The commute back on two legs always beats the 346 wheels of the underground, but very rarely does it, ever, get as exciting as tonight. Three things proved to make this jaunt back a little more memorable:
- Boris bikes opened up at Canary Wharf. I took a bike that was literally 'unboxed' in front of me. This is going to make commuting a little easier with scope for cutting miles off as needed as far west as Shepherds Bush, and as far east as the Olympic Park at Stratford.
- Took the Boris to Waterloo to meet Stirk at Waterloo who looked slightly displeased with my choice of commuting equipment. That said, I figured neither of us wanted to be running 10-miles without at least a little bit of respite given the weekend's races. Something good about being paced on a bike. Locked it back up at High St. Ken and then took the standard route as a duo through Hammersmith, Chiswick, Turnham Green and down through Gunners to Kew Green and Kew Gardens. Probably one of the only runs back with someone from work, its normally somewhat of a solitary existence - not tonight. Blumin' good Curry at the Curry Garden too (now that's what I call an expansive website).
- Lastly, after almost 5-years of City Running and naving the streets of Central London, never have I ever seen an entire Royal Park and arterial connecting routes completely blocked off for a gas leak that, according to a police officer, was pumping gas into a "huge tunnel under Hyde Park". Not sure the residents in Hyde Park One would be that impressed, though sure they just evacuated to their nuclear bunker (irony being that most are probably Iranian). Resulted in the first ever divert via Gloucester Road.
Legs feeling OK, easy day Saturday, just an easy 5 or so, good nutrition before the Finchley 20. Full details now on the website, plus a 4 x 5 mile map that plays mind tricks. Surely that is going to feel like a marathon?