Soilman

Completed the Blenheim Palace 10km earlier today. Joints are just starting to stiffen up nicely.

If you’ve not been to Blenheim before, I strongly recommend a visit. It’s the absurdly grand and pompous country pile built by the Duke of Marlborough in celebration of his 18th century victories in France. Designed and landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, it’s a home fit for Ozymandias – gorgeously epitomised by Vanbrugh’s outrageous bridge over the piffling little lake in front of the house. A triumph of over-engineering in the name of bombast and vainglory.

In short, it’s an egotistical monument to a monumental ego, and I love it. Tasteless, artificial, grandiose, shameless… and utterly beautiful. A pleasure to do the tour, even with rasping lungs and burning legs.

I finished in 1 hour 4 mins, which is a personal best. Might have gone faster had it not been for the evil hill in the middle – steep, and very long. But hey, I finished. Given that I couldn’t run for 3 mins in early January, I reckon that’s a result.