So summer is on its way out, and if you are anything like me, at this time if year it is quite difficult to keep that running motivation going through autumn. Morning runs are not quite so appealing when it is looking a bit grey outside. So how to keep motivated? I always find it useful to have a target, and for me this has always been signing up for a race, so I've got a few in the diary, the best looking one being the Greenwich Park Christmas Run with a fab looking Christmas pudding medal.
Still, its also important to keep your training runs fun and interesting, so recently I've started exploring new routes. As well as some interesting research into areas of London, this also gave me a new project of finding the perfect running rucksack (which I did, from decathlon by the way). My good friend and fellow osteopath Matt (mattbrabnerosteopathy.com) is also also a keen runner, so we decided to pick a destination to run to about once every 3 weeks and lately this has been somewhere with a pool for a post-run swim followed by the all important reward brunch. Our latest venture was to run to the Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park. For me, this was a 9.4km run from Blackheath, so a good challenge and definitely something else in the diary to make me keep up my runs in the week.
My run took me through Greenwich Park which is particularly stunning first thing in the morning. After some dynamic stretching here, I settled into my pace as I approached the riverfront and headed down into the foot tunnel to cross the river. Its a pretty cool (literally) way to cross the river.
Emerging on the other side (there is a lift if you want to save your energy), I headed along the river towards Poplar. You can follow the Thames path but this isn't continuous so I stuck to the road which was fairly quiet. Once I reached Poplar there is a busy section of road for about 5 minutes but I was soon onto the backstreets. I soon reached the canal and followed the Limehouse Cut, past some very cute canal boats.
Finally approaching Stratford I entered the Olympic Park, which was looking lovely in the sunshine. Matt was there waiting for me (having an arranged time to meet someone is also good for speed work!).
If you have not yet ventured to the Olympic pool, you need to get yourself there. Its a stunning swimming pool and cheap entry - around £4.50. Plenty of lanes and not particularly busy.
So having earned ourselves a good feast, we found a fabulous canalside cafe for brunch. And my running bug has been rejuvenated! This is how it should be, yes it is easier when we only have a quick half hour to stick to the same trusted route, but when you've got a bit more time, I'd recommend getting out there and being a bit more adventurous on your runs. Now where to go for the next one...?