Saturday Morning Adventure
I couldn't let this morning's run go into the queue for this very back-logged blog. Barb and I met at 6:30am at Barton Springs to run on the Greenbelt. We looked forward to a nice change of scenery, and I wanted to practice for the Saint in a couple of weeks.
How can I express how pleasant it is to run off-road? I have tried to convince running friends to join me, but few have taken me up on the offer. It's so wonderful to be running along side greenery while hearing birds chirp and smelling the occasional flower blooming. It's also very fun and exciting to run on the Greenbelt.
We started off well enough with a map and some directions from Andre. Andre was starting later and he's faster, so I figured he'd pass us along the way and make sure we were on course.
Things went well until we were about 2 or more miles in and got a little lost. Once we saw the trail, we realized how obvious it was. But we were looking down and chatting, so we ended up on some high rocks. I heard feet running nearby, but I couldn't see anyone. I knew whoever it was I could hear was running on the trail we wanted to be on. I yelled at Barb, whom I couldn't see thanks to tons of huge rocks. I even told her that I thought it was Andre running by, and I'm pretty sure it was. Andre did indeed keep us on course.
The next excitement came when we approached detour signs to steer folks away from a washed out foot bridge. Maybe we are directionally-challenge (well, I know I am), but we got on a wrong trail here, too. We were being attacked by huge horseflies, and Barb cracked me up when she said, "These horseflies are so huge, they have saddles." That image still tickles me. Our wrong trail sent us to an office building, and I could hear the 360/Mopac interchange. Turns out that the office building is where Andre works. Too bad he didn't leave a note on the wall by the trail telling us we had gone the wrong way. ;o)
We had to turn back at this point without getting to 360 - time and water was running out. On our way back, Barb tripped on a very rocky section and fell really, really, really hard. It scared me how hard to she fell (she was behind me but the sound of her fall was not a good sound). Fortunately, she was okay...a skinned knee and a sore back. A little rest for us for Barb to get her bearings, and we were off again.
We are happily running along, chatting about how fabulous it is to live in Austin and have such a great place to run. A man approaches with three dogs, and only one dog is on a leash. I'm in front, which leaves Barb a little blinded. One of the unleashed dogs is small and in front and heads past me. I hear a horrible screech that I thought was from the dog, but in fact, it was from Barb. The dog had jumped up at her, and she thought it was a wild animal attacking her from the bushes. We had a good laugh about it once she was calm. I offered her to go in front, but she said she was fine.
Happily we are running again, albeit I'm going slower and slower. I catch my toe on the tiniest of rocks and fall really far for a really long time. Even Barb thought I fell in slow motion. I fell on a soft part of the trail, and skidded into the greenery. Another good laugh for us after we made sure I was fine and hadn't landed in poison ivy.
Soon thereafter, Andre and Paul come running past us. We chat with them for a minute or two about our adventures thus far. Andre confirms that it was them that ran past when we were lost in the high rocks. They speed off in search of a cool (and free!) swim at Barton Springs, and we slowly follow for our turn to dip our legs on the cool water. Of course, we went to the always-free part of the Springs.
Lessons learned:
Bring more water
Apply bug spray
Pack a tiny, but useful first-aid kit
We had so much fun. I hope more friends will run with us next time we are on the Greenbelt.
How can I express how pleasant it is to run off-road? I have tried to convince running friends to join me, but few have taken me up on the offer. It's so wonderful to be running along side greenery while hearing birds chirp and smelling the occasional flower blooming. It's also very fun and exciting to run on the Greenbelt.
We started off well enough with a map and some directions from Andre. Andre was starting later and he's faster, so I figured he'd pass us along the way and make sure we were on course.
Things went well until we were about 2 or more miles in and got a little lost. Once we saw the trail, we realized how obvious it was. But we were looking down and chatting, so we ended up on some high rocks. I heard feet running nearby, but I couldn't see anyone. I knew whoever it was I could hear was running on the trail we wanted to be on. I yelled at Barb, whom I couldn't see thanks to tons of huge rocks. I even told her that I thought it was Andre running by, and I'm pretty sure it was. Andre did indeed keep us on course.
The next excitement came when we approached detour signs to steer folks away from a washed out foot bridge. Maybe we are directionally-challenge (well, I know I am), but we got on a wrong trail here, too. We were being attacked by huge horseflies, and Barb cracked me up when she said, "These horseflies are so huge, they have saddles." That image still tickles me. Our wrong trail sent us to an office building, and I could hear the 360/Mopac interchange. Turns out that the office building is where Andre works. Too bad he didn't leave a note on the wall by the trail telling us we had gone the wrong way. ;o)
We had to turn back at this point without getting to 360 - time and water was running out. On our way back, Barb tripped on a very rocky section and fell really, really, really hard. It scared me how hard to she fell (she was behind me but the sound of her fall was not a good sound). Fortunately, she was okay...a skinned knee and a sore back. A little rest for us for Barb to get her bearings, and we were off again.
We are happily running along, chatting about how fabulous it is to live in Austin and have such a great place to run. A man approaches with three dogs, and only one dog is on a leash. I'm in front, which leaves Barb a little blinded. One of the unleashed dogs is small and in front and heads past me. I hear a horrible screech that I thought was from the dog, but in fact, it was from Barb. The dog had jumped up at her, and she thought it was a wild animal attacking her from the bushes. We had a good laugh about it once she was calm. I offered her to go in front, but she said she was fine.
Happily we are running again, albeit I'm going slower and slower. I catch my toe on the tiniest of rocks and fall really far for a really long time. Even Barb thought I fell in slow motion. I fell on a soft part of the trail, and skidded into the greenery. Another good laugh for us after we made sure I was fine and hadn't landed in poison ivy.
Soon thereafter, Andre and Paul come running past us. We chat with them for a minute or two about our adventures thus far. Andre confirms that it was them that ran past when we were lost in the high rocks. They speed off in search of a cool (and free!) swim at Barton Springs, and we slowly follow for our turn to dip our legs on the cool water. Of course, we went to the always-free part of the Springs.
Lessons learned:
Bring more water
Apply bug spray
Pack a tiny, but useful first-aid kit
We had so much fun. I hope more friends will run with us next time we are on the Greenbelt.
Labels: Running
posted by Jessica at
5:09 PM
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