beatnic - just wondering

This year on Sunday 13th April, my Dad is running in the London Marathon.

He’s a London Marathon veteran, but this is his first since breaking a bone in his neck two years ago in a near fatal fall while walking in the Swiss Alps.

This year he’s raising money for the cancer charity Myeloma UK. Myeloma is a form of bone marrow cancer, which my Mum was diagnosed with four years ago.

You can donate securely online right now via his Just Giving web page.

Nigel tagged me a wee while ago and I’ve finally had a moment to respond.

Here are a few things I do to keep fit:

• Running - it’s my Dad’s fault, and it’s his Dad’s fault! There’s nothing quite like it for clearing my mind. The more undulating the better… the Yorkshire Dales and the eastern Pyrennees are perfect, and East Dulwich and surrounding area has plenty to offer too.
• Cycling - to work - it’s a 12 mile journey each way and I’m managing about 6 journeys out of 10 a week at the moment.
• Not using lifts and walking up escalators - there are 124 steps at Elephant & Castle, down in the morning, up in the evening. When I’m not cycling of course.
• Walking - what better way to get to know somewhere than to have time to stop every now and then and look up.

Why do we run in an anticlockwise direction on a running track?

Has it always been anticlockwise?

Is it clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere? [No, actually scrap that]

Does it mean top athletes’ descendants will have shorter left legs than right? [Actually scrap that one too]

Brilliant Google Maps hack, just what I’ve been looking for.

Work out how far you’re walking, running, cycling etc. using virtual map pins.

Turns out I wasn’t far off when I guessed Sunday Circuit at 10km in an earlier post.

Using Gmaps Pedometer here’s the circuit at 9.7km (I’d add 300metres to get to the circuit from where I live and back.

You can also toggle elevation on and off to show you all the hills in profile.

Good luck to everyone doing the London Marathon on Sunday.

It’s been years since I ran a marathon (I did 3 Londons and the Vienna - very different atmosphere and architecture!) - but last night I was moved to tears by the inspirational stories told in the BBC’s run-up to the marathon programme. Steve Cram and Sally Gunnel are given 6 months to coach 13 “unfit” people to run the London Marathon (I’ll post up a link if I can find it). Update it’s called Run for Glory

It reminded me of the amazing array of emotions you go through as you prepare for the event, along the course, the finish, and afterwards hobbling around trying to find the “P” tree! Magic.

Good luck London!

Links:
Paula Radcliffe
London Marathon
London 2012

Good run…

• Up Dunstans Road and turn left (South) on to Lordship Lane
• Opposite Harvester on South Circular go through gate and up Cox’s Walk to Dulwich Woods
• Up hill over disused railway tunnel at back of Sydenham Hill Wood (Nature Reserve) which comes out on Sydenham Hill
• Turn right along Sydenham Hill to mini-roundabout (towards Crystal Palace Television Transmission Mast)
• Left at mini-roundabout (as if going to Penge)
• First right through gate in to Crystal Palace Park
• Follow path through to where the palace used to stand and then head across park towards Crystal Palace railway station
• Turn right just before station to bring you out by bus depot
• Go right (East) back towards East Dulwich
• Take a left down College Road… until you reach the South Circular by Dulwich College
• Turn right along Dulwich Common (A205 South Circular)
• After 250 metres go left through gate in to Dulwich Park
• Run across park, exit through the gate which takes you up Eynella Road
• Go up the hill, over the lights at the crossroads, and down Barry Road
• Turn right at Goodrich Road
• Go left either down Friern Road or Upland Road to take you to Underhill Road to complete the circuit

It’s quite leafy and fairly undulating. There are some great views North across London and it’s great imagining what it must have been like when The Crystal Palace was in its prime

47 minutes this morning

Not sure how far, feels 10k-ish

I’m about to start training for the 2005 Crystal Palace Triathlon which takes place on 29th May.

It’s a half triathlon:

1. 750 metre swim
2. 20km cycle ride
3. 5km run

The cycling and running should be doable, I’m looking for swimming tips though.

Hopefully we’ll go past the dinosaurs…