London City Race

[Wendles]

The excitement is building. Great picture of Brooner and the Gherkin - is it staged or from a previous event? Will we get extra points for stockbrokers?

Anyone have unusual touristy ideas for the rest of the weekend?

[SeanC]

For the serious map geek: Try visiting Stanfords. Includes a giant London A to Z on the ground floor.

For train spotters: The Docklands light railway is driverless so you can sit in the front seat and pretend to drive.

For the romantic: Greenwich Park has the best view of London (excluding tall buildings and the wheel thingy) and there's good pubs and restaurants in Greenwich and Blackheath.

For the money conscious: Avoid spending money on a boat trip by going on the Woolwich Ferry. It's free. Though your basic problem is what's either side.

[awk]

For the romantic: Greenwich Park has the best view of London (excluding tall buildings and the wheel thingy) and there's good pubs and restaurants in Greenwich and Blackheath.

The view from Hampstead Heath is superb too, and there's an event there on Sunday.

[brooner]

I'd second the view from Primrose Hill over that from Greenwich, but it doesn't have the bonus of the observatory.

After the event, you could have a good warm down walk back towards central London past St Pauls, over Millenium Bridge to Tate Modern and along the Southbank past the Eye & then to Westminster and on towards Tate Britain - plenty of things to see on that route.

Good luck in finding any stockbrokers in the city on a saturday morning!

[Mrs H]

Anyone have unusual touristy ideas for the rest of the weekend?

Good God Wendles! Have you seen the distances?

Class Length
Men's Open 8km
Women's Open, Men's 40+ 6.5km
Women's 40+, Men's 55+ 5km
Women's 55+ 4km
Juniors 14-18 3.5km
Important: Shortest possible running distance is typically 50% longer than the course length, due to impassable obstacles.

What makes you think we'll be able to do anything else for the rest of the weekend?
I was considering hiring a wheelchair for younger Miss H if she not over her little foot op - but i think I'm the one who's going to need it!

[brooner]

these distances are likely to drop a bit (~10%) for all but the Men's Open...

[Wendles]

I was trying to do a bit of the old psychology on you there Mrs H

Thank goodness Brooner! 5k is towards the limit of my endurance these days, especially since I'll be disappearing up blind alleys and falling over Japanese tourists. Will it be giving anything away to tempt us with some of the sights we might be too shattered to enjoy en route?

Thankyou for all the suggestions of touristy things to do, much appreciated. Where is the info for this event on sunday awk? May have to change the train times!

[Ravinous]

Sunday after the City Race - alternatives to LOK Hampsted Heath District...

There is a regional event SOS are putting on Sunday at Hatfield Forest (near Stansted). I will probably be driving from Richmond (Zone 3/4) if anyone needs a lift (3 places in the back - pm me) or train to Bishops Stortford and taxi - cant be more than 5 miles??
WSX have a Regional on the SW side of the New Forest but a bit far...

Also - Permanent O Courses - LOK
Download a free map from the LOK website
http://www.londonorienteering.co.uk/doc ... p06-A4.pdf
or
http://www.londonorienteering.co.uk/doc ... OC2006.pdf

Both you can get to on the Underground.

[Knee Deep Mud!]

BKO have a district event at Burghfield Common on the Sunday. A bit closer than the WSX event.
http://www.bko.org.uk/node/406

NB Change of date from that originally published (and still displayed in the BOF fixtures list).

[awk]

these distances are likely to drop a bit (~10%) for all but the Men's Open...

That's a pity: even allowing for 50% further running, 6.5k isn't by any means overlong when comparing to the likes of Venice. Any chances of changing entries if they are significantly shorter?

[drobin]

Fabian allows entry changes. I know 'cos I done one. Thanks to Mr OO for telling me.

[rob f]

As a short course runner (at the moment) 8km+50% strikes me as a lot. If there are gonna be courses of this distance, surely short courses are needed.

[brooner]

Jeez, get a grip people. If you don't like the prescribed course distances with assigned age categories run up or run down, don't expect an individually tailored course for everyone.

[distracted]

Well said Brooner - what's the obsession with having to run in your age class at every possible opportunity? Run the course that suits you and enjoy the challenge that awaits

[Gross]

Jeez, get a grip people. If you don't like the prescribed course distances with assigned age categories run up or run down, don't expect an individually tailored course for everyone.

An approach like that is going to do nothing to help participation. As an organiser you should be prepared to offer exactly what each customer requires