Running in London
- Hash House Harriers and Drill Sergeants
Running in London is a good way to get in shape and have some fun doing it. Finding a club that suits your style is important, as they do vary a bit in the way they operate.
One of the most visible clubs is British Military Fitness, you can see them meeting in parks all over London wearing bibs of various colours. These classes are led by instructors who are ex-military, and the workouts are no-nonsense and demanding. This sort of club is probably best for those who need strong motivation to get fit, and although the workouts are challenging, many of the classes are suited to people of all ability levels, so even those of us who are not extremely fit will not feel left out of the program. The Serpentine Running Club is one of the largest running clubs in London, with more than 2,000 members. This club meets in parks and at running tracks throughout the week for both coached and social running sessions. This sort of running club relies on the participant being a bit more of a self-starter, although being around other members training for triathlons and other such events is bound to be a good motivation for most runners. One particularly fun running club is the London Hash House Harriers. They are just one of a network of clubs that claim their roots back to British colonial officers stationed in Kuala Lumpur in the 1930s who decided to revive some of the “Hare and Hounds” paper chase traditions from their days in public school. These days, the harriers meet at a set location (a pub) and follow a series of hash marks chalking out a path that leads the participants on a winding hour-long run, ending up right back at the pub, of course. Short cuts, walking, and other silly activities are encouraged, as this is really just a fun excuse to hang out at a pub and still get some exercise. Running in London doesn't get better than this.
Serpentine Running Club Address: Seymour Leisure Centre, Seymour Running Club, Marylebone, W1H 5TH Opening Times Wednesday 7pm & Saturday 9.30am (Seymour Leisure Centre) Pricing Membership: £30 (Joining Fee), £25 (Adults), £10 (Concession)
Photo courtesy: Mike Knell
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