Ah Christmas. It’s just a day. Except in London where parties with colleagues, friends, family, yogis, the gym lot and more means it starts 1 December. With a run streak to complete, we’ve had to be pretty organised and creative to keep our mojos and not lose all hope during silly season. I set out how we’ve made it interesting to date, and what our plan for the day itself is!
 |
| Christmas running rocks |
Christmas Party Day
 |
| Scoping out the Christmas party venue |
With December in full swing, we started to plan a series of festive runs. The first hurdle to overcome was how to go running on Christmas party day. Now Christmas party day in our office is a big deal. Our party is black tie event at a posh central London hotel and people go all out with the nail technician and hairdresser coming in to doll everyone up.
 |
| Charles Dickens Museum festive post box |
Christmas Party day also happened to fall on day 50 of our challenge. Louise and I took the opportunity to celebrate this milestone by inviting pretty much everyone in the office we have ever seen in exercise clothes, out with us for a run. We had a (small) group of volunteers. Until the day grew closer and they slowly dropped off. On the day itself, we were back where we started, with the two of us going for a run!
To keep with the theme, we ran to the Christmas Party venue. Just so we knew where we had to go later of course. Via the Charles Dickens Museum which has a post box covered in quotes from A Christmas Carol.
Christmas Lights Run
 |
| Somerset House was a highlight of the tour |
Lou and I work in central London, amidst all the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street shopping. Although busy, this has the benefit of being amongst some of the most Instagrammed Christmas lights in the world. And what better way of seeing them all than by running!
Our first stop was Somerset House for the ice rink and Fortnum and Mason Christmas tree. Christmas rating 5/5 a strong start. Then along the Strand to Covent Garden with some giant baubles and a lovely tree meant another strong Christmas area. Across the road to Trafalgar Square, the less said about that the better, a very sorry looking tree.
 |
| Lou having her brekkie at Tiffanys! Opposite her favourite window, Ralph Lauren |
We then went through St James’s to Piccadilly where we stocked up on more Fortnum and Mason Christmas décor, before a walk/jog through the gorgeous Burlington Arcade; security there didn’t look too happy about us running there.
The other side of the Arcade brought us on to Bond Street where we saw some rather glamourous peacock lights, Louise had her breakfast at Tiffany’s and we checked out Ralph Lauren's and Cartier’s Christmas window, which was her favourite spot.
On the way to Berkeley Square we passed the very colourful lights at Stella McCartney, before making our way, via an alleyway that I thought looked cute, but Lou thought looked scary, to Claridges for their beautiful entrance display. South Molton Street was good but the very poor jumping shots do not do it justice, and then a quick nip down Lancashire Court, before making our way to Regent Street.
 |
| The entrance to Claridges, one of the most festive spots in London, in Lydia's opinion. |
 |
| Oxford Street lights |
Regent Street was by far the busiest leg of the tour, when Lou and I gave up running temporarily and invented a weird walk/run/side shuffle move. Beautiful lights mind you. Although they were nothing on Carnaby Street’s lights. Our favourite on the route so far, although not traditionally Christmasssy given they have a tropical/carnival theme this year. A highlight for Lou.
We crossed Oxford Street to make our way up to Goodge Street where we finished our tour.
6.5 KM in an hour wasn’t the fastest or longest run we’ve ever done, but certainly the brightest!
You can see the route we took on Map My Run, here.
 |
| The bauble of Goodge Street. Go visit! |
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Boxing Day
We’re not together over Christmas, so are making separate plans to run on these days. I have managed to convince my brother to come running with me on Christmas Eve, but only for a mile. My stepdad is in training to come out with me on Christmas Day morning, which should be fun. And Boxing Day I will be waking up at my mother-in-law’s and am planning a route to a local park from there.
Louise is hoping to enlist Thursday morning running friend Wendy to do Parkrun or their own festive local route on Christmas Day.
What are your plans for Christmas Day running? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Most importantly, it feels really good to run before your Christmas party. That glass of wine is well earned after expending some energy. I'm mostly hoping Mum has bought enough potatoes to feed me after all this energy I'm using.
To donate to FORWARD this Christmas, please visit our Justgiving page here. It would make our Christmas!
Keep track of our progress across social media with #100daysofrunningforward
Keep track of our progress across social media with #100daysofrunningforward
Comments
Post a Comment