Dancing At Lunacy

My Event #406, location #112

The newest baby in London, this one has fantastic views of the river, and circumnavigates the iconic O2 arena, formerly the Millennium Dome.

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/greenwichpeninsula/

Access:

Public transport is pretty good across London, even early on a Saturday morning, and even with disruption on the Tube! You can get to North Greenwich on the Jubilee line, but since it wasn’t running that weekend I caught the 188 bus from Aldwych. It takes an hour so give yourself time. I find the City Mapper app invaluable in situations like these.

Crowd:

I was expecting huge numbers as many runners like to complete their Londone status, and the first few weeks had seen 600-900 finishers. But it was a bitterly cold morning and I was one of only 360 hardy souls. There were a few who joined me on the bus, and when we alighted at North Greenwich we were able to spot many others in cow cowells, alphabet sweatshirts, and milestone Tees. We dutifully and patiently queued to have the compulsory photo by the pop up sign. And gave an enthusiastic round of applause to those doing their first ever parkrun.

Shortly after my visit, neighbouring Victoria Dock announced that it was suspended indefinitely, so a lot of their regulars will no doubt cross the Thames to this one instead.

Gear:

I was woefully underdressed, missing my gloves most of all! And very glad of my cow bobble hat. Road shoes recommended.

Course:

There’s an out and back, then a longer out and back, so a pretty strict “keep left” instruction is reiterated frequently. It’s dead flat, all on concrete, but the sharp 180 degree turns at each of the turnaround points need a bit of slowing of pace.

There are lots of large outdoor works of art along the route, which is one of only a few that crosses the Greenwich Meridian, meaning you are running in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The views of the London skyline are fantastic, and you have the cable car and planes overhead.

Such big crowds and a narrow course mean a very long finish funnel, created with a lot of yellow string.

Time:

I was jeffing, and stopping for photos, so I was pleased enough with a time of 46 minutes in position 344. And lookit, I completed the Staying Alive challenge, that I hadn’t even been aiming for!

And the rest:

I was in town for Paddington the Musical, which is astoundingly good – see it if you can, but it’s heavily sold out, and eye wateringly expensive. But I also got to see my daughter’s new place, which is handily a stone’s throw from here, so I may well revisit in the near future.

All my parkruns:

NI (and other) parkruns: summary list

Filed under: London, Parkrun, running | Tagged: parkrun, parkrun tourism |