2016 Hillingdon Half Marathon

First race in a year and a half. I saw this mainly as a training run and I wanted to participate because it's a good local race. My slowest half marathon ever (7:31 minute miles officially, 7:29 by Garmin), but I'm happy with that and was expecting to be slower. Getting back into racing shape. Apparently I finished 58th out of 311: 

http://activetrainingworld.com/upload/event/hillingdon/HalfResults.pdf

Course was fine except for dregs of Storm Katie meant high winds and sogginess. Nice medal and shirt. Four weeks to London and feeling good!

Sixth London Long Run

Finally made it out to Hampton Court Palace this morning. Started from Acton Town at 7:30, ran down to river, past Richmond (which is really nice), Kingston, and turned around at the Palace. Turns out today was the Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon, so I ran a few miles of this route in the company of hundreds of other runners. Was back at Richmond by mile 21 and took the tube home from there. Great thing about today was how good I felt for the entire run. Mile 21 was actually my fastest, so I wasn't exhausted at the end and that bodes well for the marathon. This is the first of these London long runs where I wasn't suffering a lot throughout the final 1/3, so I think my body is getting well-adjusted.

First London Medium Run

I enjoyed running in central London so much last Sunday that I did it again today, even though it was a medium run (12 miles) Sunday. Another great run. Set off from Baker Street around 7:30. Highlight was running by Blake's grave in Bunhill Fields. Took in just about every major London landmark and ended up at Westminster station.

Fifth London Long Run

This was my fifth (of at least seven) Sunday long runs leading up to the London Marathon on 24th April. Like my last two long runs it was 20 miles. I felt pretty good throughout, although my pace was slightly slower than my last two 20 milers and by about 2/3 through I was definitely counting down the miles.

Thought I would leave from Richmond again like last time, to head the correct way this time towards Hampton Court. But the Piccadilly Line wasn't running so I caught the 7am Metropolitan line to Embankment instead. Was running by 8am and it was a great time to be running through central London, the sun was out and hardly any people around. There were a few other runners and they all seemed as happy as me to have the city to ourselves on a beautiful morning. Ran across Millennium and Tower Bridges, past Canary Wharf and then under the Thames to Greenwich. Discovered that there are a lot of quays in London that are nice to run around. Greenland Quay and the park nearby were especially good. Today's run was really a great experience, the best of these London runs so far, despite there not being a pub open anywhere near where I ended up (Bermondsey station in Southwark). Home by about noon.