with all those runners ..why don t we set a proper running path ?

Greenwich and Blackheath's heath are truly privileged and unique scenaries , at the step of London city, to run and enjoy the freedom of beeing a runner. We have to preserve those areas, and without engaging into the polemics of the 2012 olympics and their , at the least, audacious proposals , we could maybe take the opportunity to adapt the fields a bit ?

Take the park : have you noticed how the grass is marked by a sort of parallel/ secondary path along the concrete , reflecting the runner's search for more cushioning on the way? interestingly enough, this appears more flagrant on the slopes on each side of the park.

I remember seeing parks around the world that offered running path, with proper measurement of distance alongside the normal path. a bit like an athletic stadium path. I last saw this in Singapore in think, and other parts of Asia, and the US, and it presents quite a few advantages :

1- Runners benefit from a clear path to follow, where to measure distance and avoid collision with walkers and other visitors of the park.
2- It lowers maintenance cost of both the grass and the concrete path for usual walkers as such surfaces are precisely studied to endure the repeated stepping of runners.
3- It does not disrupt the scenary as it can be coloured as necessary and can follow the already existing walking paths.

Another point is the lack of toilets. There are some at the top of the park, strategically located, but , unless i missed them... the heath and the village of blackheath exhibit few opportunities ?
we have to think about the crowds that will suddenly decide to visit the area in a few years, and as herds of people go...we might end up stepping on poo that might well not be from dogs!

Other point is the lack of signalisation and warnings for walkers about driving paths  through the park and the parking of all those cars that obstruct the view of both drivers and runners. This is still very manageable... but we surely should anticipate both population growth and coming increase of visitors

these are just 3 points that i want to make simple and short to start the debate... but shouldn t we all plead this cause at the time when the 2012 olympics committee listens (still?) to the needs of the locals for re-generating the area after the events ?

On a more  legere note... can you imagine yourself running a couple of hours and not finding a corner to hide to releive a natural but urging need ? come on...there s got to be something to be done right?:)

muddy heath

It s funny to see how devotion to running can lead to some relatively ridiculous situations. I mean, take this : it s cold, it s muddy, running on the heath means at some stage having ran up a hill from one of the cardinal points ... and still! we are many humans doing the effort and getting dirty and all at all times during the day and evening and even night! to run or do sports there...

the aftermath of the short lived now carpet we had is the long lasting mud left behind. On the positive side , it provides for some extra cushioning when running on the grass. On the negative side, dirt apart, it does slow your run considerably, both due to the extra weight on the shoes and the greater adherence to the ground... it helps strengthen the muscles though as more effort is put into each step...

i wonder if i am the only feeling this ? i guess it also depends on your speed, height, weight, shoes...and the path you take on the heath as some parts remain bizzarely more dry than others...

but , more importantly, it does make up for another view and run in the area as seasons' change... we live in a great area.

The weather impact

-2 degrees celcius. Icy roads. clear blue sky ...spotless... absolutely galvanising! the cold is first like a brick wall..literally surrounding the muscles and blocking every movement. warming up is an effort , it requires will and consistence ... stretch...pull...keep breathing ...
and then there is the sky...the light...the virgourous breathe that reminds you that you are alive...

it s just the few first steps that cost  ... those are the hardest ones... start the engine ... once it is on...it just gets easier and easier ...


my personal experience of the weather conditions makes it a difficult start but a statistically better environment for PB over my usual tour. take a warm /hot weather , the sweat and the humidity create a growing smog around the body that tends to end in a streneous run ...whereas in the cold, the body comforts itself as the physical strain of running also frees energy to warm up the muscles and hence comes to a sort of "economical" point where more effort is put into the run...

Result ...still the same tour of 13+km but 1min less ... and an ever more motivating panorama with just the infinity of the sky as a hat....i thought for a moment my head was flying in space....