Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

One 60 degree day and I'm spoiled.
I am TIRED of the cold weather-felt no desire to run outside, and felt it was time for a little cross-training, anyway. Went to gym, got heart rate up high 8 times, back down again.... and then maintained hr ~150 for remainder of time.

First time I've been on my backwoods trail since the snow melted. Much more fun. Much easier. I will have to extend the trail soon.... I think I can get another 1/2 mile out of it.

It's 60 today! I know it has been 60 in Minnesota for a few days this week, but this is MY first 60 degree day, and I decided NOT to use the gym, but run on the non-snow covered terrain, with my Afton Map. The plan was to alternate between picking random points and selecting best routes, and just running through the area and being very aware of the terrain vs. the map.

Great plan, except I also indulged in wearing shorts instead of my buckthorn-busting pants. Mistake. Got a bit bloody and then decided to be more careful, using both hands to clear a path and grab carefully onto branches, and lost my map up a steep thorny hill in the process. (I was also holding Alice's leash and my compass). So I wandered back down and around the steep thorny hill for a while, map-searching, before giving up. No more map running.
Then I decided to follow deer paths, but even these were straight through buckthorn patches, and it was slowing me down so much that I wasn't feeling I was getting much of anything... no good terrain running, no map reading, no speed, no workout.
Plan C was just to run though the hilly prairie areas a bit, run up and down some paths, select my wooded areas a bit more carefully. Not the workout I had planned but much less painful on the legs. I've worn shorts and gotten plenty scratched up in races, and never felt a thing. But without any real purpose or adrenaline... it hurts!
I'm SOOOO glad it's Spring (for now), warm and light out.

at the hotel, near Heathrow.
Also walked about 2.5 hours at the Hampton Court Palace.

Event: US Team (unofficial) 3K time trial
 

Central Oxford, past Oxford commons on the THames tow path, through Wolvecote and on to the footpath by the Thames.
A nice slow run, with no thinking or map required... just folllow the great long handrail out for 75 minutes and then back. And open and close numerous livestock gates.
Got to run through fields with sheep, cow, by the early morning fishermen, people walking their dogs..(near Oxford), and just enjoy the calm beauty of the English countryside with virtually no one else around.
Thames river was much cleaner and clearer than I expected... and the paths were soft dirt or grass, flat, of course.
On the way back by the Thames, ran alongside the Oxford women practicing their sculling. Then back along canal path, walked the last couple of streets.
And came home to an English breakfast. Yum.
Today.... check out the "harry potter sights" with my daughter, more good food and just walking around enjoying architecture, food, outdoors, and family.

I'm in Oxford, visiting my sister who is a Research fellow here for a year, writing a law book about the miners in the California Gold Rush. She loves Oxford, would live here forever if she could, and it has been a big part of her life. But it has been my first trip here... a lot of the trip is walking through the city, seeing her favorite places, and getting great descriptions and eating good food. Also, finding some time for runs which is always one of my favorite ways to get a feel for a new place. I like to run at my "touring pace" which means that I am not pushing hard, observe my surroundings, stop to look at things along the way. It's not really about the run... it's about taking advantage of the vacation. Great great runs.

From downtown Oxford --Canal tow path to Wolvecote, a small town just North of Oxford. In Wolvecote, found a small entrance between buildings with the sign "Footpath to Wolvecote Commons". The footpath wound between sheds and buildings, very narrow, before coming to a latched gate and a big wide expanse of field. Big. 1.5 miles long big-. Thames (for some odd reason called the Isis here ) winding alongside the Commons. With about 30 horses in it, a person walking two dogs. I really wondered if I was allowed to run on this amazing big expanse. So, I ran up to the man walking two dogs and asked "Am I allowed to run here?"
He seemed startled that I asked "What?" Oh, he also reeked a bit of alcohol. "What, why couldn't you run here?" and so I asked again if it were permitted, "Well, it's Britain" he said, waving his arm across the expanse, "of course it's permitted". And then he thought perhaps I was asking because I might be afraid that it wasn't safe, but once we got the conversation sorted out (with one drunk and one foreigner, it took a bit), he was kind enough to point out the key bridges, towns to be seen from a distance, asked if I would rather run on the Isis towpath or on the other edge... very helpful.
Great run after that, since I knew I was well within my rights to run alongside the horses and geese and other people.
I am definitely going back tomorrow. Loved it.

Question on England and maybe other parts of the world: Why don't other runners say "Hi?" They look kind of funny at me when I do. I noticed that in London, but thought maybe it was a city thing. Tested it on about 6 other people today. Got one good "hello" back. If I stop and ask a real question, people are pretty friendly. But no passing-runners greetings, apparently. Afton is very friendly, on those rare occasions that I see someone.. and most of the rest of Minnesota is too. Just wondering.