Running to the Docks

So last week I went to the royal docks- well that's pretty ordinary, no idea why you decided to mention it as a post

Well guys, I ran there.

I knew the course roughly via barking road until you need to turn towards Newham University Hospital, from there its straight until you get to Prince Regent DLR and then a right and about 10minutes will you get you to Royal Victoria DLR. It's a simple route, but I did get lost at the T-junction towards Custom House or Eastham, luckily I had my phone on hand to guide me. 

The route was easy enough, I have ran to Plaistow a couple of times, so that was familiar, from then, it was touch and go. However with such a long route you do need pitstops. My pitstop was Newham University Hospital, they have a toilet and a prayer room, what more could you ask for? Plus it was Sunday, so it was practically empty!But other pitstops could be Westfield, from Plaistow you just follow it round, but that would be a detour from the route so I found the Hospital to be on the way and less time consuming. Or you could, carry a running bag and have water etc. on hand, do wudhu and pray in the park, as for toilets, libraries, hopsitals, and sometimes shops will allow you (depends on the owner really)

Now you might wonder, why on earth did I want to run to Royal Docks? Well theres a few reasons. Firstly, as I havent raised enough for my half-marathon I cant attend it, so I wanted to do my own half-marathon (the total was 20km= about 12miles) secondly, I love any area with water, I may just run to all of the docks within reasonable distance! Lastly I wanted to spend the day running and see if I could actually do it, at first it was just a unfathomable idea and then I thought, hey why can't I do it?! I love to challenge myself, especially in running. And if you read my previous posts, you'd know I like the adventure and the unknown, which this journey gave me.

So I left the house at 12, after waking up at around 10.30am, ate breakfast, got ready, and left. To be honest, I didn't overthink it, I just thought, let's do it. And that, I did. I had on me my running belt which had my MP3 player and my phone inside. In my pockets, a £2 coin, Vaseline and a chocolate macaroon. 

I was wearing my headcap and hat, a polar neck with my red windbreaker and a jumper around my waist. On my legs I had my waterproof trousers (I just prefer waterproof trousers, the weather forecast was sunny) and of course my running trainers. 

It took about an hour before I stopped, I had a snack, which I packed in my running belt ( a chocolate macaroon) had that, just relaxed then headed to the nearest Tesco (I had £2 on me) and bought a fruit shoot, I drank some and walked to the Hospital, then prayed there and used the toilet. I left my juice bottle in the prayer room, so I could collect it on the way back ( a treat for myself).

Then I headed back out with my MP3 this time, (I had it on me, incase I wanted to listen to it, I used it for about half an hour, come on it was a helluva long journey, give me a break) after getting lost, and feeling far too hot, I found the docks and sat down looking at the water. Then I went to the nearest Tesco (again!) and bought some sweets, after having one or two sweets, (I think I had about eight) I went back towards the Hospital, collected my drink, went to the toilet again (just in case) prayed, and headed back out. 

I had the sweets on the way back and was bombarded with calls, (I never really told anyone about my long journey, I think they were clueless as to why I was gone the whole day, usually I only take about an hour)I came home exhausted.

After about an hour at home, I felt fine! And I didn't even feel like I had ran about 12miles. I returned home at around 5pm, the pitstops, walking etc. delayed the journey however they were definitely necessary.

There it is, hope you liked it!