I will be honest, if I’d known the hard surfaces were that slippery, I would have stayed at home, instead of which I bundled up in three layers of clothing and thermal running leggings and just had to negotiate the frosty bits by running at walking pace.
Down the London Road the sun was like strobe again, low in the sky and striking between the trees in oblique flashes. When I reached the salt way, the fierce light was on my left, illumining icy patches that shone and danced like sparklers.
This is an undulating route where you have to dodge rocks, mud, frozen ruts, tree roots and uphill stretches of grass bright with frost. The woodland paths are pocked with iron hard hoof prints. There are many gates to negotiate, and a rustic plank bridge over a shallow brook.
But, oh, the sense of freedom, getting away from traffic and people and having this shining, beautiful world to myself; the only other living beings I saw were birds and sheep.
Running through a wood of graceful birch and young beech trees, I experienced moments of pure, unalloyed joy, broken only by my sister phoning just as I stopped to take a photo.
Then past a deserted farmhouse and back towards Chipping Norton, civilisation and a hot bath.
Hi Flick, Well done to you! I really know what you mean by, "the sense of freedom, getting away from traffic and people." It is so lovely, isn't it, to be away from noise? It has certainly proven to be a welcome bonus of running, more peaceful sightseeing!😊 Happy New Year to you!
I am sorry, but I have lost the plot on your house moving. Has it happened or are you in a 'needing more patience' phase?
Thank you 😊 that’s only the second time I’ve run that route - last time it was sub zero with high winds- and it’s been special both times. I 5hink it will be glorious in spring x
This sounds wonderful Hidden ...your posts always make me want to run right now!! How lovely sharing the world with just the birds and sheep...sounds idyllic, perfect start to the day x
Sounds like a magical run with all that sparkly frost and peace and quiet. I am loving exploring new routes off the beaten track too - this running lark has opened a whole new world of countryside adventures! I even got a new OS map for Christmas!!
That was the only muddy bit. I was wearing my nice orange trail shoes. They are made of ripstop nylon and seem to shrug off mud. The soles are a bit muddy though 😊❤️🍊
Simply, simply wonderful.....transported into a magical , beautiful, bountiful wonderland...sights... sounds... senses... breathing in frost, freshness and ( your word), freedom.
Thanks Flick.. I needed this... go you! xxxxx
Thanks Floss. It was one of those runs where everything comes together and the sense of joy and connection is tangible xxxx
Such lovely words.... sounds blissful. i finally plucked up courage to leave my trusted park where I run round in circles for ages and did my first ever trail run at weekend. I won’t even try to describe it as my creative use of language does not extend much past ‘ I ran in the woods’ but it was lovely 😊
It would have been a lot of trouble to access it, and I wasn’t sure if the other farm buildings were still used. There was a car parked there and sheep in a nearby field. And it was a VERY spooky house! 😱😱😱
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