Running the Central line

I’ve been thinking hard about where to go next with this project. I’ve had a good response from blog commenters and from people I’ve spoken to in the real world. Thanks if you were one of them!

A few have suggested giving up entirely on account of the potential damage I’m doing to myself. I class this as a drastic last resort option.

Others think I should rest for longer before attempting to run again. This is a sensible idea in principle, but the inescapable fact is that I only have six more weekends in London before I have to leave indefinitely. So that’s out.

The prospect of completing the remainder of the challenge on a segway also proved popular. Segways, however brilliant, are more expensive than some cars.

I briefly toyed with the idea of getting really drunk, forward-rolling the distance and vomiting majestically over the finish line. But my camera would get pretty scratched up and they probably wouldn’t let me back on the train. Not to mention the inevitable spinal disfigurement.

Probably the most sensible suggestion was first brought forward by amycool:

I definitely wouldn't risk causing permanent damage to your knee so don't feel bad about not running. And you never know, you might walk the next leg and then it recovers and you can run the rest.

Now that sounds fair enough. It’s a compromise, but a fairly unavoidable one. I still get to see London (arguably in greater detail than before) and there’s a high chance I can still run for a good section of the route, knee permitting.

So it’s decided then. Tomorrow, I’ll walk the 4.93 miles that separate Hanger Lane and Shepherd’s Bush underground stations. Since I’m beginning to approach what most proud central Londoners would call “actual London”, this leg promises to be the first to include some actual landmarks. So expect photographs of things other than me looking sheepish in front of public transport hubs.

Despite changing the tack of this project slightly, I don't think I'll update its name to "Walking the Central line". After all, I'll only have to revert this change when I start running again, as I fully intend to do. The other alternative, of course, is to choose an all-encompassing name such as "Traversing the Central line by foot at various speeds", but you’ll agree this doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Finally, a sinister update from Google Analytics. Last Saturday, someone reached this blog after Googling "laura kuenssberg thigh watch". Incredible.

Thanks for reading.