Our World Tuesday – Half and Half Run at Tulsa’s Oxley Nature Center and Lake Yahola

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For my weekly Wednesday after work run I changed things up a little bit. Instead of going to Turkey Mountain with its rocks, roots, and hills I headed out to the best kept secret trails in Tulsa, the Northwoods trails at Oxley Nature Center and then extend it by running around one of Tulsa’s raw water supply sources, Lake Yahola.

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The Norhwoods trails are not used very much. They don’t even have a parking lot. You just park on the side of the road. I hardly ever see anybody else on them. And there is a chance of seeing deer. I haven’t seen a deer on Turkey Mountain in a long time. The thing about Oxley is that there are very few rocks and no hills. My legs were a little sore and I wanted some distance but I couldn’t face going up and down the hills of Turkey Mountain.

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I did find an old snag that toppled across the trail. A real trail runner would have leaped across it without slowing down. Then there are guys like me who deal with in a different manner.

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There is quite network of trails in the North Woods section but they only add up to 3 miles and they loop around on each other so if you miss a turn it is no big deal.

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So I took the Oxbow lake Trail to get to Lake Yahola.

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And here it is. See the little specs to the left of center on the far shore? That is the high rises of downtown Tulsa just a few miles away.

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I turned to the right and started running on the chat gravel path. I didn’t bring my trail shoes and the gravel was hurting my feet and the grassy part was too soft for really good running. What a cry baby I am!!! I was running into the wind also but I was having the time of my life. I come upon about a dozen fishermen scattered around the lake. There is something peaceful about fishing and watching fishermen.

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About two thirds of the way around the lake I come upon the city water treatment plant. I love infrastructure stuff like this.

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Back close to the main trail at the Oxbow Lakes.

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Fuzzy pic of me with the lake. Do you like my socks?

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Back down to the road. I love how the trees tunnel over the trail. I love running here when there is strong winds because the trees just plain stop the wind and it is neat because you can hear the wind howling through the tops of the trees. I love stuff like that.

Got my run in. Almost six miles at a leisurely pace. Oh well, it is what it is.

I’m linking with “Our World Tuesday

11 thoughts on “Our World Tuesday – Half and Half Run at Tulsa’s Oxley Nature Center and Lake Yahola

  1. Ken TZ Childress

    Nice run. I love the trailz there, but they are so flat!! Right now, I need to be doing as much hill work as I can. The trailz north of Yahola are usually pretty bad with ticks. Did you pick up any hitchhikers?

  2. Sallie

    Nice peaceful traill …quiet green for meditation and then the water, and the plant to keep you from getting bored … sounds perfect to me (except for the running part)…but I wish I could do that!

  3. Lea

    Beautiful! Glad you slowed down enough to take photos
    Jumping over logs can be dangerous – could be a snake on the other side
    Have a great week!

  4. Ruth | Tanama Tales

    This trail reminds me a lot of the ones I used to hike when I lived in Puerto Rico. The vegetation here in California is just different. Thanks for the good memories! #OurWorldTuesday

  5. Janie of Utah

    Looks like a great run. My son-in-law has started running the ultra marathons. Even his training runs are 15 miles and 4000 feet of elevation. Your run seems a lot more sane!

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