Runner's Guide to London
  • Home
  • Blog
    • London Running Blogs
  • Routes
    • The Grand Tour
    • Regents Canal
    • Monopoly Challenge
    • Dollis Valley Green Walk
    • East London Maritime
    • Tamsin Trail (Richmond Park)
    • Cray Riverway
    • Celandine Route
  • Hotspots
    • Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
    • Greenwich Park & Blackheath
    • Victoria Park
    • Running London Bridges
    • London Park Perimeters
    • London Athletics Tracks
  • Races
    • London parkrun Reviews
    • BUPA Westminster Mile
    • City of London Mile
    • Dartford Half Marathon
    • Richmond Running Festival
    • Royal Borough of Kingston Half
  • Connect
    • Julia Bleasdale
    • Paul Sinton-Hewitt (Parkrun)
    • Scott Overall
    • Diccon Loy (Home Run)
    • London Running Clubs
  • The Book

LONDON IS THE CITY THAT MADE ME A RUNNER.

1/3/2015

1 Comment

 
Running London - Southbank Thames St Paul's Cathedral
By Bethan Taylor // I remember the first time I ran down the Southbank. It had taken all my courage to step out of the suburbs and take to the streets with the ‘real’ runners. 

Terrified I’d be found out as a fraud, those first steps were slow and tentative. But I kept going and the city rewarded me. As my feet landed, a rush of fresh, crisp air hit my face, and a view of St Paul’s came in to sight, lit up in the night, decoupaged on the skyline in a way that makes me gasp even today. 

My bravery had been rewarded, London had scooped me up and held me close as it whispered in my ear the city is yours.

Being granted the key to the city is the most magical thing. Suddenly running becomes full of promise, expectation and anticipation. You realise you can run for miles without crossing the same street twice, neighbourhoods open up and the city simultaneously shrinks and expands before your very eyes. 

A canal can guide you from rough industrial heartland to genteel stucco, past giraffes and monkeys, hip cafes and bookshops on boats, all in a matter of miles. A river takes you on a loping tour through naval history, past soaring skyscrapers and seats of power before dipping in to muddy trails before your legs are worn. Where else can you go from dodging wildlife to running past Prada in a matter of miles. 

Whatever your mood, the city knows which run will be the perfect antidote. No landscape remains the same and no matter how often you run the same route there’s always a moment to take and savour. It warms me to the core.

There have been so many occasions when London has been unbelievably kind to me, picking me up when I’ve fallen, holding my hand as I wobbled towards bigger and scarier challenges. The city has led me to new friends and rejuvenated connections that were nearly lost. When my breath has caught in my chest it’s given me a moment to recover, and when I’ve been too tired and stiff to run it’s carried me. It’s both my bodyguard and number one fan as I run, persuading me I can take on anything and supporting me on my journey. Without that generosity, that openness and love I wouldn’t be the runner I am today. 

Thank you London.
Picture
Where else can you go from dodging wildlife to running past Prada in a matter of miles.
Picture
Check out Bethan's blog which is all about living with a positive outlook, running your socks off and getting everything you can out of life!
1 Comment

    WANT MORE BLOGS?
    VISIT
    OUR
    LONDON
    RUNNING
    BLOG
    DIRECTORY

    Picture
    GRAB YOUR COPY

    Archives

    March 2024
    June 2020
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    2012 Olympics
    20p To Pee
    BBC
    Beginner Running
    Bushy Park
    Cemetery Running
    Chiswick Park
    Cross Country
    Crystal Palace Park
    Danson Park
    Epping Forest
    Fryent Country Park
    Green Park
    Greenwich Park
    Hampstead Heath
    High Elms Country Park
    Home Park
    Hornchurch Country Park
    Hyde Park
    London
    London 2012
    London Heatwave
    London History
    London Marathon
    London Olympics 1908
    London Olympics 2012
    London Running
    London Running Routes
    London Transport
    Marathon
    Mental Toughness
    Mud
    Olympics
    Parkrun
    Parliament Hill
    Public Toilets
    Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
    Richmond Park
    Royal Parks
    Rudisha
    Ruislip Woods
    Run Commute
    Run-commute
    Runner's Problems
    Russia Dock Woodland
    Secret Runs London
    Sightjogging
    Southbank
    Sports Psychology
    St Paul's Cathedral
    Thames Path
    Transport
    Valentines Park
    Victoria Park
    Wimbledon Common

    RSS Feed

RUNNER'S GUIDE TO LONDON
2024 © TempoFit Ltd
PURCHASE BOOK
Special thanks to:
Picture
Picture
Picture