Happy Sunday friends! I hope you all had a great week. Here’s my recap of training for the Vienna marathon, which will be held on April 23, and a recap of life in London as a Minnesota/American transplant!
Monday: I had a dentist appointment at 9:15 right down the road from our flat, so I took advantage of the fact that I wouldn’t be commuting into the office until after that appointment, and ran on Parliament track right in Hampstead Heath when it officially opened at 7:30. I did about 2 miles to warm-up first, and then essentially followed the man who opens the track to the gate to get onto the track right at 7:29!
I repeated a workout that I did a few weeks ago, 2 sets of (2-3-4-5 minutes on with 90 second jog recoveries in between.) It was fun to run on the track again, its been a little while! I love having the track so close and hope to use it more as the sun starts to come up earlier in the day.
After work, I did Iron Strength Abs and Core with Caroline Girvan on YouTube.
Tuesday: I ran commuted into work- about 4.6 miles, then joined a few colleagues for a social 5k run around Green & St. James’s parks by my office for about 7.5 miles total.
The run commute was quite foggy in Regent’s Park!
It is always neat to run through Oxford Circus and Piccadilly without the crowds.
I wore my brightest Valentine’s tights for the work 5k. It was warm enough for me to wear shorts, but I decided to wear the tights any ways and was fine.
That evening, as Dustin cooked a Valentine’s Day dinner (what a guy!), I did the Iron Strength Quad session and some core on Peloton.
Wednesday: Rest day from running! Lots of walking, between the dogs and my commute.
Thursday: Earlier in the week, I had developed an annoying cold and it was probably at its worst Wednesday night; I didn’t sleep well and was congested Thursday morning, but decided I was healthy enough to try another workout, which was 10 min tempo, recovery jog, then 5×3 minutes on, then cooldown. I covered 9 miles total, but it wasn’t my best workout. I blame the cold (don’t worry, it’s not covid as I’m already feeling better and did test twice when I had symptoms, just an annoying cold.)
Thursday evening (since I was feeling better) we had a belated Valentine’s day dinner at Black Axe Mangal in Highbury. Highbury is another London neighborhood a short overground train ride away from Hampstead. It was a funky place-I felt a bit too old and not hip enough to be there, ha! But it was fun and the food was interesting.
Friday: Finally a wfh day, after 4 days in the office! Dustin and Ruth joined me for an 8 mile run before starting the work day.
After work, I did an Iron Strength shoulders & triceps session on YouTube + core on Peloton.
Saturday: Long run day!
I headed out on my own from Hampstead through Primrose and Regent’s to Hyde park where I met up with the Serpentine run club again. I had 7 miles under my belt by the time I met up with them, and I planned a bit better this time and showed up right as their warm-up was ending; I covered about 6 miles with them before making my way back home (the long way around Regent’s) for 18 miles total.
I took two Maurten gels and had my handheld water bottle full of nuun, though I did have to stop at a cafe to buy more water around mile 13. It was about 54F or 12C, but I was still sweating a fair amount and definitely needed the additional hydration. I run hot!
It looked like spring had sprung in Hyde Park; I spotted this parakeet in a flowering tree!
Dustin was already home from his long run by the time I got back, so he took the pups to the Heath to run around for awhile while I showered and relaxed a bit, and then we both walked to lunch at Silverberry down the road.
The group at the Serpentine run club was different from the people I met the last time I was, i.e. I didn’t know anyone, but I met a few nice people around my pace. I don’t know that I’ll run with them every weekend that we are in London, but it was nice to have company. (Dustin had a workout in his long run and did his own thing.)
Saturday evening, we had dinner at Fallow (right by my office!) and then went to the play Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (also right by my office in Leicester Square.)
Have you heard of this play? Here’s the premise, “You’re going to speak more than 123 million words in your lifetime. What will you do when they run out? Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can’t say anything anymore.“
It was just a two-actor play, 85 minutes with no intermission. It was good though and brought up some interesting topics for discussion.
Sunday: One of the Rovers (dog walkers) we use for Ruth & Matilda knows that we are runners so she invited us to try out her running group called the Croissant Chasers; they met at the Heath, so easy-peasy to meet up. They were all very nice!
They run on Sundays and then get a coffee and croissant at a local cafe. We ran 6.2 miles, then I had a delicious almond croissant, and then jogged home afterwards.
Ruth was the star of the run; she got lots of attention and love!
Summary: 57 miles of running with 3 Iron Strength sessions and an attempt at daily core on Peloton.
This upcoming week will be busy one at work followed by a weekend away in the English town of Bath! Have you been? It’s about a 90 minute train ride from London. We have a pretty full agenda planned, including a long run there, but welcome any advice if you have been to Bath before.
Well, that’s a wrap! I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner; check out their blogs to connect with other fitness bloggers for workout ideas and inspiration!
Great week, glad you finally got some wfh time on. How cool- not only is that tree gorgeous but what a cool bird!
I much prefer just 3 days in, not 4.
The parakeet is gorgeous, right?
Wow, what a pretty sunrise in those first few photos! I think I’ll finally be able to catch the sunrise now that it is coming up a little earlier. Waiting for the paths to clear, tho.
That play sounds interesting! But no intermission would be tough for me, lol
Hah, yes, I had to zip to the restroom right after, drank way too much water before!
Sounds like a great week, aside from the cold,
Did the track get busy while you were there? Were others waiting for it to open too?
That photo of the parakeet is so pretty — and it does look like sping. .
That play sounds really interesting!
My husband went to Bath for work ages ago. I doubt you need to visit the industrial site he did. 😉
There weren’t any others at the track that morning! I do wish it was lit and opened earlier…
Wow. Flowers. Love seeing that. We are months away.
Love that you run to work and do your runs in a beautiful environment.
Run commuting works well in terms of efficiency!
It does look like spring there! Great week of running and workouts for you. The dog running group sounds fun. Looks like you have settled right into the London running scene and made some new friends and running partners.
I don’t know if it was a dog running group so much as we just learned about it from our Rover/dog walker, but it was lovely and very nice people (though all in their early 20’s 🙂 )
Awh that sweet parakeet! Can’t say I’ve ever spotted one of them on a run, LOL. GO you…that 9-mile run with the nasty cold! Sounds like you’re really settling-in with your running groups and dog groups, as well as co-workers.
I know, I wonder why they are living in Hyde park. I should do some research on their origins as I can’t imagine they are native to London!
Ooh! What a fun week (other than having a cold.) I really love running on a track but don’t get to do it often- I don’t have one convenient to wear I live. Great job on the long run. I’ve also realized how much water/LMNT I need for a long hot run- WAY more than I was getting before. No wonder the heat was bothering me so much- I wasn’t getting nearly enough fluid in. That play sounds really interesting! I can’t even remember how long it’s been since I’ve seen a play… years and years. You’re definitely making the… Read more »
The track is really convenient location wise (right by our flat in the Heath) but the 7:30 am official open time is a little tough.
I have a 2023 goal of seeing more plays and I’m off to a strong start!
That’s an impressive week of running, despite the cold you had. The photos from the early morning are stunning! I’m a big fan of street photography but just recently realised that street photography is defined as something that shows a “human element” whatever that means, so I realised I probably just like good photographs from towns and cities.. with or without humans. And how wonderful with the cherry (or whatever it is) tree in bloom! Mine doesn’t start blooming until late March.
I was not aware of that definition- I take tons of pictures of London “streets” and generally no people! 🙂
Lemons, lemons, lemons… Hmm, I’m not sure I’ll ever run out of words. I can talk. I like ladder workouts like your track workout. I love your photos. The pink tights were perfect and those flowers were just beautiful. Yeah for another solid week!
Thanks Teresa!
I hope Ruth got a croissant too! She’s so cute.
And I hope you are feeling better. Colds are annoying, and I’m sure it didn’t ehlp you have a solid workout.
That show sounds super interesting.
Hehe, well, the croissant was kinda messy so she might have cleaned up the mess a little and had a taste of the croissant 🙂 She was such a good girl on the run and at the bakery, so proud of her.
That croissant! Mr. Judy has made me brithday/Valentine meals many times, this year it we both just had our own separate leftovers. We got sushi the day before my birthday. 🙂
That parakeet is so cute! Can’t wait to see your photos of Bath! Have a great time.
Sushi sounds like a great way to celebrate! Happy birthday!
I bet you’re thoroughly enjoying seeing blooming trees in late February – a far cry from what you’d see in Minnesota.
Great week of workouts. Didn’t you love being back on the track?
Yes, a very far cry from the blizzard that’s happening in Minnesota right now!
I really enjoy the track, it’s a treat.
Very social week with the runners and dog walkers! The Black Axe Mangal looks quite interesting. Very hip! Love those pink tights.
Have fun in Bath. Looking forward to some pictures of your trip!
Thanks Lisa! We will go back to Black Axe Mangal, maybe with some friends who visit who would be up for that sort of unique experience.
I love your Valentine’s tights. And how fun to have the varied groups to run with when your schedule, training allows. Croissants for the win.
And yes, weather is fully drunk here too. Love that fog sunrise.
I’m trying my best to put myself out there with various groups!
Great week! I hope your cold has passed. It definitely looks like spring is making an appearance there – how nice! It’s been mild here lately but I don’t think winter is done with us just yet.
Cold is gone, feeling good! Spring is hopefully here to stay.
i love the bight leggings you picked out for your Valentine’s Day run – so bright and cute!
Thanks Kim!
Oh you need to go to Mr B’s Emporium, a wonderful bookshop, in Bath!
Love all your pics and glad you got over your cold quickly – I’ve been absolutely floored by one, probably because I’d stopped running to sort my hamstring. Grrr. Anyway your London pics always cheer me!
Yikes, that sounds like a rough cold! And not covid?
I read about the bookstore! Excited to explore Bath.
No, not Covid! I tested twice, at the beginning and what turned out to be in the middle, and when Mr Liz came down with it, in more milder form, he also tested: all negative. Enjoy the bookshop!