I wandered down to the Thames at lunchtime today and watched all the runners getting frustrated by the higher than usual amount of tourists getting in their way what with it being the Easter school holidays.
The Millennium Bridge was a particular point of conflict between the two groups as tourists clamored to get the perfect picture of themselves in front of St Paul’s and runners tried to fight their way through and complete their set distance before their lunch-break was over.
I observed the battle impartially and strangely could relate to both sides. Looking a little closer you could see there was also friction among the fairweather runners who had recently turned out in droves on the lunchtime-river-running circuit since the Spring set in and the seasoned regulars who you could tell had been out through wind, rain and hail since the dawn of time.
For this week only though, both groups were united in the face of their common enemy – the tourist.
