Been missing in action?

It seems like this is the first Saturday this month that I've managed to hook up with the Running School - or if it isn't then it certainly feels like it. I've been missing the camaraderie so it felt good to rock up this morning and hook up with what turned out to be a large group. Also, for a change, Ira had handed over the reins to Mark James and so no one knew where we were headed! As it turned out Ally Pally was on the menu although not before we'd taken in some off-road and a few hills:

Once you're in Highgate there are quite a few potential routes but Mark surprised us with a back alley coming off of North Hill and then we soon got to enjoy Highgate Woods, the Parkland Walk and then almost being squashed by a bus on Alexandra Palace Way. This might have put a dampener on the whole shebang! Fortunately we survived termination to reach Queens Wood, although by this time maybe half of the original line-up had fallen away, and the traditional route back via Hampstead Lane.

Surprisingly there were a decent number of smiling faces at the end and a number of the 'missing' re-appeared to general applause. Sadly Ira was forced to abandon halfway round with an injured foot, which we surely hope improves soon, but despite this loss Mark put in a decent freshman attempt. Of course there were a number of running jokes with our 'teacher' but I like to think that we all scored top marks by the end!

Distance: 8.1 milesTime: 1h 13m 23s