Capital Ring 5: Streatham to Wimbledon Park

 

On Wednesday I completed a long standing political task which means that I have more time and headspace to do other things such as post a little more. 

Also, to continue with Gill on our attempt to walk around London along the 78 mile Capital Ring. Our last walk around the ring was in rainy April. Since then there has been the London Mayoral election and a General election.  While we have done other walks, last Sunday was our first Capital Ring for 4 months. 

Journey to the start at Streatham Common was pretty straight forward from Forest Gate with lots of different routes and took just over an hour. 

The Capital Ring is pretty well signposted with only the occasional missing signage. There are a number of guidebooks and free websites such as Capital Ring Walk - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). I download each route onto my Ordinance Survey app which tracks you if you get lost. We use Capital Ring – Welcome to Footline Press! (colinsaunders.org.uk) as our guide book.

First interesting thing to see is a 1888 water pumping station which looks like a "Moorish Temple". A little way further at 14 Conyers Road, there is a strained glass window in a normal residential house showing a women watching a departing sailing boat. 

We walked alongside the famous open air Tooting Bec lido. Opened in 1906 and one of the largest swimming pools in Europe. We stopped off at the park café for an enjoyable outdoor cooked breakfast. 

Next point of interest (to me anyway) was passing Du Cane Court, which was described in our guide book as "one of the most elegant apartment blocks in South London, dating from the Art Deco period of the 1930s". Pretty impressive. While I could not see inside these apartments, it shows that you can have high density residential housing which looks attractive and stands the test of time. 

We stopped off for coffee and treats in Wandsworth common next to a lake. The bench next to us was dedicated to the memory of Benni & Bella Spanier, who were murdered at Auschwitz in 1944 and their daughter Ruth, who escaped via the Kindertransport to England in 1939 aged 11. 

After passing though more attractive parks and residential areas we walked past Wandsworth Prison, which is rather a grim and forbidding place. 135 executions took place at this site. The gallows were kept in working order until 1993. 

We choose to walk through Wandsworth Cemetery rather than the adjacent road which was very nice and peaceful with some interesting graves and moving inscriptions. 

Final point of interest was at number 61 (did not record which street) where there was a picture or another stained glass window of a women starting out to the street (see Facebook link for picture and other photos).

We finished at Wimbledon Park station and took train straight back home. An enjoyable 5.5 mile walk. Looking forward to walk 6. Wimbledon Park to Richmond, since rated as the "prettiest" walk in the ring. 

Will also look out on route for any wombles. 

London Marathon 2012: Never, Ever Again!

This is a picture of me this morning in Greenwich Park just before the London Marathon 2012. The calm before the storm. I did the London marathon in 2002 and swore afterwards never to do it ever again. But last year I thought "it wasn't that bad? surely its time to do another one". So I stupidly applied for a place via my employer with the Homeless Charity helping young people called "Alone in London".

The London Marathon is a great event. I would encourage everyone to take part (once) but 26.2 miles is a long, long way. Today it went okay for the first 13 miles then my legs went on industrial action and a "go slow". They refused to do what I wanted them to do. The only way I could get any speed up was by waving my arms like a cross country skier. Which didn't get
me that far.

I ran the London marathon in 2002 in 4 hours 24 minutes and the same thing happened then at the 20 mile mark. So I knew what to expect. I kept "running" (aka slow shuffle) and eventually finished 5 hours 37 minutes. Which was really slow but such is life as this is the last time I will ever run a marathon again ever! If in 2022 I say "hmmm...surely it wasn't that bad"... everyone has permission to shoot me or enrol me in the Young Conservatives ...since it was, it was :)

I simply didn't train enough long distance and I think I should have done more road running rather than footpaths.

On the plus side the weather was warm and sunny nearly all the way. The crowds of Londoner's lining the route were fantastic and they were really supportive. At Surrey Quays there was a UNISON support station where I got a free Fruit pastille from Cadet Swing. In the Isle of Dogs I met one of my fellow School Governors and her family.

Sometimes people were a little harsh on those who at the time were walking  rather than "running" but I think it was meant well.  Mind you I would have been faster if I ran/walked instead of shuffled.

It was I admit a bit embarrassing to be "speared" and then overtaken by runners dressed in Rhino costumes!  Also at the end I was running alongside someone dressed in a heavy (and must have been hot) Womble Costume. I thought that I must beat him to the finish. But he kept increasing his speed. However, he was distracted by a group of excited young female spectators and stopped to say hello to them giving me the chance to steam (slowly) past and cross the finishing line. Result!

You can still donate to "Alone in London" by clicking below or you can send me an email with a pledge. I will keep this open for the next couple of weeks.