My Indian name would be Runs with Bears

     Well really "runs from bears" would be more appropriate. Or actually "runs from possibly imaginary bears". I guess I should start from the beginning. I was down in Virginia last week with my husband who was on travel for work. We were near a park called the "Great Dismal Swamp". I know it doesn't sound like a very nice place, but it was quite pretty actually. It is a huge park which stretches across Virginia and North Carolina. I decided to go for a jog in the swamp because they have some nice well maintained paths of moderate to long length. I went to the ranger station got a trail map and plotted out my run. On the cover of the trail map was a photo of a bear cub one of the rangers had taken. I think this planted the suggestion in my head, so really I blame the graphic designer for my adventure that followed.

    So, I planned out a 5-6 mile run on something called the Washington Ditch trail, which had something to do with George Washington. I didn't stop to read the sign so that's all I know. I was cruising along in nearly perfect weather and the first 2.5 miles went well. I was just taking in the scenery and having a grand time. Then "The Growl" occurred. It sounded like somewhere between a werewolf and a dinosaur. For all I know it could have been a Were-asaur. In my mind only one word was echoing. "Bear, bear, bear, bear......" I never saw anything but thought it would be in my best interest to remove myself from that area as quickly as possible. If I was going to be a bear snack at least I would be fast food. I took off. Now being chased by a bear even if ti is imaginary is a great way to do speed work. My gps was telling me I was running too fast and this was not the speed I had programmed in. I argued with her that my plan was pre-bear and would she please be quiet she could be attracting the bear to us. As if my huffing puffing lumbering run wasn't already drawing  attention. Every branch I hear break was clearly a vicious rabid bear. I stepped in a few holes because I was running looking behind me. I finally made it safety and I had run the second half of my run 6 minutes faster than the first half. Clearly I just needed a little bear motivation. Looking back though, it very well might just have been a chainsaw. I did see some sawdust in the parking lot.