London riot run

Needed a long road run, as late and inadequate preparation for the forthcoming Vyrnwy half marathon - but I never expected it to involve sprinting through riot-torn streets. Left Dunkirk at 8am after a long drive from Provence yesterday, and arrived in Chingford at midday after driving past the burning warehouse in Enfield Lock. All a bit of a culture shock after my last run amidst the vineyards of Gigondas, and Saturday's ride up Ventoux! I ran from Chingford through the industrial estates to the Sony warehouse, huge plumes of choking black smoke billowing across the road with bits of debris scattered all over the road. A unique experience running through the smoke, past police, onlookers and firemen, followed by the weird atmosphere around Ponders End and Chingford Mount - boarded up shops and a palpable tense air following last night's violence. An interesting run, but actually quite valuable in training terms as I kept a decent sub 7m pace going throughout the 11 miles.