The Ham and High

9.8 miles in 1:21:59
Route: Ham and High circuit 1

In the course of all of my training, I have come to realise that you are going to have bad days. Today was one of them. Last weekend I cruised around 10 miles without too many problems. Today's run was a real struggle.

Another new route around north London. It was a really good actually, but I'm afraid I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have done. From my place at the top of Camden, I ran through Highbury, past the new Arsenal football stadium, to Finsbury Park. There, I picked up the 'Parkland Walk' - a disused railway line that runs the two miles between Finsbury Park and Highgate - slightly muddy, but otherwise an excellent running track.

I was struggling a bit by this point - bad preparation on my part. I hadn't really eaten any breakfast (never run on empty - stupid mistake!) and was dehydrated after boozing steadily through Jen's engagement party last night (a former marathon runner should know better!). I ended up stopping around before I got to Highgate (most unlike me) and again when I got there to walk up the hill (to be fair, it wouldn't have been a lot of fun running up it....)

From Highgate, I picked up the road leading to Hampstead (cunningly named Hampstead Road) and ran onto the Heath, past Kenwood House and onto the familiar tracks of previous week's runs. I took a slightly different exist from the heath and ran through Hampstead and down the high street - much to the disgust of the local Hampsteadites ('Hamspsters'?) who are not used to their Sunday afternoon shopping being disrupted by me charging past them looking angry.

Down Haverstock hill through Belsize Park to Chalk Farm (I had hit my stride by now) and then back home via Kentish Town and Camden square. Not an excellent time - stops early on ruined any chance of that - but I suppose I am happy enough just to have got around and put some more miles on my legs.

Speaking of which, they aren't holding up too well at the moment. Some of last week's niggles have gone (I have solved the foot problem by lacing my trainers differently) but my left knee was agony by the end. I had to ice it for a good half an hour and it's still pretty sore. Who invented knees? They give me so much gyp.

Anyway. So, lessons learnt today:
1. Don't run on empty - you fool (to be said in the style of Mr T).
2. Drink more water before running.
3. Don't expect to be able to go out drinking all weekend and still run 10 miles on a Sunday.
4. I need new knees.
5. It's 133 days to the marathon, and the xmas party season has only just begun....