Rewarded

It's been a long time since I didn't feel like running, but that's how I felt yesterday. I've been kinda running a cold in the background for a while - it's like my immune system is just keeping it at bay, but not totally. I almost wish I'd just have it and get it over with. Even though it was exactly the weather I love to run in, I'd been feeling chilly all day and didn't want to change into running stuff. By 4pm, I realized if I didn't get out there it would be three zeros in a row in my book - That hadn't happened since my 50 at Pinelands.

Just changing is the hard part. The rest just happens. I decided to do the fields by our house because I had no desire to be on roads again. What a great decision! It wasn't very long before I was totally rewarded for getting my ass out there; I spotted three deer not too far off. They spotted me too. I stopped immediately and we just stared at each other for quite some time. I would have just kept staring, but the slight sweat I'd worked up combined with the slight breeze was giving me a chill so I moved. And I was rewarded a second time! I'm smiling now just thinking of the three of them bounding away - How beautiful!

Then I noticed my turkey family. I say they were mine cause I've been watching a hen raise her seven chicks all summer and this was a hen with seven teenage-looking chicks. I didn't know they traveled that far; I guess I have no idea the territory turkeys cover.

Besides being rewarded by just seeing the wildlife, I got to feel like I saved them. In the field directly behind us, I know a bow hunter was in her stand. It's not like I'm anti-hunting. If you're not a vegetarian, it seems to me the nicest way to get the meat. Those animals are truly free-range (good for them, good for you). However, when I meet an animal, it's like they become mine and I'll protect them. It was very nice they bounded off in the other direction. I'd have felt really bad if I drove them to their death!

At the end of my run I startled a Blue Heron. I have no idea why he was in the field and not at the pond. I've never seen one there. Guess we were both surprised.

I ran about 45 minutes and felt way better than when I headed out.