My colleague showed me a lovely running route in the City! Feeling so blessed!

[JaoJao]

Many of you who know me/follow me... know how much I have been worrying about the upcoming shorter days and finding a decent running schedule which avoids running in the dark. Well... today, a very helpful and nice colleague offered to take me out for a wander at lunchtime and show me a canal route for runners! To be fair to him, he has been wanting to show me for some time, but I always think of the canal near my house (very narrow paths and isolated) and told him I feel unsafe running near canals.

Anyway, when he showed me the route today I was gobsmacked how gorgeous and pleasant it was! And there were many runners this lunchtime out enjoying it! I couldn't thank him enough, it's a good 3-4k circuit and I cannot wait to try it out next week over a lunchtime!

This means I can run in daylight hours, I can enjoy new surroundings, a change of scenery and keep to my JuJu plan in the coming weeks. I felt so blessed today that I have people looking out for me, this really means a lot. I have promised my colleague to take him out next week for a custard tart as a thank you!

Running route: (City of London, start close to St Katherine's Docks) along Spirit Quay, through Wapping Woods, around the Shadwell Basin dock and back again!

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Isn't it lovely when someone does something really nice for you. It just makes your day 😊😊

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Yes it makes me really emotional when people do nice things for me

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

It just reminds us there are a lot of nice people. I think a big percentage are on here 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Sounds super!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Super duper! So happy OldFloss xx

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to JaoJao]

It is great when folk take time to do a kindness....it may be a small thing, but the benefits are huge x

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I will make sure I say thank you properly in return 👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Sounds a good running route, keep to Ju Ju's plan, running on that route will help you get to the goal of running a 10K.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I'm determined to complete JuJu, but want to do it as safely as possible the next 4 weeks

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

👍

[Coddfish Graduate10]

I think it’s a safe route based on having previously had meetings around that area (but before I was a runner!).

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Do you run at lunchtimes?

[Coddfish Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

I am retired now so am free to run in the mornings. I didn’t run when I was a worker, retirement spurred me into sorting myself out a bit.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Perfect. What a great colleague. 👏👏👏

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Makes all the difference at work to have nice colleagues you build good rapport with.

[Cosmo501]

Wonderful! So nice to discover hidden corners of a city whether running or not 😊

I used to love wandering around those sections of canals, and along and inland to Victoria Park.

Not based in that area now though. Hope you enjoy your new discovery!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Cosmo501]

You hit the nail on the head, it was the discovery that gave me most pleasure x

[roseabi]

How lovely! xxx

[Kevtrev Graduate10]

I’m glad someone has shown you that nice running route. It just shows you how many nice and kind people they are enjoy your new run at lunchtime JaoJao and take in your surroundings you will feel great happy running 😉👍🤗XX

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Kevtrev]

Why don’t you join me one time Kev?

[Kevtrev Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

I would love too JaoJao but London is a long way away maybe one time I go travelling to London I probably will do parkrun with you that would be great no promises though but I am hoping to one day XX

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Kevtrev]

Oops, I thought you were around London for some reason, sure I heard you say you did Parkrun at Hyde Park! I must be getting mixed up. Yes I would like to meet

[Kevtrev Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Yes I run at Hyde park in Tameside Manchester 😂 yes I would like to meet you too 😉XX

[mrrun Graduate10]

Anything around the South Bank and north is well lit and safe. I often do a lap from Battersea Park over to St Paul's via Parliament and then over to Tate and back.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

Oh those sound really nice too

[Lynsh]

Brilliant Jao. Enjoy the change of scenery on the new route. I too have been thinking about running in the dark but will soon be agile working at home two days a week so intend to run at lunchtimes. Win /win! xx

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Lynsh]

Working from home definitely offers flexibility for running. I can’t wait to hear of your running schedule when you get your agile working sorted

[Lynsh in reply to JaoJao]

I'll keep you posted x

[Puppy-love]

What a lovely thing for your colleague to do. One of those lunch time runners could be my son. He’s the good looking one. 😊😊 I do love London’s canals. I used to live near Regent’s canal and I really enjoyed introducing so many people to the joys of walking there. Even many Londoners don’t know the canals. Enjoy. I’m a bit jealous.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Puppy-love]

Hey Puppy-love, you can tell your son to look out for me, I’m the good looking one 😉 My problem is I don’t discover places unless other people mention it.

[backintime Graduate10]

I did all my London running next to the Thames in Greenwich. It was really nice, well maintained and although the river at that end is not picture perfect it really is the bit I grew up near and it felt like home : )

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Ahhhh backintime I bet this is bringing back memories for you, what is your running route like at the moment?

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Riverside but a different river altogether...so very different in looks and smell...no seagulls...lol

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

So great that you have solved your dilemma. I couldn’t run in my lunch break - I get too sweaty and that wouldn’t be a good look (and other things😂) in the afternoon!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Hi Sandie, does your office have showers? Most London offices tend to have these, the big offices at least. There are showers on every floor at my work including a gym downstairs, it’s the only reason I am even considering running at lunchtimes, I would not want to go back to my desk all hot and sweaty, no no no!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Unfortunately not and I couldn’t shower, change and dry my hair in the time available anyway 😂 I’m lucky though as I now only work 2 days a week so can fit my runs in during daylight on my non working days!