It only took me two and a half months!
What I love about having crazy-ass runner friends: they think nothing of calling you up at 10 am on a summer morning in the desert and asking you to go on a spur-of-the-moment run in monsoon season....and I think nothing of saying, "of course!"
We headed out to Douglas Springs trailhead at the end of Speedway Blvd out near Saguaro National Park East. Mo wanted to head back to Bridal Veil falls and I wanted to experiment with my knee. It was soon apparent that Mo and Daniel were in much better shape than me, so I told them to take off to the falls - I'd turn around whenever they caught back up to me.
It was hot and muggy (noon in the desert in summer), and I'd forgotten sunscreen. The clouds danced with the sun, threatening rain (please, please! I begged), and giving wonderful cool breezes and shade at times. I was doing okay by myself, hiking mostly (up, up, up!), when I heard something big in the bushes nearby. I stopped. It stopped. I walked again. It walked again.
Mountain lion country, is all I could think.
I froze. It froze. I didn't move a muscle for five minutes. Neither did it. I slowly reached down and grabbed a rock, then lifted both arms in the air and started backing slowly down the trail. (Make yourself as big as possible, so you don't look like an easy target; walk slowly, don't run.)
Down the trail a bit I felt better, but I still didn't let go of the rock! I jogged bit once I got back down on the flats, but mostly took it easy. I hung out at the trailhead waiting for Mo and Daniel, who arrived shortly thereafter.
My knee? Felt great!
I did a little over 3 miles, and I'm guessing 500-700 feet of climbing. (I forgot my Garmin.) We followed it up with subway, a swim and rock band. All in all, a great Sunday afternoon :)
One mention of mountain lions and I freak out! Really, it was probably a bird or small animal. But I know that feeling! Nice to be trail-running again. : )
One mention of mountain lions and I freak out! Really, it was probably a bird or small animal. But I know that feeling! Nice to be trail-running again. : )
It was great weather today!
Hooray for the knee!!!
Yay! Good for you to get out there on the trails again. And in the middle of the day in AZ -- You're a trooper.
Oohh that would have scared me! Glad you got out and had a pain free run!
Ahahahaha! I freaked myself out about mountain lions yesterday on the trail. It's contagious.
I'm so glad that your knee is better. I wish we lived closer that we could organize a trail run. Well, maybe when we both do the same trail race we can! :)
Ahahahaha! I freaked myself out about mountain lions yesterday on the trail. It's contagious.
I'm so glad that your knee is better. I wish we lived closer that we could organize a trail run. Well, maybe when we both do the same trail race we can! :)
I've been spooked by noisy bushes too. (Now, watch it turn out it was a bird or a squirrel, which is often the case with me.)
Always nice to be out on the trails. Glad you didn't end up as lunch.
Dang! We have mountain lions too! And those rattlesnakes can ruin a perfectly good run! But I wouldn't trade the beauty of the desert. Plus, we'd probably just end up somewhere with bears :)
Did you ever find out what was in the bush?
don't mind me. i'm just testing your comments.