Run Well *** Finish Strong

I encountered a snake on my run this evening. I prefer trail running to streets when I am out for the cardio or for training, so I have encountered snakes, skunks, coyotes, and other wildlife. Tonight I was cruising along, daydreaming with my iPod in my ears when the corner of my eye caught glimpse of a snake. Being the naturally curious type, I pulled up, turned around, and observed. S/he was about 20 inches, "fat" in the middle, front six inches coiled, and the rest of the body snake straight. Perhaps a gopher snake, I thought. I looked for a while, it never moved. Finally, I went to pick it up....WITH A LONG STICK....do you think I am stupid? (Don't answer that!) It immediately darted for the grass, with that rattling sound warning me not to come after it. I had encountered a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake or a Crotalus Oreganus Oreganus:

How do I know? It is described on CaliforniaHerps.com. Look there for range, habitat, behavior. So, you trail runners...watch where you are going. Be safe. Click image to enlarge.

I prefer trail running, whether I am out for cardio or training for a race. ["Training for a Race." That is a laugh.] I do not race...I run for the pleasure of the event. Whether I come in first or last or somewhere in the middle, it matters not. What matters is I do my best and enjoy the event. For me, running on a trail is much more enjoyable than the street. It does not take a rocket scientist to know why. But trails can have their hazards just like the street. Streets have dogs, cars, stop lights, and kids on bikes. Trails have animals, snakes, plants, uneven footing, and dirt. Here is primer on trail running. Here is Runner's World Complete Guide to Trail Running with the section on encountering a snake on the trail indexed. Yesterday I blogged about coming across a rattler on the trail. He was partially coiled, probably because he felt me coming. But he did not move until I went to get him with a stick and then he took off into the brush, wanting nothing to do with me. Few animals and snakes are aggressive (the Western Diamondback Rattle Snake being an exception) and have not reason to bother humans unless we bother them. A little common sense with good neighbor behavior and the danger is slim to none.

I said I prefer trail running to blacktop. You should try it. The ambiance is better; the run is more peaceful (except for the occasional unsuspected animal or snake); your shoes and ankles get all dirty and dusty like when you were a kid playing trucks and your mom fussed at you; Mother Nature is much better to look at than light poles, curbs, and street signs.

Try something different! Become A Trail Runner.

These Trail Running Rules say it better than I; but probably longer. It is a pdf file. Do you need the Adobe PDF reader?

Found this article on the Active.com site regarding ways to become a better runner. I can see I need to repent...do some cross training, but I am NOT going to run with others. I prefer my own thoughts while I run. Are you talker or a thinker while you run?

What are your shoe preferences when you run? Perhaps you have several depending upon the situation. I like Brooks and Solomon shoes. (Solomon sites load slowly.) Both are really comfortable. When it is wet, the gortex on the Solomons is really nice. They combine a great balance between both agility and cushioning. I usually run my trails in the Brooks Cascadia 3...a magnificent shoe. Brooks dares you to give a pair of their shoes a 90 trial...if you are not in love, they exchange the shoes for another pair. No questions asked. Solomon is also doing a challenge this month. I have run in Nike, Adidas, Saucony, and others, but I prefer these two. If you like, here is Runner's World Magazine's comparative information regarding shoes.

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will be celebrated from August 8, 2008, to August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. Wikipedia has excellent information on the Beijing Olympics. The International Olympic Committee site. Tickets are available through various channels in your country.

Posted on July 8, 2008 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

July 10, 2008

Here is an excellent site for mapping your course...whether you run, walk, jog, bike, crawl, or ??? :-) Walk Jog Run works with Google maps. You map a route on the site. It will tell you the distance. You tell your speed (default is 3 MPH) and the site gives you an approximate time to complete the route. Save your route(s). See routes of others. The resolution is excellent. I thought I could see the rattlesnake I encountered on my run the other evening.

Interesting blog regarding why a majority of Americans just cannot seem to get into soccer. Some comparative thoughts relating to why Americans do not follow running compared to other sports. I list the reasons. Go to the blog for the author's explanations.

1. Americans don’t have the attention span.
2. Low scores.
3. Americans are fat.
4. There are no Individuals in soccer.
5. The lack of stats.
6. No rivalries in America.
7. Americans love exactness.