16 runners from the London School of Economics joined Area Activator Simon for lovely sightseeing run around Central London this evening.

We started with a traditional Goodgym count off outside the LSE Student Union in Holborn- each member of our team recited their name, number and whether they owned any pets. Most popular animals were dogs 🐕 and rabbits 🐰 (with a few cats 🐈 , fish 🐟 and tortoises 🐢 in the mix too!). From here, we jogged together towards Lincoln's Inn Fields for a group warm up with additional dynamic stretches to raise the heart rate- ready for about of hour of running.

We started our journey by running down Bell Yard (passing The Seven Stars pub, a tiny boozer for lawyers dating back to 1602), and on to Middle Temple Lane, an Elizabethan terrace that survived the Great Fire of London. This cobbled slope has been used as a filming location for films like Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare in Love, A Christmas Carol and Mary Poppins Returns, due to its unique period centric appearance. Turning left at the Thames, we ran together along the Embankment and though Victoria Embankment Gardens, passing multiple war memorials and green public spaces on route.

After jogging past Somerset House, we turning towards the Cabinet Rooms and on to Horse Guards Parade, a beautiful arch leading to Green Park. Following the Serpentine (a lake running through the Royal Parks), we enjoyed some bird watching on route (loads of ducks, swans, geese, herons and even friendly parakeets hanging out with humans in the park). The main pathway took us to our official half way point- Buckingham Palace!

Buckingham Palace is best known as the administrative HQ of the British monarchy, and residence for the Royal Family. It was also the primary hub for the recent Royal Jubilee celebrations, a national holiday dedicated to the rare occurrence of a monarch's 90th birthday. You can also witness the "changing of the guard" in the courtyard.

On our return trip, we made our way down "The Mall", a long straight avenue best known as the finishing section of the London Marathon. We ran our original route back to the Embankment, and made an alternative turn back to Aldwych and Covent Garden by climbing up the slope on Savoy Street (by the super famous Savoy Hotel- featured in the iconic Bob Dylan video for "Subterranean Homesick Blues"). After a few wiggles down parallel streets, we arrived back at the Saw Swee Hock Building after covering almost 5 miles of consistent running between us. Great work everyone!

Here is the Strava data I recorded from the run:

https://strava.app.link/BWUVos2tcsb

We will be back again, same time, same place, next week. See you then!