Snakes, low hanging branches, and Tetanus shots.

The gang was headed to Bandera for 20 miles in the hills this morning. I just wasn't up to it so decided to run for about two hours on the familiar, mostly flat, winding trails at nearby Leon Creek. Tom joined me at 6:30 AM and we started on a leisurely paced run. The trails are single track and overgrown with brush and low hanging branches. Some branches are pretty big too. I have to constantly be pointing out these low branches to most of my friends. Especially the tall ones. At 6'4" Tom has to duck more often than most.
I was telling Tom a story of a childhood friend who came to school one day with a grass snake. He was scaring all the girls and acting tough among the guys as the snake bit him on the arm. The teachers made him release it outdoors and we found out later he was taken to the hospital with an infected arm. Tom told me the story of the BOA he had as a child and how it once bit him. He didn't tell his parents for fear that he may need to have a tetanus shot as was the case when his snake bit a girl who cared for the snake once.
The run was going well. As we descended a short hill, we had to go over a big fallen tree. We slowed, went over the tree and accelerated while ducking under a tree branch when a sharp piece of a broken branch caught the top of Tom's head. Ouch!
Tom touched the top of his head and had blood on his fingers. More than just a few drops. Then blood was free flowing down the back of his neck! I gave him some of my tissue paper. I though about taking my shirt off to give him but then I thought, I don't want to compound the pain with my sweat on his wound.
We got back to our vehicles and I advised him to see a doctor. The gash was at least two inches long dead center on top of his head.
Tom called back later and told me he saw a Doctor, has four stitches on his head, and got a tetanus booster shot! Hopefully this will not negatively affect his rafting trip in Colorado next week.

Running buddies.

The humidity was not so bad this morning in San Antonio. Yesterday though you could reach out and touch it. I went out for two runs this weekend at OP Schnabel park with great company.
Saturday morning we had a new person join our group and we showed her around OP Schnabel park. We ran into an old running buddy, Paul Baltutis, who is training a group of runners for the San Antonio marathon. We chatted with him and his group. After the pleasant 8 mile tour of OP's flat trails I walked over to the soccer fields and met up with Liza's son and husband. I was a little late for Asa's game but enjoyed post game refreshments with them.
Today's run began in the dark. Again we met up with old running buddies, one who had not run at OP. This time one of the three pals we met ran with us. I took the group of 5 on a tour of OP's most technical trails. There are a few short steep climbs and some gnarly hairpin turns on a cliff side but it's not all that bad.
12 miles today in what seemed like a cool day compared to yesterday thick humidity.

Classics

The cool weather today added comfort to a very pleasing ride with my friend John. John rode his classic 1978 Mercian lugged steel frame road bike. My lugged steel frame bike is only 20 years old but I like to think it's a classic too. No fast paced riding. Just an enjoyable low cadence casual ride over quite roads on hills from Helotes, TX, to the Starbucks in Leon Springs, TX. We chatted over a cup of coffee outdoors for about 30 minutes before cruising the 10 miles back to Helotes. Great company and great weather to clear the mind and leave the mad world, if only for a short time.

Meditation and an acrobatic squirrel

More than just physical benefits running also has many mental benefits, as we who run know very well. It's a great feeling when you get in the zone and forget about all the troubles in the world. There are many other forms of mediation. Tai chi and prayer come to mind. It is said that the belief in a supreme being and devotion to a higher power is very beneficial for the soul.
On yesterday's pre-dawn run, as I ran along the paved trail in Leon Creek I saw an image up ahead. I could not make it out. What is it? As I got closer I noticed it was a tall slender man dressed in a long robe, bald except for a pony tail and in sandals. When I was running past him I heard chanting and honestly was frightened. I ran faster trying to distance myself from this person then thought, Why? This guy is praying. He's in meditation. He's not going to chase me. He may not pray in the way I am accustomed to but then he doesn't have to. We are free to pray to the supreme being as we please whatever we call him and in what ever way we wish. We are sometimes afraid of what we don't understand. Still, it was a bit strange to me.
Another unusual sight was the weird squirrel I saw in Leon Creek today. I've chased and teased squirrels all my life and I have never seen a squirrel like this one. This guy was small too! As I descended into the lower creek bed there's this little squirrel with his back to me and I guess I scared him. He jumped up and did a 180 in the air! When he landed he ran off the trail and on to a bush then jumped sideways onto another bush then another, timing the swing of the small branch just right! I've seen squirrels take a running start UP a tree and on to the next and down a tree onto the ground or a lower branch but this is the first time I've seen a squirrel jump sideways. This was one athletic squirrel!

Forgot My Shoes!

I was all set this morning as I left for work. Today was boot camp day and I packed my shorts shirt and NEW SOCKS! I looked forward to running this afternoon with O and E on the roads in the Monte Vista area of San Antonio on this unusually cool day. We rarely have weather this cool in May here in south Texas. 70 for a high with very low humidity.
I arrive at work and while unloading my gear, I realized "I forgot my shoes! Oh no!"
I really look forward to the boot-camp because it forces me to challenge muscles I usually neglect. As runners we sometimes forget how important weight bearing exercises are. We sometimes work with light weights but mostly work with our own body weight. I have seen the benefits of this type exercise on my running. I've always known this, but I need that push.
Oh well, Lunch today was very nice though. I had lunch with two co-workers at "Greens" This restaurant serves vegetables they grow! You walk through their garden to the front door. I had the Monks plate. Quinoa, Kale, and Black beans, Yum! And one of my friends gave me her uneaten half Quinoa burrito. Quinoa, beans, avocado,
spinach, beans sprouts, and red onions in an organic wrap!
I did run today. 6 miles at OP Schnabel park. Fueled by Quinoa! Very nice.

Feel good training

The Back to back trail runs this weekend felt good. 11+ on Saturday with Tom and John began in the dark at OP Schnabel park. Spooky eyes everywhere as the deer were stirring and wondering "who the heck are these guys with headlamps?" And the little baby possum running for his life up a small tree as Tom teased him by shaking the tree and telling him "go, go, go!" Tom and I were feeling it and We finished up with a fast paced last two miles.
Sunday it was 9.98 for Jean and maybe 9.78 for Brian, Chris, Liza, and I (we didn't detour). But we'll call it ten. Although Chris and I tried to convince the others that any fraction of a mile over an even one will be rounded up to the next mile. Even 9.2 would be 10.
It was great to have Liza back after her teaching stint in New Mexico. Among our good conversation, she mentioned an article she read on feel good training. The gist of it was that we should train as we feel and it should feel good. Of course lying on the couch feels good too. But it also feels good when one is fit enough to run hard or long, and perform well. Yes, we must suffer a little at times while training but not to the point where we won't want to go out and run again soon or where we are dreading the next training run.
This is what I try to convey to people who ask for my advice on beginning a training plan or if they're trying to improve. Run as you feel. Don't be a slave to the clock or your Garmin. Sure, it's nice to know how far or how fast you've run, but don't let that be the only reason you run. Sometimes you feel exceptionally great!. On those days push the envelope. Not feeling so great? On those days get into a comfortable pace and enjoy the scenery. And if you're feeling too fatigued? On those days, REST!