“I will be good.” So said an 11-year-old Victoria when told by her governess that one day she would be queen.
With that sentiment in mind I knew that I had to get out and do my first lunchtime run of 2014. To help me deliver on my promise I signed up to Janathon (daily exercise and blogging) and Jantastic (goal-setting in teams).
I will be good. A lunchtime run involves leaving my office in the St Margaret’s House Settlement in Bethnal Green and heading up to Victoria Park. Named after the same Victoria, the park perimeter is around 5km long. Victoria Park contains 218 acres of space. It has a beautiful lake with plenty of birds to watch, though when I run I mostly see the path.
I have a lot of time to think about things when I run. I loved Haruki Murakami’s book What I talk about when I talk about running and I often think of that book while running! Though it is only now looking the book up online that I discover that in my head it is called ‘What I think about when I think about running’.
Mostly today I was thinking about the beauty of the park. I enjoyed seeing a cormorant perched upon a branch above the lake. I was also thinking about how to publicise a vacancy we have at work. We’ve advertised in the Guardian online and Charity Job, but from the last job we advertised eventually appointed someone who saw the role on Twitter. Social networks really are important! So if you know anyone who would like to manage QSA’s Down to Earth funeral advice service, based in east London, send them to www.quakersocialaction.com/vacancies.
I followed a guy for about 3/4 of the way round, he was going only marginally faster than me for the first couple of miles, but I lost a bit of pace in the third mile. I finished with a determined sprint on the final stretch and, partially blinded by the sweat in my eyes, I almost tripped over a wizard’s dog. Well, I way I saw a wizard. It was a man with a fine long silver beard a la Gandalf, with a hat (pointy?) and a long overcoat. It was quite a small dog. I greeted the wizard and his dog as I ran. Who knows when one day I might need his help?
So I got out. I ran. I will be good.
Janathon stats: 3.15 miles in 27:02. Also walking 3.5 miles in my work and nursery commute today.
Related posts
The fat girl’s guide to running downloads the Murakami book
Alastair Campbell’s review in the Guardian of What I talk about when I talk about running.
Mum reports blog on Victoria Park.
Phil Lengthorn sticks with Janathon when the going was getting tougher.
Jez Smith 
There’s not much better than running in a lovely setting is there?
It always helps!
Funny.
I wrote a post about this book a few months ago. I had it as an audiobook and tried it out on a miserable wet 10k run which involved a lap of Victoria park. I also make the same mistake about the title.
You did! Here’s the post: http://thefatgirlsguidetorunning.com/2013/10/13/what-i-think-about-when-im-running/ Thanks for sharing it, I’ll add it into the related posts!
Cheers!!!