11 mile thursday

running around trying to get everything done before i leave for the states in the morning and knowing i won't get it all done trying to choose what gets left undone- but will take a few minutes to get this morning's run down while i wait for the laundry to spin dry.
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first - Fact of the Day

King Charles II was restored to the English throne today in 1660. He had previously been crowned King of Scotland on 1 January 1651 and had attempted to reunite the kingdoms by attacking Cromwellian forces in England. This led to a resounding defeat at the Battle of Worcester where, according to legend, he hid in the 'Royal Oak' until the coast was clear. Upon restoration, Charles acknowledged his thanks to his Scottish soldiers by making The Royal Scots the first regular regiment of the modern British Army.

heritage.scotsman.com
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run wise i promised myself at least ten miles and went out to make that happen. knew i would be off the next day or two as i traveled and recovered from travelling. went north up to st margaret's church. was thinking as i ran that though there are many ways to run and keep that interesting while i was running, that in a run diary like this they must all sound the same, but i didn't quite have the time to go seeking a new adventure. will when i get back.

the new sheep were out along the west pasture mixed in with some pheasants and rabbits. at the church i turned south and went back down to botley road and then north again. wanted to get some time in without getting too far away. so back up to the church and then up towards the nunnery. a slightly muddy mess on the trail as it has rained so much lately. funny how the river here north of the rainbow bridge is still mostly a blue green while below the bridge it is a quite muddy brown. tan all the way up to godstow road and then towards wolvercote.

met a woman running the other way and she asked how muddy the trail was and i said it was pretty muddy, but that i had just come that way and she would be ok. aren't the british best at coping i asked and she said living here one gets use to the rain and the mud. asked where i was going and she said she would see me on the canal later. she was right.

east on godstow i ran towards wolvercote and my usual post office stop for some water. it was about 64 degrees and felt warmer in the sun and of course, i had on my usual sun protection, which made it warmer still. the man at the post office didn't know when they would be closing as part of the EU forced 22 closings. glad to have that as a way station so to speak, as there are almost no water fountains anywhere i run, other than to go into the train station or the community center. same for pit stops. i think i must run somewhat dehydrated all of the time as i hardly ever need either, but water on a warm day is nice.

i am cruising along ok now. up the canal for a little bit past some punt boats and then turn at the new two year construction site. a little breeze in my face felt pretty good and the sun was at my back for this 1.5 miles. then down the canal and it was warmer again. somewhere around north jericho i ran into the woman runner again and she asked if i were doing the Blenheim 5 miler this weekend and i said no, i was off to the states for a bit. it was hilly she said. the only place around to run hills was Blenheim where they do a lot of the races. i mentioned my little short hill repeats in north hinksey and she said she would try that. and we were both off again, her north and me south.

i cut off of the canal at walton lane and ran the fiddler's island loop around ft meadow and turned south on the river. to my surprise they had opened up one of the newly completed sections of the trail. it was just like the southern part of the trail down by dunnington bridge. was wondering if this had been the plan all along. if they keep going it will be more level and more pristine, but will clearly lack the charm of a wilder more natural trail. suppose i will know more when i get back from virginia.

went on but was stopped but a maudlin student and he told me the trail was flooded up ahead and not passable. nice of him to tell me as that is is certainly not the nature of the people here, to provide a warning. i turned and we ran together for the next few miles back across port meadow and down the oxford canal path. he was a rock climber and he told me of future stuff and being a student and it was nice having company even though the pace was clearly faster and my heart rate was climbing. on a good note i could talk easily at that pace and i convinced myself that i was right about just needing some longer speedwork with some faster runners to get a little quicker. at the oxford canal bridge he went left and i right, back towards the thames and home. down the part of the river i really like and the swans were out today and the rail was puddled up really well. but i was running nice at this point just past ten miles and headed towards 11 and that is the way it ended up. could have done more and nothing really hurt so it was ok.

now to get on with getting ready. the washer stopped a few minutes ago. hope to get back on later. but will see. sunny and 70 degrees now. where am i really?