It was Week 4 - Session 1 for LSE's Summer School Run Club. LSE are hosting these Wednesday night runs across the summer for students. This week we had 11 lovely runners run 9km.

After introductions and a warm up in Lincoln's Inn Fields, we headed off on our sightseeing run. This first took us down to the river, past Temple and Embankment Station. Then we diverted up to Trafalgar Square to see Nelson's Column and round to onto The Mall where everyone focused on good arm technique. We did some shuttle runs here using the trees as markers. The guys sprinted out to the first tree and jogged back, repeating this to the 2nd and 3rd tree. This gave the group time to regroup.

Then we jogged round to Buckingham Palace and took a group photo. From then we skirted back around the other side of St James Park up towards Churchill's War Rooms. Whilst we waited for some of the runners here - we the guys played a game of 'it'.

Next, we ran on to Parliament Square to see the Churchill statue & Westmister Abbey, where the royals famously get married.

Following on from this, we battled our way over Westminster Bridge through the throngs of people to reach the Sea Life London Aquarium. Then we passed by the London Eye and on to the Southbank. It quietened down after this point, so going past the Oxo tower and Tate Modern was a lot easier to navigate. We used the Millennium Bridge to cross back over the river. This gave us another great view of the Thames and St Paul's Cathedral. We ran down the river until we reached Blackfriars (adding some sprints here) and then we went up on to the road. Whilst half the group waited at the traffic lights - we used the street furniture to work out arms and legs.

The last leg was along the river up to Temple Station. We used the hill here to practice hill techniques - using their arm swing for momentum, high knees and head ups.

We finished off with much needed stretches by the union amougst the people having graduation photos. Great effort and running from everyone.

It was a cloud start to Week 3 of LSE's Summer School Run Club - a welcome relief from the blazing sun. LSE have organised these Wednesday night runs across the summer for the students attending the LSE Summer school. This week we had 5 speedy runners turn up and run 10.6km around the Thames.

We started off the night with a dynamic warm up in Lincoln's Inn Fields before heading off on our long run. Our route first us straight down to the river over the Strand and down to Temple station. From here we ran left down the river passed Blackfiars Station, Bank, St Pauls and lots of people drink outside of pubs! The tower of London was our turning point and great opportunity for a group photo. We ran all the way around the tower of London and onto London Bridge. Just after Tower Bridge we stopped to chat to 'I Move Relay' outside City Hall - who are trying to break a World Record by having a continuous relay for 30 days.

From here we ran up to London Bridge (sprinting up the two flights of steps to the road and then jogging down to the Francis Drake's ship replica on the other side of the road. On from here we weaved our way through the crowds passed the Globe & Tate Modern, under the Oxo tower and then passed the National theatre and Southbank Centre. The crowds got thicker as we nagivated passed the London eye and Aquarium. Next, we hopped up onto Westmister Bridge to return to the north side of the river for our last leg. This took us down the Embankment passed the station and then Somerset House. After this we did some hill sprinting up towards the Strand.

From here we headed up to LSE, where we finished off with some cool down stretches.

Great, strong running from the whole group!

Lovely stuff.

I was a warm start to Week 2 of LSE's Summer School Run Club. LSE have organised these Wednesday night runs across the summer for the students attending the LSE Summer school. This week we had 8 lovely runners turn up and run a whopping 11.1km (6.90miles for those Mile minded.) around London. Our runners this week had travelled from China, India, Germany, Hong Kong and America.

We started off the night with a dynamic warm up in Lincoln's Inn Fields before heading off on our long run. Our route first took us over the Stand onto Waterloo Bridge. We had wanted to go down onto the river by Embankment here, but the stairs were blocked off so we ran over the bridge to Southbank instead. Dodging the pedestrians kept us on our toes until we'd passed the London Eye and Aquarium. Here we headed back over the river to Parliament Square. From here we went on to reach St James Park. This park has a nice straight section along the side, so we used this bit to practice relaxing our shoulders enabling our arms swing.

At Bucking Palace we stopped for a group photo and saw one of the royals leave the Palace in a police escort. After this, we practiced leaning from the ankles when we ran up the side of Green Park. At The top of Green Park we left Rachel to have a rest whilst the rest of us ran over to Hyde Park. This route took us up past the rose garden and along the Serpentine on our right, the over the bridge (giving us a great view of The Mastaba, art piece by Christo). Whilst in Hyde Park we added a bit of endurance for the front runners. Every time the whistle blew they had to turnaround and sprint to the back of the group.

Once we were back at Green Park we picked up Rachel and headed towards Piccadilly - then we had to traversed through the busy crowds in Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Then finally it was on to the last leg up Long Arch Road past Covent Garden and back to base.

Great effort from all on a very warm and long run.