Actual Distance:  13.87 miles

Total Duration:  1 hr 50 mins 29 secs

Half Marathon Time:  1 hr 44 mins 34 secs

Blister Count:  +0  =  3  (blisters under control and prevention strategy still appears to be working... for now!)

If you are going to be a tourist for the day, you might as well do it properly! And this run was one I was really looking forward to. But, with the route including lots of back and forth, doubling back and returning to the same location, Garmin Navigation had another total meltdown. So it would be fair to say that the first 3 miles were anything but enjoyable. Continually having to stop and check the route meant my legs repeatedly got cold, I couldn't find any rhythm and once again nearly an extra mile was added to the run, thanks to being sent round and round in circles.

Time for a new strategy. Or rather, time to bring back old school navigation - ignoring the directions on my watch, breaking the run down into 2 mile chunks and memorising by pubs en route. Bingo!

Just as I started to figure it out, I bumped into a former University of Birmingham HC club mate and running extraordinaire, Ash Garrett. So good to catch up and a great reset for the run. And then, like London buses, along came another Brum alumni, Andy Baines. Small world!

Having got my bearings and mapped out the next section in my head, another unwelcome factor to bear in mind was the onset of a cold. Uggghhh! Still, my preparations had built in a few additional/potential bumps in the road. Not ideal, but something I was ready and stocked up for, and fingers crossed I hope to run it out of my system quickly. Head back in the game, nose blown, back to it.

Finally I settled into a comfortable pace as I navigated the twists and turns around Bank and Mansion House, before setting off for Tower Bridge, the furthest point east on the run, circling the Tower of London and heading back along The Embankment towards Westminster. Getting lost (well not lost, but off-course) early in the run, plus a couple of watch malfunctions, made for some slow early miles. But the flat stretch alongside The Thames allowed me to pick up a steady pace and claw back some time.

And all was well with the world again, to the point that I added my own landmarks to the run, including Horse Guards Parade, before finishing up at Downing Street and sneaking under the 1:45:00 mark again (just!).

Cool downs and stretching are a must post-run and there are not many better places to do so than St James Park. Then a short walk down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Half Marathon #5... done!