Lords of the rings

While taking a shortcut to the cinema this weekend we have accidentally witnessed the Olympic torch being carried by:

There were two heavily modified vehicles preceding the torchbearer (I couldn't even tell if they were lorries or buses), ruthlessly branded and playing some loud music. Half of the flags, inflatable toys and other stuff people were using to express their impatience were branded as well. Little surprise here as the very Olympic rings are themselves a brand which you're only expected to consume, but not to use.

It might be a lame opinion out of touch with reality, but I find branding of the supposedly public events and elements of infrastructure like Barklays bikes or Emirates dangleway somewhat wrong. I can understand (and sometimes appreciate) excessive branding when you don't pay for the branded thing, but not when you're just paying less (or more precisely you're said you're paying much less). If you are still going to charge people, keeping messing with their heads is just cheeky.

How can it be?

Running home: 1h 36m
Cycling home: 1h 15m

No wonder, every cyclist I see moves faster than me, so I'm likely too shy on the road yet.

Achievement unlocked

The problem is that I'm running out (no pun intended) of interesting routes. An ideal route is the one that doesn't repeat itself on the way back and provides interesting neighbourhoods or views to observe, so I can use some planning here next time.

Also, I can recommend you the Endomondo tracker app. I used Nokia Sports Tracker before but Endomondo can count kilometres/laps and say the stats when another one is hit, so you don't even have to look into screen. Very convenient.

Achievement unlocked

Having started from 2.5 km distance only this spring, today I hit 10. Speed leaves something to be desired though I hope that my goal to run half marathon this autumn is real.

The problem is that for the last month I've been running streets instead of parks and riverside because it's more fun - but the air is not so good near the roads. Gotta invent new routes.