Paranoid
No rattlers on the trail today. Only the scariest squirrels, lizards, birds and sticks I have ever seen or heard. I was on high alert after yesterdays little experience. I think Mother Nature knew it and wanted to screw with me a bit. On the way out there were all sorts of creatures scurrying in the brush as I would run by. Then, as I was approacing the area I saw the snake yesterday, all of the sudden a squirrel flew about waist hieght in front of me off of a tree stump and under a fence. I couldn’t hold in my, “HOLY F*CK!!!!!”. My heart rate must have jumped to 185. Honestly, when is the last time you’ve had a flying squirrel in front of you?
Anyway, it was pretty hot out today so I got another shirtless run in…..always the best. Except for all of the bug I collect on me along the way. I ran out to a different vantage point on the lake I rarely go to. I wasn’t super impressed with the view so I probably won’t go that way again for awhile. My legs felt pretty tired the whole way but I kept it going. I got a little wild hair on the way back and knew there was a segment on Strava that I could probably get a trophy on so I turned it up a notch there. I ran it at a 6:57/mile pace which was good enough for 5th best all time. I cruised to the finish after that.
I did have one more exciting moment on the way back close to where I saw the snake yesterday. Of course I was on high alert again going through that area. I hit a stick and it swung around and got me in the calf. I screamed as if I had just been bitten. I think I may have an issue. Hopefully this wears off. I keep telling myself I’ve run this trail a bunch of times now and only saw that one snake however I am nearly certain that it won’t be the last one I see. I am new to this area and have to realize that this is a part of my new reality. Kinda creepy.
