It is a cold, wet day and not in the least bit inspiring. But off I trot through the damp streets of Islington. This, I am hoping, is one of the worst weather days for a while, as we go off to sunnier climes tomorrow for Winter Training Camp. I have a feeling that regardless of my future running intents, a February break to avoid the cold and dark may well be on the cards.
I have noticed the more days of running consecutively, the worse my km pace is. I am not expecting a fast run today. And it didn’t disappoint. I aimed for Clerkenwell and St John Street and then shooted off towards Rosebery Avenue and Islington’s Upper Street. Taking some back streets I ended up at Tolpuddle Road pictured and wondered what particular relevance Islington has to the Tolpuddle martyrs.
It would seem that a public demonstration was organised near Copenhagen Street to show support for the martyrs and this attracted over 100,000 people to a march onto Parliament. Tolpuddle Street today, was just wet, puddley, and gusty. At which point, one of the gusts blew my hat off, and having overtaken two guys, I had the embarrassment of having to stop and run back to get the hat. Not so much a martyr JCR as a tomato.
I continued onto Islington’s Upper Street, and sure enough gusts of wind blew the hat off again. So I stowed it in my jacket, giving me a very weird monoboob look. I continued on pitter pattering through the puddles to the upper end near Highbury and turned back again. This time I had Sweaty Betty in my sights, to buy yet another sports bra and pair of shorts for Winter Training Camp. For a supposedly cheap sport this is getting mightily expensive.
All the running training guides tell you not to run carrying anything unless it is in a rucksack on your back, because you can overbalance and desynchronise your running. With this in mind, the Sweaty Betty swag bag joined the hat in the now straining at the seams running jacket. Pregnant, monoboobed runner on the loose again.
I made my way home and managed just a shade over 9km. Tomorrow is rest day and we fly to arrive in Malaga for early afternoon where I am delighted to note it is neither wet nor cold, nor gusty.
And thanks so much to the family Mackintosh (sounds like a tv series!) for their great sponsorship in my Alzheimer’s Challenge. I can’t tell you how much of a boost that was.
Playlist
Second Hand News – Fleetwood Mac
7 Seconds – Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry
New York Minute – Don Henley
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
All Day And All Of The Night – The Kinks
December 1963 – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Night Fever – Bee Gees
Spring Affair – Donna Summer
Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
Year Of The Cat – Al Stewart
7 Years – Lukas Graham
Holding Back The Years – Simply Red
Sunday Girl – Blondie
Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
8 Mile – Eminem
Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
Stats
Distance 9.34 kms
Time 1:11:32
Average Pace 7:39 mins/km
Elevation Gain 28 metres
Hat Flying Off – 2
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms Done 212.01
Kms to Do 1805.99
