It’s a Friday morning, the day after Ascot Ladies Day when I ‘poshed up’ to see the races. And what a brilliant day it was, I got four winners on the horses and for the first time ever beat the bookmakers on my betting. It has to be said I am a rubbish gambler, but this year’s tips were spot on. I even got to bet correctly on the winner of The Gold Cup. I wasn’t quite as bold with my stake as the guy in front, who put £200 on the same horse, but nonetheless I was happy with my winnings.
Every time I go to Ascot with my friends, we choose frocks and hats very carefully and if you look closely at the pic taken from our car, there is a lady who had chosen a really pretty orange striped combo. Unfortunately it would seem her friends hadn’t told her the picnic tablecloth matched her dress, and she was almost perfectly camouflaged. She wouldn’t have fared any better coming to see us in our picnic area either, as we had the matching placemats!
Thursday’s finery duly changed for Friday’s sporting gear, to go for my run. This was the Hampstead to islington return loop, similar to Thursday afternoon, but I added in a couple of extra roads to change the route. It was another very warm day, but I know the shaded areas and run accordingly. Down through Hampstead, lots of yummy mummies in short yoga leggings, vest tops and bugaboos, with unbelievably cute children looking wide eyed at the sun and surroundings. Next up Camden, yup it’s more edgy, a distinct whiff of weed in the air, and a large number of people swigging beer from bottles, just before noon arrived.
Getting closer to Euston and the crowd changes once more to the office workers spilling onto the pavements, out of pubs. A group of football fans debating the merits of the England team and whoosh I am in Bloomsbury, a little more sedate here, although a lot more tourists, pushing and pulling their trolley bags along pavements ill-designed for this type of traffic. I decide to turn off towards Lamb’s Conduit’s Street – a little designer food and fashion haven in Bloomsbury, with a couple of chi-chi delis sporting outside tables. Glossy manicured fingers wrapped around wine glass stems, filled most appropriately with the ‘still just about fashionable’ rosé wine.
I move on and pass the Lady Ottoline pub (I think Ottoline is the most beautiful name), towards Gray’s Inn Road. We are now close to Clerkenwell, and the people change once more, now we have hipsters in deeply turned up jeans, girls in floaty floral dresses, some sharply dressed guys, as we close in to the art and design hub of the area. I move towards Old Street, the atmosphere changes once more, a bit younger, studenty except for the sweating puffing middle aged runner amongst them. I run down Golden Lane – not much of a lane and frankly not that golden either to Fortune Park – another mis-named place, and it’s full of children and their mums (sorry dads) at the playground and coffee stall. They are punctuated by gossiping groups of workers lounging on the grass for a lazy Friday lunchtime. It’s a glorious scene, every type of Londoner on a small threadbare piece of park, but getting the most out of an untypical warm, sunny summer’s day in the City. And at Fortune Park I stopped my run. I don’t recall much about the run, because it was such a nice day and so much to see, it flew by.
As to the Spice Girl reference, it was a thought that flashed through my mind, that one day I was posh and the next sporty – in fairness I couldn’t really attempt to be the other names in the group. I am not changing my name to Mel (whether it’s B or C). Even at my most vain, I don’t think I look young enough to be called Baby and Ginger (well my hair colour is helped by my hairdresser, but he draws the line at orange), so I’m either Posh or Sporty. I quite like both looks, but Sporty is a lot more common occurrence nowadays.
And a huge thank you to Polly2810 of my C25K Forum who has generously donated to my Alzheimer’s Challenge Sponsorship. Thanks so much, we are getting there slowly!
Playlist
2468 Motorway – Tom Robinson Band
Lucky Number – Lene Lovich
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley and The Wailers
I Can’t Help Myself – The Four Tops
Reach Out, I’ll Be There – ditto
Perfect 10 – The Beautiful South
One In 10 – UB 40
Swords Of A Thousand Men – Tenpole Tudor
People In Love – 10cc
The Eleven Rap – Dark Punk
21 Seconds – So Solid Crew
12 – The 1975
Fourteen Rivers Fourteen Floods – Beck
Sixteen Going on Seventeen – Carr and Truhite
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen – Neil Sedaka
Edge of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks
18 With A Bullet – Pete Whingfield
19 – Paul Hardcastle
30 Minute Love Affair – Paloma Faith
Disco 2000 – Pulp
96 Tears – ? & The Mysterons
Stats
Distance 8:25km
Time 1:03:41
Average Pace 7:43 Mins/km
Elevation Gain 21 metres
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms Done 1077.38
Kms To Run 940.62
