Urban running in London, the last two days

Something is working so good with my nutrition. I can feel it. For the third time in the last week I have been running very early in the morning, before breakfast. I've been pushing a bit and never felt tired. It must have been the oatmeal or the vegetarian diet of the last few days mainly based on peas and beans . Unfortunately, I cannot cook here, but I found a nice corner of fresh salads and vegetarian delicacies at the Sainsbury's. I've also found the same brand of oatmeal I was used to eat when I was living here some years ago. 

I'm taking glucosamine as food supplement since 12 days, but I don't think all the energy is coming from there. Glucosamine is an amino sugar marketed to support the structure and function of joints and the marketing is targeted to people suffering from osteoarthritis. Fortunately I'm not affected by any joint related disease. I started taking it after running 32 miles, after which I was experiencing some pain from a potentially dangerous stress fracture. Some rest and glucosamine apparently solved the problem. If extra energy is a side effect of such a medication, well, good for me :) even though I really don’t think so.

Yesterday's run was fun. I've been running again to Hyde park and decided to make a running trip to Buckingham Palace. I would have had no time to go there in the afternoon. Hence, I had to kill two birds with one stone. 

It was dark as night, except that it was 6 am and I was already in Oxford street, approaching Marble arch. When I run on the same course I feel more relaxed and concentrate on my running. After crossing the bridge on the Serpentine I met a girl running at an interesting pace to join her. Thing is that she was carrying one of these running backpacks used by ultra runners during self-supported races.

"Are you carrying breakfast for us?” I shouted.

She laughed and almost stopped running. I understood why she was reacting quite impulsively to my joke: it was quite dark, we were alone in a park, in London city. Not the most comfortable setting indeed.

We started talking about our hobbies and our own motivations to running so early. I honestly consider myself a freak, doing what I do. But Kelly was not a person we can consider “normal”, if normal had a meaning. She was actually running to her work. She said that she was working in the financial market for an investment banking firm and she was heading to the City. The backpack was her mean to carry fresh and clean clothes; her legs were her only transport mean. I found that quite normal even though she was doing something objectively cool and worth mentioning.

We ran together for about 6 km as I had no specific destination. Everything was so smooth. We were talking the whole time and pacing around 4’: 30” per km (miles?) When she had to turn towards the City I decided to set my gps back to start, since I had been running for 16 km already.

I suddenly found myself into St. James’s park. I had one of this old memories of London that reminded me that Buckingham Palace should have been quite close. After less than five minutes I saw the wonderful building and the gate, and some guards. Still no tourists, just londoners going to work. 

How about ringing the buzzer of Elizabeth and propose a tea at 5pm?

Turns out, there’s no such buzzer.

Only back in the hotel I could see that I had been running for 23 km.