London 2012 - a duathlon/marathon over 2 days, and more.

Sounds crazy, but true ;) stayed in London this weekend and did 22 miles on foot and a bit more on the Boris Bike!

It's Day 5 of the Olympics and hubby's already put his Games Maker outfit in the wash after 3 days of exciting Road Cycling Marshalling...which got me the accommodation for the nights before in London, near Old St. Reliving the Shoreditch Dreams  (this probably a sentimental post on my last night there).

The days that he have been working, I've used the location to my great advantage - hence the distance covered over the weekend, and a little bit this morning before heading to work in the office by CS7!

Saturday -after the amazing Opening Ceremony in Stratford the night before, London was strangely quiet. I met up with some girl friends who were training for late Oct/ Nov marathons at 9am at Tower Bridge, but not a soul was to be seen about, apart from a 'National Nine News' reporter (jet lagged from Oz?) and a few people in sports gear. It was a very nice run when we got to it - me being no stranger to the Thames Path except for Saturday mornings. Heaps to take pictures of (Olympic ring 'island' at tower hill had moved to Waterloo bridge) and as we turned into Birdcage Walk more and more people started to gather.

Our run came to a standstill around the Mall and Buckingham Palace because...they were all after the best spots to watch the start of the Men's Road Cycling! Eventually we left SW1A, continued along south side of Hyde Park and decided to call into Giraffe for a morning drink (my mates carried no water bottles). The sun was shining and it wasn't even lunchtime yet! Feeling under my mileage, I tried my luck with the Barclays Bike, had some glitches with the credit card...so decided to take the tube east.

Got off at Chancery lane and ran the last 2 miles back, revisiting yet another of my old workplaces' - through Smithfields, Barbican, Whitecross Markets, Old Street...and all this, for a Banh Mi (Vietnamese Baguette) 'lunch' .....

Saturday morning run: L-R Thames Path to Hyde Park; Chancery Lane to Old St;

Tower Bridge; Waterloo Bridge; Outside Buckingham Palace; metres from the Cycling Finish at the mall; Banh Mi shop and the pate, pickled vege and slightly spicy baguette

before setting off for my accupuncture 'fix' in Chinatown. I was determined to ensure the Barclays (Boris) Bike hire scheme worked on me...so spent a bit of time walking around, trying to find a dock, and bikes in good condition. I had to walk 3 stations before I found a bike, which squeaked and was a pain to ride. My last and only ride was in May last year (thats why my credit card didnt work as they didnt take the money off me !) and I had forgotten how heavy these things were. I was able to thankfully found a few relatively quiet roads (yes, Smithfield markets again) and eventually gave up near Somerset House (the back light flew off as a farewell - ref the picture). At that point, helicopters were over our heads and I know ... the Road Cycling were about to finish. Took another bike out quickly and had a lady saying 'sxxt' instead of using the bell, and eventually (after another 3 blocked docks and queues), docked in Pall Mall East. via Waterloo Place...stood 5 deep...only to hear, from the radio...it wasn't Cavendish first across the line...
oh well. I know it takes 7 mins to walk from Admiralty Arch to Chinatown....so just got to the needles in time. Ouch! the pains of training!

Saturday bike routes from Old St- Somerset House - Pall Mall east; some Cycling Finishers at the Mall (as far as I can zoom!)

Sunday morning - I wasnt going to let a sunny day go to waste. Downloaded the new Barclays Bike app (!) but it said 45 mins to Regent's Park and I couldn't, couldn't avoid busy Kings cross. so I gave up and adapted part of the Serpentine's 16 mile canal route to the following loop around the east bit of the Grand Union Canal.



Lovely day, but got too excited running through the quiet square mile and taking bit detours along London and Tower Bridges, so by the time I got to Limehouse where the canal starts, it was already almost an hour. This eastern part of the canal (which I ran last year on a wet morning) is quite busy on weekends and very narrow at times under bridges. There was a canalside market near Victoria Park, selling pizzas and all sorts of sandwiches - but I wasnt to be tempted (after going offtrack to view a sculpture that resembled sausages and poached eggs - near the lily pond on the top right hand picture below).

My legs were tired and I knew it. left the canal after viewing a funky canalside cafe at the top of De Beauvoir town, and headed south back to the hotel and for a shower...before heading to my first ticketed event. Table Tennis at the Excel, supporting Team GB and also Team Hong Kong!

L-R from Top - Tower Bridge; before Mile End; Lilies near Victoria Park; Canal markets near Victoria Park (all except bottom left); bottom left: Canal and funky alfresco breakfast cafe with Thai massage from De Beauvoir Town, north of Hoxton

Wednesday morning - after a night at home and then tuesday night back in Old Street - this really was my last chance taking the 46 south to London Bridge and having a <30minute commute within Zone 1! I took an early start and it being a sunny day. I was ambitious and thought I would cover the northern bit of the canal route (after all, back in 2008, I'd do morning 5kms from Finchley Road via Primrose Hill/Regent's park and take the tube back home before starting the day...). The annoying bit really was, heading back to the canal from the hotel took a precious mile, and after reaching Angel, there were the busy Upper Street to cross, and also a few other meandering streets before I was to see the canal again (this includes non-flat roads through 'residential' areas ). I almost gave up and was going to turn back, lucky that I didn't!

Managed to find the signs to London Canal Museum...rejoined the canal near King's Place (funky arts venue near the Guardian's HQ) and followed the canal to Camden Town...with 'Thames at Limehouse 6 miles' to the left, and 'Little Venice 2 1/2 miles' to the right...if only I'd started earlier!  This also meant that I have covered (over the years) this canal from limehouse all the way to paddington :D

Had to take the Northern line back. wasn't very pleasant at all. oh well.

L-R from top: Old St - Camden Town route; Camden Town Tube; signs at Camden Lock; boat at Camden Lock (sign to liverpool!); view of St Pancras station clock tower from the canal

Enjoyed my time in the city, but the price to pay was a heavy luggage with all my gear, and very heavy legs. It wasn't quite the same doing my usual route this evening along the quieter stretch of the Thames, but life must go on...and the miles must build from now.

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