Tag: winter running

Winter running

claphamrunners

It’s always harder to be motivated in winter. Less daylight creating shorter days. Harsher weather. Choice on TV. All the seasonal snacks appearing on shelves.

All these things and more can create obstacles for getting outdoors, whether that be to run or just to enjoy our surroundings in the daylight. So find some tips below for what we enjoy of winter running.

Sunrise autumnal mornings make for real variation of what can be well trodden paths. With sunrise being a bit later means you don’t have to set an early alarm to capture the beauty

Sunrise on Tooting Common

New paths with lockdown meaning plans are on pause, take that time to explore your local area, what new delights can you find? Exploring trails in parks whilst it’s still light. Or sticking with urban streets by street lamp light.

Tooting Common

Going further if you’ve dropped your commute with working from home or have some extra time at weekends can you explore further afield? Where have you always wanted to explore? Where have you not yet gotten to, yet intended to? Maybe switch up your legs for wheels to take you on new adventures 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

Richmond Park

Alternate views are you missing getting away? Mix it up, take a break from your usual route and explore something new. Maybe you frequent your local common or park… switch it up, run or cycle to a river, find a local feature and discover it.

Thames path

Interval sessions mix up your run with intervals, we share a session weekly on our instagram stories try it out for something different, see if you like it, no obligation to join, but we’ll be welcoming when restrictions lift!

Pre-lockdown!

What are your tips for staying motivated through the winter months or for our Clapham Runners in the Southern Hemisphere how do you get out in the heat?? Share your tips with us in the comments or tag us in your training on Twitter and Instagram

Happy running. Stay safe

Franks soggy, eccentric marathon – Run for the Lifeboats

claphamrunners

The 40th London Marathon was certainly different, an unsupported solo event thanks to Covid and my slowest, soggiest, most socially isolated so far. I had 24 hours to complete it so what’s an hour or two? The official app shows 14:47:40 and an active time of 5:31. I can’t argue with either even if my tracker doesn’t agree.

Orage Alex forced a rethink on my ‘Here to Shere’ route which would have ended with a pub lunch with friends. Instead I opted, starting at midnight, for London streets under ‘lockdown’ with foxes, the homeless and the occasional addled group up to something nefarious.  One ghostly trainer footprint on a dry stretch of pavement but not a single other runner – after all who else would be crazy enough to run a marathon distance in the dark and rain?

Ready….
…and go!

Out into the night
True to the forecast it rained throughout the 24 hours. Dodging standing water added hazard, time and distance, especially facing the torrents and pooled water on stairs in the dark to cross the bridges between Battersea and Tower and back (17 times in all). Ankle deep puddles almost had me sending for the Lifeboats. 

Prune-like at 4:30am and 33km later I needed a hot shower. With my clothes set to drain I was ready for bed but my legs didn’t let me sleep. To leave something on the plate was the plan as it hadn’t been my intention to complete the distance in one go – I lacked the strength of will anyway That might have been a better plan for my legs though.
Still raining at 2:00pm Geoffrey came out to support me for stage 2 and we ran the remaining distance ‘doodling’ or dawdling round Clapham Common. There were plenty more virtual marathon runners around in daylight.

Setting out for stage 2 & the last 800m

*Fund raising for charities is an essential part of the London Marathon as it is the largest single money raising event/day worldwide. This year’s cancellation meant that charities rely on this virtual event. Please think about giving generously to the RNLI or to your preferred charity to boost their activities. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Frank-Elston1

Apres la deluge
Join us

Join us

claphamrunners

When September arrives it brings a lease of life and motivation to get back to routine after a long (not so much in 2019) summer of fun.

We are currently on the look out for new members due to a couple of people heading away on their travels to explore and take Clapham Runners abroad.

If you are looking for a relaxed team to join, who will support your winter training and then on into summer, come and give our sessions a little trial, first few sessions are commitment/money free, see full details have a look at the try our sessions or membership pages.

Looking forward to seeing you soon