I obviously don't spend enough time at work, as this course plots its way through South London from one London Wayfarers Hockey Club location to another. Starting in Wimbledon, the route initially heads downhill in a north-easterly direction towards Earlsfield, before a steep uphill section, after which it then passes Wandsworth Park. Then it is up through Balham and on to St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College. From there I head back towards Clapham Common before the kindest part of the route... a steep downhill section towards Battersea. The next part of the route should be rather familiar, having done 8.75 laps of Battersea Park a few days ago. Exiting the park I will then pass Battersea Power Station, keeping The River Thames on my left as I approach Vauxhall. Then it is on to The Kial Oval, home of Surrey Cricket, and then Kennington Park. A right turn at Camberwell should direct me passed Ruskin Park and on to the final stretch up to Dulwich College Sports Centre. Five of the pitches used by London Wayfarers Hockey Club will feature on this route, which should roll out at about 13.5 miles from end-to-end.

London Wayfarers Pitch Locations:

1. Wimbledon High School (Nursery Road)

2. St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

3. Battersea Park

4. Kennington Park

5. Dulwich College Sports Ground

Actual Distance:  13.33 miles

Total Duration:  1 hr 43 mins 32 secs

Half Marathon Time:  1 hr 41 mins 53 secs

Blister Count:  +3  =  6  (spoke far too soon... two blisters upon blisters on my achilles and second toe on my left foot (this one is a beauty). Trip to the pharmacy required before tomorrow's run to invest in some more plasters!)

Perfect weather! Sunny, but not too hot. A beautiful day for a run. Having dropped my car off at Dulwich College Sports Club and made my way to West Dulwich Station a short walk away, my spirits were high and although timings were always going to be tight on this run, the day started well. And then the trains 'happened' again. Picking up a connecting train from Herne Hill to Wimbledon, I was only 30 minutes away from the start line when a voice came over the tannoy. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a customer announcement. We regret to inform you, that due to a power failure at Wimbledon, we will now be diverting this train to Sutton." Alighting at the next available stop, Mitcham Eastfields, I realised I was in the middle of nowhere, with no simple route to Wimbledon.

Uber it is then. On the plus side, I shared the cab with a lovely lady who was en route to tutor a pupil after (as coincidence would have it) a hockey session. And, she very kindly sponsored me too!

Safely chaffeured to Nursery Rd, I left the dramas of the day behind me and was greeted by a friendly face - former London Wayfarers HC colleague, friend (still... not former for clarity) and coaching buddy, Anto Rawlinson.

Back on plan I headed on my way and back on the roads too, with a Point A to Point B route... back friends with my Garmin Forerunner 255 watch. I did have one detour but today this was by choice, as I realised the route took me very close to Spencer Hockey Club and another opportunity to include a former rival of Emma's in the Challenge.

Next stop was St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College where I was greeted by a group of Reception-to-Year 4 London Wayfarers HC juniors, parents and coaches (Meric, Sam and Alex). With an army of young hockey enthusiasts joining me on a lap of the pitch (I say joining me me - they wanted to race!), I then headed back out en route to the next London Wayfarers pitch in Battersea Park. One more stop at another of our club venues, Kennington Park and it was on to the toughest section of the route. The clue (if I'd taken a bit more time to study the route) was in the name... Denmark Hill. But, no drama, half marathon #6 completed and finally back at Dulwich College Sports Centre.

Massive thanks to Anto Rawlinson at Wimbledon High School for allowing me to warm up on the school astroturf and wave me on my way, and to Jon Prater and Alex Bachtin at Dulwich College Sports Club, for allowing me to leave my car in the car park so I had a way of getting to a work meeting in the evening and also for permitting me use of the shower facilities.