Runnin' London

Early on a crisp, October Sunday morning, when the roundabouts and streets of London were blissfully devoid of heavy traffic, the E Streeters took to the roadways on moderately-fleet feet to take in the local sights on a whirlwind 8-mile run that crisscrossed many of the major tourist stops, as well as a few off the beaten path.

Before we got started though, Andrew needed to channel his inner Who for a windmill riff outside the Hard Rock Cafe, because you know, when in London....

With all the miles we runners log, we frequently experience problems with nagging plantar fasciitis, a foot malady often attributed to issues with our arches.

But I don't believe the Wellington Arch is the arch in question.

Shameless plug alert: Over at the gates of Buckingham Palace, I'm rocking the product placement with a Middlesex Community College Health and Wellness tee.  More product placement to come

There has to be some kind of security alert needed when these three characters gather at the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Apparently, there is.  This is us hastily making our retreat before the Royal Guard is on to us.

A quick stair workout to the Victoria Memorial

Royal pains.

The Royal Family

One of the cooler moments of the run - of which there were many - included running straight down the middle of a closed-to-traffic Mall, alongside St. James's Park

Heading over to Trafalgar Square, Barry and I were given the finger

Andrew meanwhile, was doing his best Lion in Winter, or at least October.

Not the Eye of Sauron, but no less impressive

Andrew and I recreating our best Dalek Invasion of Earth pose on the Westminster Bridge for all our fellow Whovians at home and abroad

Barry loves this view!

Love that Dirty Water!

Shameless product placement Part II

Abbey Run

Through Downing Street and the heart of Parliament, heading back to the hotel through St. James's Park

Stopping long enough to honor the guard

Andrew ran afoul of the local peasants in Hyde Park

The Boy Who Refused to Grow Up - Peter Pan, not Andrew

Post-run, it was back to Baker Street for some quick lunch before leaving town, giving Andrew the opportunity to rock his Litogram Sherlock Holmes tee-shirt in the detective's back yard.

Baker Street - where even the pizza parlors pay homage to the Great Detective

The game is afoot

And finally, for all of those worrying about me being cut off from my favorite java in England, fret no more.  I made sure to patronize the local Dunkin's, quite possibly the ONLY Dunkins in London.  Oddly enough, they sell mugs inside boasting America Runs on Dunkin's.  We proved this morning that England does, too, but I guess there's no market for that mug. Shame.

Though sad to say, their version of iced coffee was a hot coffee with ice cubes in it, cubes that melted within two city blocks.

Off to the trains, heading south to the coast!