GG Long Run August: Tour of the Docklands

A keen group of Goodgymmers from all over the London boroughs (strong showing from Harringay, Lambeth and Wandsworth!) ran either 10km, 16km or 26km routes around the Docklands area of East London.

Our 10km and 26km runners met up at ** Peyton & Bryne coffee shop** just down the road from the Cutty Sark (and the GG Greenwich start point), prepared for a long run on a particularly hot day. After espressos and last minute water bottle top ups, we left South London and crossed under the Greenwich Foot Tunnel to Island Gardens and Millwall Park (a key training location in running coach and Goodgymmer Ben Parkes youtube channel), and connected to beautiful Millwall Basin, part of the Isle of Dogs. After looping around the water, we jogged over to Mudchute Farm, a popular GG Greenwich task, and said "Hello" to alpacas, donkeys and goats.

Along Manchester Road, we caught our first sight of the O2 arena in North Greenwich, a location that we would be seeing a lot during our run alongside the Thames. East India Basin featured a plinth holding one of the Millenium Beacons, one of 1,000 torches built by British Gas in 1999 and lit on the turn of the Millennium. The Bow Ecology Park was our next spot, passing through Canning Town Tube Station and ending our first leg at The Crystal by Victoria Dock- classified as one of the world's greenest buildings, and a permanent exhibition of sustainability. It is also the start point for Victoria Dock parkrun.

We said "Goodbye" to our 10km runners at this point, and "Hello" to our 16km runners, using the Crystal as their starting location. We enjoyed the floral scents from the well maintained gardens in Thames Barrier Park (and picked up Patrick Luong on the way) and followed Factory Road through the former industrial riverside London (past the Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery) and over to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. The Woolwich Foot Tunnel is almost identical to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel- I have run a plenty good training run connecting the two tunnels in the past (see here for the route!). Stopped for water fill-ups in Royal Victoria Gardens, and a 100m sprint around London's tiniest running track!

The final sections of our tour follow sections 1 and 14 of the Capital Ring Walk, running under the flight path of planes taking off from London City Airport and past the UEL Sports Dock, and into Beckton District Park, appreciating the cover from surrounding trees during the hottest part of the day. Second parkrun course spotted on route, as we past the starting point for Beckton parkrun, a lovely community parkrun that never gets too busy- worth a visit! Last straight connected us all onto The Greenway, a direct link through East London to Stratford Olympic Park, passing West Ham Stadium, the View Tube and finishing our day of running at the Timber Lodge Cafe for refreshments and food.

Really impressive running, especially on such a hot day. It was really lovely to meet so many friendly Goodgym folks, and to be able show you around my local area!

GG Lambeth Trainer Mark Gilyead will be leading next months long run through South London:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-monthly-long-run-saaaf-landan