Deer oh deer!

I'm constantly surprised by how green London is. I shouldn't be considering I've lived here for 17 years but it still amazes me that I can be running past a housing estate one minute and be surrounded by the most delightful flora and fauna the next.

On Sunday I had a 15 mile run ahead of me. A good distance. Long enough to give a work out but not too long to exhaust me.

I planned a route to take me down to Richmond and through the park and back along the Thames to home. The weather was perfect. Overcast, not much wind and not too hot. I suppose at 6am it's never too hot but it stayed cool for the next couple of hours and I just avoided a downpour of rain that has hit London for the last week or so.

I also remembered to take my iPhone with me so stopped and took some snaps.

View from Richmond Bridge

After crossing the bridge at Richmond I ran up the hill and into Richmond Park. I love Richmond Park, it's beautiful and has trails and paths that criss cross the entire park but it isn't flat and that's what's so great about it. Variety.

Miles of greenery in Richmond Park. The Shard is visible just in the distance

Sitting in the long grass next to the path were some deer. They blend in so well I almost missed them. Almost. The stags have magnificent antlers at this time of year although I don't think rutting season is on us at the moment.

A stag in the grass

Herd of deer? Of course I have!

One thing you can't avoid in Richmond Park are the MAMILs. Cycling around and around in all the latest gear and high spec bicycles. Even though I cycle to work every day and have cycled solo from Land's End to John O'Groats (see my other blog from 2012: http://mikelejog2012.blogspot.co.uk/) I have no interest in cycling for fun or fitness. Don't get me wrong, I love cycling to work and doing LEJOG (as it is known) was one of the most pleasurable and proud things I've ever done but I don't see the appeal of cycling as a fitness pastime. Running always wins for me.

Came out of Richmond Park and then ran back along the Thames to home. Just as the rain started to empty out of the skies. Pretty good timing.

View of the Thames from south end of Chiswick Bridge

Here's the run in total, if you look at the pace charts then you can see how often and where I stopped to take photos:

My mid week running has been going well. I'm hitting the paces and finishing strong. Hopefully this is a good sign for the next ten weeks.

Next Sunday I'm running 16 miles. I think I'll head into London and through Hyde Park down towards the museum area. I ran the same route back in March and really enjoyed it. And that is the key word. Enjoy. If you can do that then you can run forever.