Paul Takes on the Capital 🦄

Capital ring Day 1

Since I quit doing ultras I thought it would be a good idea to do my longest one ever.

I'd kept it quiet and spent 6 weeks packing and repacking my kit until I was finally satisfied I'd unpack it all and just double check.

So the plan was 78 miles in 3 days starting as soon as I got off the Avanti for a 25 miler from Highgate station carrying all my kit along disused rail lines and through parks like Finsbury and Crematoriums with wobbly leaning headstones where the dead often emerge.

The heat was intense, I doubted my ability to last. but soon found myself along Lea canal where I was fascinated by the hippie house boats and then saw a dinghy with 2 girls sunbathing in bikinis. This was were I went all swan necked for a 2nd look , kicked my own leg and narrowly avoided falling into the canal. Genius.

Arrived at the Olympic park which is now West Hams footy ground where no gold medals have been won since 2012.

Along the Greenway towards Woolwich foot tunnel under the Thames and its 115 steps that nobody had mentioned.

As I tired the parks just kept on coming , Beautiful as they were I made a beeline for Mottingham station and promised to pick up the route on day 2.

Capital ring Day 2

32 miler today from Eltham palace, The train guard was impressed with my upcoming challenge and fist bumped me and told me to "take God with me" , 'Sorry pal I've enough to carry as it is" .

Still hot but an early start and a target of 13-15 miles before 12:27 just cos it's random, looked doable.

Turns out the locals are colour blind and/ or deaf, putting Brown sauce on my Greggs instead of the Red I asked for twice!

A climb up Crystal Palace found my route blocked by festival fences but a complete stranger helped me out by shouting lots of street names and places I've never heard off and telling me to take the apple and pears?

Capitol ring prompts were good with wooden posts or ornamental sign posts aplenty backed up with suunto gpx and the awesome "Go Jauntly "

walking app , which has step by step photos and descriptions made for muppets so I was confident.

Lots of lovely parks and a selfie from OUTSIDE Wandsworth prison took me to Wimbledon Park and saw preparations around the Tennis going on.

Richmond Deer park exposed me to the full heat of the day , but I was dreaming of the loaded fries I'd be having in the Slug and lettuce momentarily.

After a lovely break by Richmond on Thames it was off to Isleworth and Syon Hall, home to the Duke of Northumberland.

A cyclist and runner where kicking off about path etticat , but I was too hot to care , made my way to Brentford Prem inn and thought about blisters.

Capital ring Day 3

24 miles , Bit of rain made way for humidity and a painful walk along the Grand union canal which if you fancy goes 232km to Birmingham?

Listening to the sounds of nature I went under Brunnels Wharncliffe viaduct and Northwards where after a shaky bridge crossing over the A40 had 2nd Breakfast in maccies. 7 miles in and already tired but with a nearby Beaver Sanctuary looming and a chance to use my favourite line of "Nice Beaver!" to anybody in earshot I was ready to crack on.

Harrow 'posh' school where a young Winston Churchill attended was a climb followed by a decent onto a dodgy overgrown path that I wouldn't do in the dark. A stop for lunch on a bench assessing my life choices before going through ancient woods and huge meadows where a thing bit me , bite cream on hand , drama over .

Lots of housing estates and parks and no end in sight got me to some public toilets by a Jewish school where I was escorted in the nicest possible way to the gents for a wash and tee change( my choice )

Outside there were 3 security officers were Jewish kids where playing footy without a care. Tensions are obvious as I'd seen the same thing at a school in Hackney the day before , running towards armed police with a big pack on , I smiled "Alright chaps!?" Just incase.

Through the beautiful Highgate woods to the finish and a £7.25 pint .

I'd done 80 miles in 3 days in mostly 28c heat but all my anxiety issues and gone. Urban running is my therapy it seems....

Oh yeah.....it's trail shoes for this one 🦄💛🖤