My First Run at Oxford

In European cross-country, obstacles (hay bales, mud pits, water, etc.) are often placed in the way of the runners in order to slow them down. I now understand why. England is extremely comfortable for cross-country running. For one thing, it’s completely flat. In Oxford, there are no rolling hills, slight upgrades, or massive mountains—just smooth, even terrain. Another thing is the grass. Kept neat, trim, and crisp, the grass barely raises an inch above the ground. It’s like running on a spring-padded track. Next we have the temperature…a balmy 62° is the perfect weather for a run. And, if that’s a little warm for your liking, there’s often a nice misty rain to keep you feeling fresh. Add that to the overcast sky and you completely eliminate your chance of a sunburn.
As you can see from this description, my first run in Oxford was quite enjoyable. There is an excellent park only a half a mile from Brasenose College. It’s filled with crushed gravel trails (my favorite) and many interesting trees, flowers, ponds, and waterfowl. Behind the park is a bike trail and a series of grass fields for football, rugby, dog agility (!) and various other outdoor sports. These fields were also nice to run on—and unlike the Oxford campus—you are allowed to step on the grass. ;)