Long running routes to/from East Dulwich

[katanita]

Any runners out there that can suggest good routes about 12 miles long to or from here? Training for an imminent half marathon and struggling to find a route that is nice, fairly flat, and is ideally circular (but doesn't have to be).

Was wondering about starting from Richmond Park and running back, maybe through Wimbledon Common, but I don't know it well, especially where to go after that point. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[copleston_charlie]

You can find other people's routes on Runkeeper, eg, this one, http://runkeeper.com/user/Gulfstream/route/503696

Personally, when training for a half mara I found the addition of some hills really useful in terms of getting some more intensity in. So running from East Dulwich > Dulwich Park > College Road to the top of the hill at Crystal Palace. Then adding in a couple of laps around the park there, down to Sydenham, up Kirkdale then across Dartmouth Road to Forest Hill, then over to Honor Oak and round the cemeteries or round Peckham Rye Park. Found that a nice way of getting the miles in with lots of it away from traffic with few stops at junctions etc required.

What has annoyed me with other routes is the stopping/starting effect, so found this great for near continuous running. Plus, if you've been training with hills involved, it makes the relative flat of the course you actually run seem a lot easier so you can up the pace, giving you a nice psychological boost!

[Pickle]

Agree with the previous poster - when marathon training in the past I've enjoying half marathon distance runs by staying relatively local.

Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, follow cycle routes from Forest Hill to Honor Oak (or continue through to Lewisham), Nunhead - have a look on a route planner site, it's quite easy to clock up a long distance using those key locations. Lots of it quite leafy and traffic free too, which is nice.

[katanita]

Thanks both. I agree about the hills, I was including hills on previous runs, but have developed a glute issue that is seriously exacerbated by running uphill (and isn't going to be easily fixed before race day) so I don't think I'd make it round any of those routes without a lot of pain! Hence looking for flat routes.

Will have a look at runkeeper routes though, cheers.

[Earl Aelfheah]

I used to run Bellenden Road, up the surrey canal path through Bermondsey Spa to the river at Shad Thames, over Tower Bridge, St Catherine's docks and onto the Regents Canal. You could follow the canal path as long as you like, up to Regents park, or loop back at Victoria Park.

[Pickle]

Oh, that's a shame - best to stay flat then! Rahrahrah's suggestion is a good one, the canal paths are a nice run. This is making me want to get back to distance running :)

[katanita]

Thanks Rahrahrah! Definitely going to try that one, it looks like exactly what I was after. Is 12 miles to Kings Cross along that route, so can just get the 63 back, perfect.

[Ant]

Personally I'd rather get the bus out then run back - avoids having to sit there all sweaty.

[katanita]

Tried this on Sunday, was a great route, despite a couple of diversions where I took a wrong turn.

It was a bit grim coming back from Kings Cross all cold and sweaty, but I have a long and involved warm up to avoid injury flare ups (that I'm completely paranoid about!) and thought I'd be better doing that at home and starting right away, rather than trying to do this on the side of the canal. Considering trying it the other way around next week though.