Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, Chingford to Forest Gate Walk

Off message but on Sunday, Gill and I took the magic train from Wanstead Park station to Chingford (change at Walthamstow Queens Road then walk to nearby Walthamstow Central to catch the connection for Chingford). It only took just over 30 minutes but we were lucky with connection. 

We then had lunch at the Royal Forest Hotel next to Queen Elizabeth Hunting lodge then walked back to Forest Gate, largely along the the Epping Forest Centenary walk (see below). The full walk is Newham to Epping. 

A lovely walk despite the mud and occasional light drizzle. The map says 6.2 miles but it felt longer due to the mud. Gill had wellies and I thankfully had gaiter's over my Brasher boots. 

Epping Forest is an incredible green lung for East London. On this walk it is surrounded on both sides by housing and you have to cross some roads but you overwhelmingly walk through magnificent woods, heathland and lakes. 

Recommended if you want to work off some Xmas cheer this holiday (or give yourself an appetite for more indulgences). 

I will post further photos and comments on Facebook

London Marathon 2012 Wk 12: To Warren pond and back

According to the training programme I had to either enter a half marathon race or run 13 miles as fast as I can. I couldn't find a race this weekend so decided to make my own run. The 15 mile Epping Forest Centenary Walk starts nearby to where I live. Warren pond is about half way. So I thought I would run there and back. I had a running backpack with extra juice, clothing, phone and money.  I started off after I finished my Council Surgery. The weather was

fantastic. Blue skies and winter sunshine.

I still got lost in a couple of times in Leyton flats. But managed to find my way to the reservoir and across the foot bridge over the North Circular. Then shortly after the Rodney "Gipsy" Smith memorial I got lost again and ended up in Woodford Green. I managed eventually to get back on track and reached Warren pond (see picture) which is right next to Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge where I started last week's run. By coincidence there was a cross country run taking place organised by the local running club Orion Harriers. I turned back home towards Forest Gate.  I got lost again in Hatch Grove and came to a complete halt and had to backtrack. Eventually finding Highams Park lake and getting back on track. I got lost for the last time after the reservoir.

After running along the A104 for a while I managed to cross the road and find a path back to the Centenary Walk.  At around this point I was running on empty. My legs stopped doing what I wanted them to do and every step was pretty sore and painful. I remembered why I hadn't done a marathon since 2002. I slowed right down to a very simple jog and managed to get myself home.  There and back took about 2 hours 50 minutes. I got lost a couple of times which did not help. I did a 10 minutes walk/job/stretch in the beginning and at the end a 10 minute walk cool down. so I think that I did 14 odd miles cross country in about 2hrs: 30 minutes. Which is not great but not bad at this stage of the programme.  After a quick shower and change I hobbled over to the West Ham Scouts to support their traditional Pensioner "Christmas" Dinner and Show. 

I am running the London marathon in April using the official advanced training programme and will be raising funds for Homeless Youth charity "Alone in London". Click here to sponsor me.