is one of those topics of conversations that is completely normal to talk about during ultra runs, but I appreciate that afterwards, it may sound odd. We decided we would celebrate finishing the big laps (about 46 miles in total) with a wee stop at the portaloos (as it had now stopped raining and we had dried out a bit, which makes taking leggings off a bit easier (FYI - if you are a man, and interested in understanding such problems).

Duly celebrated, we got snacks and headtorches, and started off on the little laps just as it got dark. The little laps were 3.22 miles long x 16 all within Samphire Hoe along the bottom of the cliffs. I think it was nice, having the two sets of different laps. It made it almost seem like two separate runs.

The little laps went all the way to the end of Samphire Hoe along the “up and downy” bit closer to the sea, turned around at the end (before going in to the sea), up a hill, along by the railway track, through the car parks and in to Waste Land, to the turn point, then back the other way, back to base. Base camp was always lovely. A little beacon of light as you came down the last hill, and brilliant support from the SVN team always. Plus, despite Covid, there was plenty of individually wrapped chocolate, sweets and crisps, hot drinks and soup, and you could order a sandwich, which would magically appear by the time you got back next lap! I struggled with my nutrition quite a lot today, (nothing much wrong, just feeling nauseous) which was annoying, as I was trying to test out some things I’ve been learning at uni and had spent ages planning and preparing things, and then couldn’t eat any of it! But there you go – goes to show all the theory in the world of what to do is useless, if you have things that get in the way of doing it!

Anyway, I liked the short laps, plus Storm Aiden kindly switched off the rain overnight, and although it remained very windy, it was nothing like it had been up on the cliffs in the day. Sarah and I ran a few laps on our own, and chatting to others on the way round, and 16 laps quickly turned into 15….14….13 etc etc. Got into a bit of a rhythm with which bits of the lap we ran and which we walked. We learned in the early evening of the lockdown that had been announced. So strange to think that outside our little world of Samphire Hoe, at the other end of the tunnel, all these world changing events were going on, and that this would be our last event for a while.

It was Halloween night, of course, and the full moon was out, and almost as bright as the sun (actually, much brighter than the sun had been in the day, as the sun had taken most of the day off). It reflected off the white cliffs, which seemed like snowy mountains rising out of the dark, and it also reflected off the sea, all glittery and shiny. The chalk paths were wet from the rain in the day, and the patterns of the dark damp patches and the drier white patches looked like bats and ghosts. All the while, the sound of the crashing of the waves against the sea wall, and the glittering of the spray shimmering in the moonlight. Spooky!

10 laps from the end (68 miles) Craig joined us, for the Pacer Challenge, and we ran the rest of the way as a three. Thank you Craig - and I’m sorry we didn’t run too much by that point! Thank you for making us laugh, keeping our spirits up, and always knowing the right thing to say at the right time to make me feel better! Oh, and opening all the gates, and helping us to avoid puddles. Oh wait.... haha!

Location of the biggest puddles on the course was The Waste Land. This is an area just after the car park, which is well, a waste land really. It’s near the cooling station for the channel tunnel, and between the road and the cliff and I think got a bit forgotten about. It’s very desolate, has lots of holes (which turn into giant puddles in storms), rocky bits, brambles to trip you up (we all got brambled), thistles to prick you, and a general air of hopelessness about it, amplified each time you put your foot on a shadow and realise it's deep cold water. 

After our 16 laps, we completed our last mini lap to make up the 100 miles, and finished just after it got light, around 06:30. It was the most amazing feeling! Finished in 22:19:44 which is 6 hours 22 minutes faster than my 100 mile PB. Ever since I did my first one in 2016, I have so wished do do sub-24 hours, and it's always felt so far out of my grasp. Very excited!

Thank you so much Sarah for putting up with me for more miles in a go than anyone ever has, ever! You are such an amazing runner, thank you for sticking with me and helping me through. Love you big time! 

Thank you to all the other runners for all your company and encouragement (and especially Andrew and Craig)! Massive well done to everyone. And of course, thank you to Traviss, Rachel and SVN Crew for another tremendous event (and for staying up ALL night in a storm, counting, smiling, encouraging, filling bottles, making food....bloody amazing!) Feeling so lucky to have got to spend this weekend with the running community - an encouraging, very special bunch of people. Will miss you all during lock down. Stay safe, and see you, I hope, very soon! 💛🎃🌙👻

A Cheeky Little Pop Up Run - 10.10.2020 with Saturn Running

Some days are just fun! I always have fun at Saturn runs, so no surprise I guess!

I've lost confidence for the Halloween 100 in three weeks, and started off today feeling not on form and feeling even less confident, but thanks Andrew and Craig for the first lap, and Andrew for the rest of the laps, and soon I warmed up and felt better, and did 4:13 which isn't too bad. Lots of smiles and chats - I missed everyone in lockdown, and it still feels exciting to see everyone again 😊

I like this route - 6 laps for a marathon, from Egham up to Staines and back, then the other way to Runnymead and back (that's the best bit, I think). Autumn is in the air and the trees are turning into beautiful colours along the river. Bit of rain, bit of sun, nice and cool, but not too cold. Nice for running. 

Didn't fall over. Yay!

Because it was a pop-up run, we got to pick our medals at the end. I've wanted this one for ages!

I had two gin and tonics, and two pints during the run (in sweet form, don't worry). And I can confirm that the cafe by the finish does good fish and chips, and give you extra salt and vinegar. 

Thanks Team Saturn and volunteers, and everyone for a lovely day! 💜🍰💛

The Recce Trip 2020, Wales, Covid-style

The annual reconnaissance trip, to check out the route of the yearly LDWA 100, which this year was meant to be in Wales (the Y 100 Sir Fynwy). This was take three to do the route. The first recce was planned for the weekend after lockdown started in March, so was postponed. The event itself was meant to be in May, so was cancelled. And this attempt almost got cancelled, as most of Wales is now in lockdown, increasing every day, including most of the counties next to where we went. So, third time lucky (just about)!

Day 1: Rogiet to Usk, 16 miles, 2900 ft

Reunited with the recce crew, after months apart! Met up in Rogiet around lunch time and had a nice afternoon's run along two sections of the route, along the Monmouthshire Way and the Usk Valley Way. Plenty of time to get the miles in, which left time for other activities along the route, inspired by a visit to Discoed......

....an encounter with the local wildlife....

.....finding alternative means of transport....

...plus admiring the views back over the Severn Estuary, after the climb up Gray Hill....

A short checkpoint, then on up through Wentwood forest, before a nice downhill bit past Bertholey House (built in the 16th century, but burnt down in 1905 when a relative of it's owner accidently set fire to it, whilst drunk). 

A couple more climbs, a descent to Llewellyn’s Dingle (an actual place!), and then on to Usk, to stay the night. This got off to an excellent start, when we arrived before the hotel was open, forcing us to the local park (which also happened to be opposite the prison) to drink cider on a park bench. It might be Covid, but there are certain standards which must be upheld.  

Day 2: Usk to Abergevenny, 16 miles, 1300 ft

Due to a last minute (thanks Covid) change of plan resulting from the hotel were meant to be staying in tonight temporarily shutting, as all it's staff had to self isolate, we had to stay in a different hotel in a completely different place (thanks Alan for organising the whole trip, and then reorganising half of it again!). This meant that we couldn't run the whole route, and so today was shorter than planned. Excellent! I mean, oh no.

Leaving Usk, and it's terrifying wildlife....

We set off along the Usk Valley Way again, north towards Bryn, then along small roads and over fields to Abergevenny.

The day was some easy running in the sunshine, with a very good ratio of running to checkpoints, and we arrived at Abergevenny quite refreshed, and ready for cocktails in the botanical gardens. 

I was extremely excited to be visiting Abergevenny, as I knew it had the famous biscuits. On having a scout around the town and through the market, there was not an Abergevenny biscuit to be found. Puzzled, I resorted to Google, and discovered that it is an Abernethy biscuit, and doesn't come from Wales (but, in case you are interested, it was invented by a doctor, John Abernethy and made from flour, sugar and caraway seeds, to aid digestion and general health). 

Day 3: Abergevenny to Monmouth, 29 miles,  4100 ft

A fabulous run! We had to chop off a chunk of the official route (the bit through the Black Mountains) because of last night's change of location plan, but it was still a brilliant day. Quickly warmed up with a sharp climb up one of the southern ridges of the Sugar Loaf (the Deri), for some fantastic views.

The it was down to Cwmyoy, and a cut across to Pandy (or, home of Andy).....

...for a break.

From here, we picked up the Offa's Dyke trail, past Llangattock Lingoed and Caggle Street, and on past the Bulmers apple orchard at Penrose Farm (Cheers! Is there a park bench anywhere near?).  

Then it was along pretty trails to Monmouth. 

On getting to Monmouth, I fell off a pavement (trying to be socially distant) and hit my shin on it and cut my hand (it's OK, still alternating which side I land on, right side this time). Nothing like finishing a run in the gutter. This put me in a bad mood, but was cheered up temporarily with a Pizza Express takeaway in the local park. 

Day 4: Monmouth to Chepstow, 19 miles, 3000 ft

Today we must finish the run. But first, breakfast. 

Followed by a big climb up through the mist to the Kymin (a folly, at the very top of a hill) next to the Naval Temple, where the mist started to clear.

I loved the route today, lots of hills and through lots of forests, and it seemed almost tropical in some parts (even going through Barbadoes Green)! 

We were on a deadline to make a train, but were making good progress, so there was time for a picnic/ play stop

A bit later on, and we got chased through a field of enthusiastic cows. We shouted so many times that they should moove along, but they were really milking it. It was becoming a load of old bull, udderly unbelievable behaviour. This was looking back at them once we'd all safely made it to the other side of the wall. Look at them, looking like all the grass is greener on the other side. 

We hoofed it off towards the final checkpoint by Tintern Abby (the first Cistercian Abbey created in Wales, and part of the event logo)

Always time for a final climb on the LDWA 100.... this one was up to Penterry Church (and the site of an ancient village, which was obliterated by the bubonic plague - cheery note to end on!)

The it was down to finish in Chepstow, where yet more wild Welsh wildlife was waiting.

Loved this weekend (thanks Tara, Andrew, and Alan!) and this route. Easy to find, pretty route. Fingers crossed the event gets the go ahead for next year 🍀