day of the fox and the rabbitt

went out to run early this morning while gail rested her heel and worked on her book. very chilly out, about 26 degrees and lots of frost again. i had dressed a little warmer i hoped, but it took 2 miles to feel like i wasn't pretty cold. i used the sun to my advantage and changed directions to have it in my face for awhile several times. and eventually i was ok and headed on my usual route. had hopes of doing a bigger loop, but given the temperature and the state of my legs, decided against that.

so up to st margaret's i went and then over to the river. but first - i was coming down the lane from the church when i spied a fox in the east field which had just been plowed. small dog like quality with a pointed nose and bushy tail and red coloring. even my eyes saw it as a fox and i slowed down a bit to watch it circling the field searching for something. he was in the middle of a very large field and i am sure it all looked the same to him.

as i continued running a rabbitt bolted out of the west field, across the lane and through the hedges and straight at the fox. well, it didn't take the rabbitt long to realize he had made a big mistake and the chase was on. and now they were both coming straight at me, while i still watched. and the rabbitt won; made it to the hedge and cut in front of me and if i could have bent down fast enough i could have snared him-pun intended. it was the fox i didn't want that close and the fox got up to the hedge and looked at me and turned back. i am sure it was more exciting to watch than to read about it, but i was hoping for the rabbitt to escape and it did.

and down the lane i went, still able to my breathing. and the day was waking up to a big sunny sky. melting frost steamed off of the river as the crew teams were out pushing their way past the ducks and geese. off on the meadow- where there was grass and not water, the usual 10 horses followed their leader down the shoreline looking for munchies. runners and bikers as well as the every morning dog walkers went up and down the paths and another beautiful day was unfolding in oxford. the best part of being here for me.

easy to tell today that these were not seniors on the water as the coaches were yelling more and the same smoothness of yesterday was not there. saw two people hit the bottom of the bridge foundations. to me they also looked under-dressed and they must have been cold on the water. they must be allowed to wear some sort of pants and i wonder if gloves would get in the way of moving the oars. there were still icy patches that had not melted yet on the channel and the rainbow bridge was all frosted over and i carefully picked my way up and over. they have foot aids to help people not slip on the bridges, but they are short hilly bridges and do ice over.

three miles in i stopped and did a quick stretch. i was going to try and use both legs for the next few miles and thought i would help the right leg out a bit. so down the river i went at a decent pace and for awhile i was all alone on the trail. running down the trail with water and ducks and geese on both sides of me and the sun coming through over the west fields was really a pretty sight. same reason i love playing golf early or late in the day.

headed down and over the the allotments bridge and did a loop around the neighborhood and back up the train trail and towards port meadow car park. not as pretty on this stretch, but this early on a sunday morning there was nobody out but me and i ran up and through the car park(parking lot) and up the hill and down to the oxford canal. picked up the pace and passed a couple walking who yelled at me to get a motorbike. funny.

down over the next bridge and around the side trails, no yoga lady out today, but i promised myself i would start back in with my own yoga. through the train station and over the botley st bridge and down botley towards my favorite grocery store and then home. about twelve miles due to the doubling back and went well over 60 for the week.

bicester will wait for another day as gail decided she needed to write and do laundry. i went off to the driving range to watch the golf tournament as they get cable. later in the day gail and i took a three mile walk around some of town and the canal. just as the sun was setting. a pretty way to end the day. but later the email system ate up 28 of my inbox emails and now to track them down.

btw- am heart rate this morning was 44. was 45 yesterday. have knocked it down 4 since i have been here. some decent tempo running and maybe some track work could get it back to 42 maybe.