A sadly regular occurrence, just when I thought I had it sussed I got different porridge oats and it all went to shit again.

The fifth pair of inov-8s in the stable, joining the ridiculous number of shoes that I own.

Given I’ve done over 235 miles in the road-x 255′s since November, looking forward to the upgrade (or should that be downgrade, given reduced cushioning/differential/etc?) to these for longer runs over coming weeks. Gave them a few km this evening, as ever with Inov-8s, they were just comfy from the off.

What a fantastic venue. What a fantastic sport. What a fantastic day of sport.

And in the Athens velodrome
I listened to the crowd roar you home
You were just a blur when you went passed me

After the trials, after it all
You can see for miles
And I can’t see at all

One of those days that London can give you, where it is one great thing after another. Tough tempo run to work set the day up nicely, then there was a fantastic meze lunch at Tas (although the occasion was less great, leaving lunch for a colleague).

After work it was a trip to Amnesty International HQ for #NFPtweetup 14, a bi-monthly/quarterly get together for those in the not for profit social media sphere with presentations and discussions about some great campaigns (today it was the turn of The BHF’s recent #hardandfast CPR campaign, which I missed when I was in Oz, and the forthcoming Beat Bullying Big March). These evenings always leave me feeling enthusiastic about the third sector and the fantastic things going on in charity social media, and invigorated with new ideas to take back to my own work.

I skipped off early to visit the Boxpark, a (relatively) new development by Shoreditch station. Made entirely of shipping containers and wood, it’s a really fantastic space. Many of the containers are taken up with shops, while the upper deck has a few eating and drinking establishments as well as really good gallery, from the Art Against Knives charity, with a great little collection including paintings from Tom Hadrill.

My burger at Bukowski was a bit of a let down, meat seemed to be lacking flavour and the bacon, while delicious, overpowered everything. And my high hopes for the chips (“triple cooked and fried in beef dripping”) were dashed by them being a bit overdone and nothing to write home about, certainly compared to the wonderful specimens found at Lucky Chip (whose burgers can also certainly be written home about). Their homemade ketchup is bloody good though.

Next door is Pieminister, who gave me a free pie as they were shutting up, thanks! Also there is some good looking Mexican at Mexway and Thai at Hop-Namo which will probably tempt me back. I think once a few more of the upper deck containers fill up with vendors, and once the spring and summer evenings arrive, this could be a fantastic place for foodies.

After stuffing my face, I headed over to see Remember Remember, who produced one of my fave albums of 2011 with The Quickening, supporting Errors who have just released a contender for album of 2012 in Have Some Faith In Magic. Both bands probably played the best shows I’ve seen from them, Remember Remember in particular were really tight and epic, particularly compared to when seeing them debut the material last year when they were just getting to grips of playing many of the songs live.

Finally, some street art by Roa whose work I have loved seeing around London, but didn’t actually know who it was by before seeing some of his work in Sydney, I love his rabbit on Hackney Road by The Premises (not sure if it is actually still there, street view doesn’t show it!).

Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a box of chocolate and a mug (or a bear) with a heart on. I’ll have an early Easter egg thanks.

Supplies for the months ahead thanks to a Groupon deal. Not really bothered with gels much in the past, so will need to see what my body makes of them. Also interested to see how High 5′s various types of pre and post race electrolyte tablets match up to that of the brilliant Nuun.

This evening was the first time I’ve played chess for quite some time, and facing a decent challenge too. After spending quite a few years as a teenager playing at a decent enough level (with that and orienteering, I was obviously supercool!), I do miss the mental challenge of playing, not often you do anything where you have to concentrate that hard.