Snow and marathon training

These first two weeks back have been madness, and I apologize for not posting sooner! I promise this entry will have lots of news and pictures.

It snowed for the entire first week. Oxford looked even more magical than usual! It didn't snow more than 4 inches but the town of Oxford did not know how do deal with the snow. Not at all like Boston, or Eastern Washington! The sidewalks remained treacherous for most of the week.

Roses outside the Radcliffe Camera

The side of the Sheldonian.

Front of the Sheldonian.

Hertford bridge.

Mansfield in the snow!

New College. The streets were quite treacherous!

I began official marathon training right at the start of the new year. Fortunately I have a training partner, my friend Adrea, to suffer along next to me. It is actually going pretty well and we are sticking to the schedule my college coach John gave me. The only tough thing has been the weather. Our 8 mile run two weekends ago was essentially slipping and sliding over ice and snow. The snow has now melted, but the trail we used yesterday was pure mud. So we were again slipping and sliding. Neither of us fell though, so that was good.

The final exciting thing I've done since being back is going to the very formal Burns Supper. A Burns Supper celebrates the Scottish poet Burns, and has some specific requirements, like serving haggis and whiskey, reading some of Burns' poetry, and listening to bagpipes. Our Burns Supper was a black tie event held in the chapel. It was magnificent! The food was great, even the haggis, which I actually enjoyed. Afterward, we had Mansfield's twice termly champagne and chocolates, which was held in the Junior Common Room.

My friend Sarah and me at the Burns Supper.

Haggis and parsnips.

Very formal place setting--good thing my mom believes table etiquette is important, or else I wouldn't have known what to do!

Dan and Tom at Champagne and Chocolates afterward.

Sarah and me at C&Cs, I've still got my formal dinner gown on.