Halcyon days:

Gorgeous morning. I’m easing back into more frequent running after moving here, Abingdon. I’m used to hill running and am finding running on the flat really hard, using new muscles and my pace has dropped (8.23min/km today). But a lovely jaunt through Abbey Meadow, along the Thames, then back along the River Ock, where I was blessed by a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher, flashing past like a jewel. The first one I’ve seen in 40 years.

[alisonx Graduate10]

oh what a beautiful running route! You will soon be flying around the flat areas i'm sure of it x

[Hidden in reply to alisonx]

It’s lovely isn’t it 😊 and thanks for the encouragement 😊

[Agelesslass Graduate10]

Looks totally gorgeous, what a lovely inspiring place to run

[Hidden in reply to Agelesslass]

Isn’t it 😊❤️

[Coolcookingteacher]

Super photos!

[Hidden in reply to Coolcookingteacher]

Thank you 😊

[Decker]

Beautiful photos Flick. It is so green there! We are still covered in snow and ice. A Kingfisher, that is a rare sight!

[Hidden in reply to Decker]

We have an early spring. This time last year e were under snow! X

[Deals1 Graduate10]

sounds a fab route and great pics!! looks like you settling into your new surroundings well

[Hidden in reply to Deals1]

It’s happened really quickly 😊

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Lovely photos of your new running routes, glad you are enjoying your new home as well Flick, nice to know that you enjoy hills, most people prefer the flat.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you 😊

With the hills, I guess it’s because I cut my teeth on them this time around with running. Come to think of it, I lived in Herefordshire in the Welsh border when I ran in my yoof, so they seem to be my thing!

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Gorgeous, just gorgeous!

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

It is 😊 x

[Knittingrunner Graduate10]

How lovely to have such beautiful countryside to run in and then to see a kingfisher! Magical. It’s a bonus to running that’s often overlooked I think. 🌲

[Hidden in reply to Knittingrunner]

It was so amazing seeing it 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Fantastic Flick! Great that you’re discovering new muscles. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

And what a bonus seeing a kingfisher. Truly beautiful birds. ❤️❤️❤️

[Hidden in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you. And the kingfisher was just magical xxx

[MarkyD Graduate10]

It is a beautiful town, with a welcoming vibe, great scenery (if you like rivers) and not far from The Ridgeway. Wave to my brother when you run past his house!

So pleased to see you out running again, and trust that you are nearly all unpacked.

[Hidden]

Yes indeed- I lived in Oxford before, and childminded my granddaughter in Abingdon, so all familiar.

I’ve kept the running ticking over, but only two or three times a week, during the move period.

Anyway, loving being back in the Thames Valley. Which part of the town does your brother live in?

[Wizziewood Graduate10]

A kingfisher! ... wow!, that’s great. Glad to hear you’re finding good places to run. Hope you’ve settled in ok after your move.

[Hidden in reply to Wizziewood]

Thank you xx The house feels like home and there are some lovely routes for running and dog walking. Lots to do still though. Books still in boxes till we can get some shelves built for example xx

[limberlou Graduate10]

Glad you are back running and also settling in ok. I’ve only really ever run on the flat. Tried one run with a hill in and hurt the back of my calf so went back to flat again.

Moving is so stressful - I’m getting it vicariously as it’s my daughter who is moving but I am in the thick of it. She has bought a house near me but has been posted back to Abbeywood, about 100 miles away from here. So she is temporarily living in her flat at Bridgwater, for the next month, whilst working AND packing up, ready to move all her stuff back here to her new house. THEN she will be renting a room nearer work till end of August and coming home at weekends. And hopefully working back here after August.

At present I have been helping clear out decades of clutter from her house ( which belonged to her grandparents and they never threw anything away) and repainting cupboards and kitchen. And tidying up the garden and moving some of her stuff from here to the house.

Also trying to get her to declutter her vast shoe and clothes collection. And trying to find time to run too.

Back to 3 times a week now but not back up to last years fitness yet. ☹️

[Hidden in reply to limberlou]

I never stopped running, but I did cut down the frequency.

With the calf pain from hills: I had this for about 6 months when i started running, but I didn’t have a choice but to run hills. I used to roller my calves and walk around on tiptoe, especially up and downstairs. I’m getting the same now from flat running. It’s just muscles forming and protesting. Nowadays I find a ten minute soak in Epsom salts does the trick.

I feel for you with your daughters move! I have way too much stuff. I whittled it down two and a half years ago when we moved, and again before this move. I’m now opening boxes and trying to weed stuff out for charity but not finding much to part with. Half the problem is things other people have given me and so I can’t part with - including my deceased mother who insisted I have her reproduction ornate Georgian candlesticks before she died ... I didn’t feel I could part with them, but luckily my niece has taken them so they are still in the family x

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah Lol finds it hard to part with things that people have given her and also she has her great aunt’s big heavy dark wood sideboard and nearly ended up with loads more of her furniture, which she wouldn’t have had room for, because she didn’t want it to leave the family.

Then I pointed out that as her great aunt’s closest family didn’t want it SHE should not feel guilty to let it go. And someone would buy it who would really want it.

She has had a rough couple of years and I think she has been replacing a significant other with far too much clothes and too many shoes.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

‘Only’ running two or three times a week while having all the upheaval of moving. Well done you! It looks like a lovely area to explore 😀

[Hidden in reply to Sandie1961]

I can’t wait to run along the Thames walk, which goes all the way to Oxford x

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Looks beautiful Flick and I'm sure your pace will improve once you get used to not having to adjust it to go up & down! 😀

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

I think it’s different muscles, the very outside of my calves, where they join the front of my leg, are protesting

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Interesting - hopefully not too long before they get 'run in '

[ktsok]

Such beautiful scenes! The only problem is you will be wanting to stop and feed ducks, gaze at kingfishers and medieval abbeys and take photos of all the above!

[Hidden in reply to ktsok]

Ah, too true 😌

[quirkybee]

Hey Flick 😘

I haven't been on here lately, so wasn't aware you'd moved. The photos look lovely though and I hope it went smoothly.

Your pace is super irrelevant if you say its dropped, you're such a fab runner, so I wouldn't worry too much 👍

I hope you adapt to flat running, I guess it all takes a while though. Lovely to see you, take care xxx 😘

[Hidden in reply to quirkybee]

Hello lovely. The move was a total nightmare - juggling dogs cats and my 40 boxes of books and stuff plus furniture, but it’s over now. I’m highly amused to see we live opposite an undertakers, so I won’t have far to go when I fall off my perch 😂😂😂

The pace annoys me slightly as I had worked hard on it and was getting quite a bit faster, but I guess it will even out. I’m in the ballot for the Oxford half, and if I get a place they have a cutoff time, so I do need to keep up to speed.

I’m getting used to the flat gradually but trying to find as many uppy bits as I can.

Really lovely to see you on here xxx

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

With so much to see it would be a shame to run through it quickly! I spend quite a lot of time around rivers. The bird life I see is wonderful, with the glimpse of a kingfisher being top of the list. Add to that tree creepers, dippers, herons, buzzards, owls etc etc.....Rivers are truly magical places, so I wouldn't pass by too quickly 🐌😊.....probably the real reason you have slowed down a bit🦉

[Hidden]

Haha no fear of passing too quickly at the moment. There will be plenty of walks with the dogs to see wildlife too. When we lived in Oxford, I used to walk them by the Thames every morning. Herons, roe deer, buzzards and even a cormorant one morning 😊

[MikeJones68 Graduate10]

What a Beautiful place to be in, young Flick. I wish my surroundings gave me more interesting things to see while running!

[Hidden in reply to MikeJones68]

I’m very lucky. But I always choose scenic places to live: Oxford, Canterbury, Louth, Brittany, Chipping Norton, and now here. I did live in Milton Keynes for a while, but that was a disaster! X

[MikeJones68 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I hate Milton Keynes! I avoid it at all costs x

[Hidden in reply to MikeJones68]

I was isolated there with a toddler- 20 minutes walk through a building site to the nearest shops, with the wind cutting across from Siberia! 🥶🥶🥶

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Glad the move had gone well, Flick - and that you are out running again. Lovely pictures as ever, too.🙂

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Wow, so pretty. (I’m sure running on the flat is easier than hills). What a lovely place to live 📸 🏃‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to BaddieThePirate]

It is lovely. Running on the flat is NOT easier than hills when you’re used to hills ☹️ Ask Oldfloss or anyone else who lives in a hilly area. My pace has decreased significantly. Ah, well, I hope I get my flat legs soon 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Do you know,Flick..I am actually pleased the HM outward leg..starts with a slow incline..!! Otherwise I can see my run taking all day....😆

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Wow! Good luck with flat legs.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Flat us not easy..believe us..I am still practicing ready for my HM!

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Good luck for your HM