A Shitty Run....Yet Fun

I decided yesterday that it was spring.  Better proof than any groundhog, I shaved my legs.  I could wear shorts without scaring too many people.

Today, since it was spring and I ran far too many road miles last week, I figured that I'd have to run a sloppy spring run in the fields.  It seemed like I was going to be wet no matter what, so might as well have fun with it. 

Linda's motor cross track was clear of snow and not quite as muddy as I expected.  When I crested the slight rise into the next field I was greeted with snowmobile tracks through fairly firm snow.  Over the hill into the neighboring farmer's fields, I saw a large flock of Canadian Geese.  They were discussing my appearance and I apologized to them, figuring they'd be taking to the skies.  Nope. They seemed to have decided I wasn't a threat.
 
Soon I was trying to step over their huge poop piles which seemed to cover the field better than any farmer's manure spreader could have done.  I was truly amazed that they could have produced so much.  I looked forward to running through the brook to the next field, hoping to feel a little less like I was covered in bird crap.  I grew up on a dairy farm and did my share of running over manured fields, but, somehow, bird seems worse.

The water was sure cold and flowing pretty good.  Oh no!  There were more geese on this side and the field was just like the other.  It was here I started noticing lots of coyote tracks.  I hope it was not just one making lots of tracks, but lots of geese-eating coyote that would pick these guys off!  Next time I come across them, I'll try to seem more menacing and not speak so politely to them.

I ran past the farmer's big, thawing manure pile.  I may have smiled at it.  I liked that it was in one spot.  From there I ran across the snowmobile bridge towards the gravel pit.  Instead of geese poop, I was running in ankle deep mud with lots of slipping and a random post-holing here and there.  Going up hill, this made for an anaerobic stretch.  The short, steep down (on the way to the first turn-around in the fat ass) was icy snowmobile track.  Without screw shoes, I semi-skated down.

Going back through the fields, I stayed on the edge of the river.  All the ducks were afraid of me, but I had no gripe with them.  There were a couple mallard pairs, hooded mergansers, and maybe some black ducks.  Back through my cold stream, the crappy fields and home.

Very happy with my choice to head into the slop : )  but my shoes are out in the rain trying to come clean and I'm sure I took a longer shower than normal!