Running Uphill

Saturday it was time for a long run, but I didn’t fancy a local one. I was feeling a call, and headed for the ‘Parkland Walk’: a secret little way along an old disused railway line from Finsbury Park to Highgate, then from there North to Alexandra Palace.

I took the bus to Finsbury Park Station, where I needed to buy a train ticket. I’m off to Wiltshire this week. Of course I’d forgotten it was match day. People in the queue were not pleased with me when I contributed to my server getting a lesson in how to select designated seats. Ah well, since I’ll be travelling with my cat, it would hopefully make things a lot easier on the day, and when I looked at my watch it looked like it actually only took about 5 minutes. Yeah right. I’ve since found she managed to sell me 2 tickets starting in London. A mess to sort out tomorrow…

I actually ran the walk of course, and it was just what I needed. Gradually uphill all the way it challenged me a little bit. I got to stop and explore a little on the way, as the route takes you through Highgate Wood and to Muswell Hill. Then I spent a bit wandering around Alexandra Palace, mostly on the outside.

Contemplating the way back was a little scary, as dark was threatening so there was no way I’d go back along the walk, and the alternative offered hills. No railway embankments and cuttings. In fact I surprised myself by taking Crouch Hill in my stride, and found myself back in Finsbury Park, now lightly but significantly populated by drunken hoards. I popped into The Madeira Star for a fishcake, but found it a less pleasant place to be. Not many in, but those that were seemed depressed and worse the wear. No fault of the venue, but remind me not to go to Finsbury on a match day… I was feeling OK, I didn’t fancy the bus… so I headed on home on foot. I stopped off in Tesco’s which turned out to be a mistake as I lost my ‘groove’ and staggered on after that. Still I picked up some books and videos which some kind person had deliberately left at a bus stop (I’ll freecycle them when I’m done). Checked my distance online and it totalled 11 miles. I only meant to do 10 and with the hills as well, I’m pleased.