Facing your demons head on

For those of you who have been keeping up with this drivel, you’ll probably be aware of my ‘getting stranded in Arlesey’ story from before Christmas.

You’ll be pleased to know then, that I faced my demons head on last Sunday and decided to try the same route again. I should add that my primary motive was because it is pancake flat and I’m inherently lazy, but I thought I’d go ahead and see if I could do it all the same.

Unfortunately, as far as the entertainment value of this blog is concerned, I’m very happy to report that absolutely nothing of any note happened to me. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say it’s probably the most laid back, relaxing long run I’ve ever done. The weather was mild, my heart rate was low (despite having the best part of a bottle of red the night before), and I felt in great nick all of the way. I think that’s what they call karma?

Unfortunately, I can’t say the interval training I decided to do in Hyde Park last Tuesday morning went anywhere near as smoothly though. It was extremely cold last week, and there was something of an arctic wind blowing as I tried to do four sets of mile-long intervals at 7am. That really wasn’t much fun, I can tell you.

The only thing that kept me going was that I spent a large part of it running backwards and forwards past about 50 ‘I must get fit in the New Year’ recruits to those Army Fitness classes (was it your brother Nodders?). I was in pain, but at least I wasn’t being coerced into doing thrusts, press ups and sit ups on the cold, soaking wet grass or being shouted at to try a bit harder during shuttle runs. Nor was I paying over my hard-earned for the pleasure. Each to their own I guess…

On the positive side – if there is a positive side to getting out of bed at 5.50 when it’s barely above freezing outside – there is a nice serenity about running through London’s parks early in the morning. Or there is when the army classes aren’t around. So, in the spirit of my blog I stopped mid-run in Regents Park this morning to take a quick snap…



Regents Park: red sky against the backdrop of the lake, with the BT Tower in the distance

Not that I’m expecting any of you to try this anytime soon, but there are benefits of both Regents & Hyde Park’s first thing in the morning. In Regents Park, you get the sun rising behind the BT Tower, with the geese on the lake, and a backdrop of the regency houses surrounding the park. Which is quite a nice way to break yourself into the day. As is spending five minutes whilst running trying to decipher which of the animals are making the early morning calls that are coming out of London Zoo.

Similarly, running past the Serpentine in Hyde Park, with the Shard and London Eye coming into view, whilst the sun rises and the Police & Royal horses are being ridden out on the dirt track alongside you isn’t too shabby either.


This one's not mine, but it's what happens each morning in Hyde Park

To sign off, I did warn you that you’d find out I am deathly boring by reading this. So there you have it - I’m old and I like views and horses I’m afraid. Bore off Wood…

And I’m telling you this because…

I’m running the 2012 London Marathon for the Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF). They help all sorts of vulnerable people in the county.

For example, last year they donated £1,000 to the local branch of the Phoenix Group for Deaf Children. The Phoenix Group began as a voluntary group of parents and professionals in 2004 to find ways of supporting families of deaf  children by developing and delivering workshops and training courses to tackle specific issues. An extremely noble cause, I’m sure you’ll agree.

If you feel inclined to sponsor me to help the Hertfordshire Community Foundation continue their great work, you can do so here:  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BenWood2