How to run fast...

Today started off hectic and a little stressful. That is okay, my best way to combat a blah Monday is an afternoon trail run. Towsley Canyon at Rivendale Ranch near Calgrove on The Old Road has a spectacular 5 mile loop consisting of nice gradual singletrack uphill with a killer open downhill. My average time for what I call "Towsley #1" is around 55 minutes. By the way, when I'm feeling extra energetic, there is a little side trail near the end that does take you back up to the ranger station for an extra 2 miles. Yeah...not that energetic on this Monday afternoon!

I wasn't planning on breaking any of my personal bests, for all I really wanted to do was to see how my new GPS program worked on my phone. Besides, I was a little tired and slightly anxious to get home and watch some Monday Night Football! Two games for the opener? San Diego Chargers to boot? C'mon, what is a boy to do?

Charging up the hill (no pun intended) takes about 30 minutes. I was on a great pace. Although, I wasn't using a sophisticated Garmin. Just my smart phone in the little pocket of my H2O bottle holder. I wasn't about to check it. This takes way too many seconds!! So, I'm feeling okay. Thinking I'm going to be close on a personal best. Saw a few runners coming down the opposite direction. Always nice to see fellow humans enjoying the same craziness that I have adopted as my mantra. I wasn't feeling too thirsty, until I got up to the baby side on left of the killer big hill. This is the last major part of this uphill portion of the run. At this point I was sort of comfortable with doing a great split, and decided to start consuming the delicious much needed water in my left hand. After taking my second slug I look up and I spot another trail traveler. Not a runner....RATTLESNAKE! I have encountered these creatures in the past. I have never been within striking distance though. Coiled and letting his tail do talking, he made me the quickest 180 imaginable. Heart in my throat, I sped up the steeper side even though I was at the end of a 30 minute push up the trail. I need to get outta here, I can't stop. Needless to say I made it back to the truck in 51:21.45. Definitely, my fastest time ever! Not the way I wanted to do it, But I will take what I can get.

The manic-blah Monday didn't seem to really matter anymore. Thinking of my good friend John, I could hear him saying, watch out for those "pokie pokers"! He still makes me laugh!