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Tubes in Tweets – Part II

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Twitter really is the best way to generate live updates as we run the Tube. Here are some updates from the last few runs:

Northern Line – February 28th, 29 miles, 5.5 hours

The first twinges of cramp creep into each calf moments before the final whistl. Not what I need before running the Northern Line tomorrow.

The first map for this morning’s run across London shows the M25. This, I feel, suggests it may be a long day.

At High Barnet headed for Morden (via Bank). On foot, naturally.

Just ran the extra dog leg out to Mill Hill East and back. Feeling pretty virtuous (if a little soggy).

Rain’s eased off for now. Just crossed the North Circular.

Coming down the A1 and I can see the dome of St Paul’s in the distance.

Not often you get to run through Central London with mud splattered legs and soggy trainers. Going up the hill from Kings Cross to Angel.

Started near the M25, ran under the North Circular and now over the Thames on London Bridge. Feels like progress.

Not far from Kennington now, where I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for Nahom.

Pit stop at Laura’s before tackling the last 9 stations south.

On a Tube carriage headed north from Morden having run 29 miles to get here. And I’ll tell you what… It feels like it.

Bakerloo Line – March 28th, ~18 miles, 4 hours,

What better way to welcome in British summer time than run along 15 miles of railway track? Doing the brown one today.

Man winds window down in traffic and says to me: “You were side stepping there. What does that do?”. “Stretches your inside leg sir!”

Ah, Marylebone Road! How my lungs have missed you.

Feels more like a day out than an endurance event today. Snacking in Paddington Rec.

Sun’s out now. Passing the time by saying “Harrow” in silly voices so it sounds like “Hello”.

Hello Wealdstone! That’s Bakerloo done, taking us to 6 lines completed out of 12.

Jubilee Line – June 7th, 38 miles, 9 hours

Not been running once since April but about to run 20-30 miles along the Jubilee Line. Wish me luck!

Eating Jaffa Cakes on the Thames Clipper to Greenwich. We’ll swim across for one of the runs but not today.

Sorely tempted to give up halfway with sore legs and a headache but pressing on. Ham sandwiches outside Green Park.

Reduced to walking from Baker Street by niggling injury but made it to Stanmore after a 9hr epic.

Fish and chips on the Tube home, a cold bath for the legs and now time for bed. PS Covered about 38 miles today.

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Join us for the final Tube run – 5km in fancy dress

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

As you may know, myself and my friend Laura have been running the length of every Tube line in London over the course of the year. We’ve run 8 out of the 12 lines so far, covering 134 miles of track, 179 miles of actual running, passing 162 Tube stations and through 24 London Boroughs. On Saturday we ran 35 miles along the District Line from Upminster to Richmond and it took us 7.5 hours.

Our final run will be a 5km”victory lap” through Central London after work on Thursday September 9th. We’d like you to join us dressed as Tube station!

WHAT: 5km fun run in fancy dress – as a Tube station

WHERE: Starts and finishes on the green by the London Eye

WHEN: Thursday 9th September. Meet from 6pm, start jogging 7pm, festivities from 8pm onwards

COST: £10 donation here (includes a few refreshments and prizes; if you’ve donated already, you’re in automatically)

FANCY DRESS THEME: Tube Stations

The Waterloo & City Line has only two stations: Waterloo and Bank. We’re doing a loop of about 5km starting and finishing on the South Bank near Waterloo.

This is more about fun and charity than racing. You can run, jog, walk or whatever you want but please come out and show your support. We’ll have run a long way by then.

And if you can’t make the running part, just come along for the party afterwards – it’s the end of a big challenge.

A Day on the Jubilee Line – Part II

Friday, June 25th, 2010

“I think we should do it”, Laura said, determined.

And everything changed. With the acceptance that it was happening, my body put itself into the appropriate gear and set about moving its way north west to Stanmore. Through the crowds by the London Eye, over a busy Westminster Bridge and a busier Parliament Square. Amidst picnic-ers in St James Park, through traffic on the Piccadilly and into a shop for supplies.

Sat on the floor outside, like two homeless people with uncharacteristically bright t-shirts, we rummaged through packaging to fumble food into our mouths and laugh at our choice of pastime for an otherwise pleasant Sunday afternoon.

Coming up Baker Street Laura’s knee pain returned. Hobbling towards Swiss Cottage it was clear it wasn’t going anywhere, leaving us with three choices: 1) Pop some painkillers and press on. 2) Go home. 3) Walk. Option one was stupid and option two wasn’t really an option at all. So we set about walking.

We’d been out for a long time. We set off at lunchtime and could now see the sun setting behind Wembley’s arches. The start had been a mess of navigational blunders and boat delays and all the time we were wondering how far we had come. We knew the track was 23 miles but the discrepancy between such measurements and the actual distance overland varied greatly, and we were both a little concerned that our protracted day would not be justified by the distance . We plodded onwards through areas that felt increasingly less like London with each step until we arrived at Stanmore after almost nine hours of walking and running.

Hurriedly, we checked the GPS which had been tracking our progress through the day but the battery had died and we had to make do with stuffing ourselves with fish and chips on the Tube ride back amongst revelers returning from a gig at the stadium, before we found out how far we’d gone. At Laura’s house, glugging pints of cold Vimto, I’d almost forgotten about the GPS track when she plugged it into the wall to charge.

“How far?”, I asked, and vindication came in two words:

“38 miles”

I’m running the length of every Tube line in London with my friend Laura Tomlinson. We are raising money for the British Lung Foundation. You can read more and follow our progress here

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A Day on the Jubilee Line – Part I

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Ever since running 29 miles along the Northern Line, going out for a run has felt a bit different. Discovering that I could run that distance without any real training or preparation has left me feeling entirely calm about the prospect of covering any lesser distance and Sunday morning was no different.

The Jubilee Line stretches 23 miles from Stratford to Stanmore, crossing the river four times as it does so. Our laissez-faire approach and the fact that we were both out for drinks the night before meant a late start today and it was gone midday before we emerged from the north east tip of the grey Tube line.

We were misinformed a little about boats across the river and after an unnecessarily scenic and decidedly frustrating tour of the Docklands area, we found ourselves at the Thames Clipper booking tickets towards Canada Water. It meant cutting out North Greenwich from our route, an unequivocal floundering in our commitment to running past all the Tube stops, but the alternative was a full 10-12 miles extra running for a single Tube stop on a day that was already ticking by. No sooner had we made this decision than we discovered that our boat would take us all the way to the Millennium Dome and our missing London Underground Station. That meant only an extra 5 miles to over. Well worth it for a clear conscience.

Shuffling through the heat along the Thames Path back towards Greenwich, Laura’s knee was becoming painful. We slowed to a walk and my mind leapt at this opportunity for reprieve. I hadn’t been running for almost two months and had spent most of that time sat down on a bicycle. A marathon on concrete was not the ideal transition back and I was seeking an excuse to bail out: It’s late, we’ll be tired all week from this. I don’t feel good, not enough sleep last night. My muscles are aching, my joints aren’t conditioned.

Laura did some stretches and pressed on.

I followed.

At Waterloo, what felt like the halfway point even if it wasn’t in actual distance, I suggested that we could call it quits for the day and do the second half another time. I’d been holding out for this moment for the last hour or so and I once again grabbed at the chance to go home and sit down.

“It’s probably only about 10 miles from here”, Laura said.

My mind kicked into activity, processing numbers, doing the maths. But I was still hesitant.

I’m running the length of every Tube line in London with my friend Laura Tomlinson. We are raising money for the British Lung Foundation. You can read more and follow our progress here.

Posted in Running the Tube, Training | No Comments »

Tubes in Tweets – Part I

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

One of the best thing’s about mine and Laura’s challenge to run the length of every Tube Line in London is that people “get it”.

Sure, most people don’t spend their Sundays running 20, 30, 40 miles through Central London but it’s understandable in a way that, say, climbing mountains or skiing to Poles might not be.

That makes it all the more important and fun to document. The only practical way to do that as we go is through Twitter. Here are some updates from the first four runs:

Circle Line – January 10th, 15 miles, 3 hours

Big carbs, early night. Tomorrow I’m running my first Tube route. 14 miles around the Circle Line

Underneath Big Ben in running shoes facing east. 14 miles around the Circle Line and I’ll be back.

Dodged shoppers and discount jumpers in Petticoat Lane Market. Coming up to King’s Cross for a stint on Euston Road.

Can really feel that concrete on the joints. Quick water stop in Notting Hill. Due south to Kensington next.

15 miles, 2hrs 53mins and some great sights through Central London. Now where’s the nearest sandwich…?

Hammersmith & City Line – January 24th, 22 miles, 4 hours

In Hammersmith for a run. Heading for Goldhawk Road first then Shepherd’s Bush Market. Then Wood Lane, Latimer Road… You get the picture.

Crossed the Westway and over Portabello Road now back for the long slog along the A40.

Wiggled my way through an industrial estate near West Ham. Only two pages of the A-Z left.

I just ran from Hammersmith to Essex!

Victoria Line – January 31st, 15 miles, 3.5 hours

Scribbling biro across a map of London. Running the thin blue line from Brixton today.

Frost on the ground and vapour trails in the sky. Crossed Vauxhall Bridge, making a beeline for Green Park.

Lycra-clad and sweaty amongst crowds at Oxford Circus.

“Ooh, Running The Tube!” a lady from my chest as I run past on Caledonian Road. Almost makes the matching yellow t-shirts worthwhile.

Walthamstow Central. Victoria Line – Tick!

East London Line – February 10th, ~7 miles, 1.5 hours

Flurries of snow litter an orange sky. On my way to run the old East London Line

Stood shivering at the end of a dark and dodgy alley in the East End. Whose idea was this?

East End alley ways, Rotherhithe Tunnel, Tesco car park and McDonalds drive-thru. Not pretty but that’s the fourth line down.

Had to wheel my bike the whole way. Thank God East London’s the second shortest line.