SET THE PACE

Who needs the treadmill when there are parks, docks and history around every corner?

This 5k route is the perfect gentle weekend run, and takes in some of the local area’s best bits. Starting from Canada Water station, the route winds through historic streets to do a lap of leafy Southwark Park, over the brightly-painted 
bascule bridge to Greenland Dock, skirting its edge before heading north to run through Russia Dock Woodland. From there you’ll catch a great view of Canary Wharf between the trees, then it’s up Stave Hill with city views, before circling back on the pretty cobbled towpath of the Albion Channel waterway.

The Cutty Sark and London’s bridges might steal the limelight on the London Marathon’s TV coverage, but for fewer crowds, wider roads and a much better chance of spotting your runner, you can’t beat Canada Water.

This part of town is also the only place on the route you can see a runner twice, so if you’re coming out to support someone, it’s a great place to base yourself. For your first stop, head to mile nine on Surrey Quays Road, which has a wide vantage point that makes it easier to see who’s passing by. Once they’ve run through, you can double back through Canada Water and up Lower Road where – if you’re quick enough – you’ll catch them at mile 11, too.

London City Runners is one of London’s biggest running clubs, and its bar and clubhouse on Druid Street is a great place to meet like-minded running enthusiasts. The club has three road-running sessions a week, training weekends in the UK and holiday training camps abroad, as well as group trips to organised races all over the country. Stop by the clubhouse at the weekend for beer on draught and post-run snacks.

londoncityrunners.com