The Half Monty, A Long Lunchtime Run

I went out with Martin and Paul today. Three more evenly paced guys you are unlikely to ever find.

We did the half monty today, regents canal then around Victoria Park.

I talked myself round the first 5 miles then gave up as the pace took it's toll.

We were each taking a spell in the lead and rotating nicely all bunched up in our little group of three.

On the way out we saw a surprised looking Mr Scrutton furtively tanking it along the canal in the opposite direction, we gave him a cheer and a round of applause which made him smile.

As we came out of the park Ian Lockett was zooming along with two of his elite buddies again going the other way. We saw another couple of rockets and Paul commented on how this was our home turf. Nice feeling.

I shouted a Jean-Marc style "oi" at the tunnel to shift a walker and lucky I did as a bike stopped for us and then there was an almighty screeching of brakes from the tunnel as the biker met the walker.

Some guy just in front stopped running and was walking along as we went past on both sides. I noticed he had earphones in so I shouted a friendly "coming through!" Just as we drew level. The poor guy jumped out of his skin and screamed, the saw the funny side and shouted after us "Sorry boys, got a stitch!".

By this time we were on the last section of the canal and Paul wanted to know who decided we were going to speed up. Somehow that section of canal just inspires speed. Muscle memory, mind games, something like that. We instantly slowed down to something more maintainable and concentrated on not stopping at the end of the canal. Keep going was the mantra.

Then Martin wanted the time of day and announced he had a meeting at 1:30 and as it was 1:12 the conversation ended as the pace ramped and we motored back to the office.

Fantastic team effort, each one of us took time at the front and not a word was said it just happened. Speed home was great and as I forgot to press start until the canal all I know is that we got from the canal start and back to that point in exactly 45mins and we were out for about an hour. Hoping Paul has some stats from his foot pod thingy.

Top run with two top blokes. Nice one, thanks guys.