Running With Snakes

Running With Snakes??

I know what you may be thinking; I have started to hang out with politicians. I can see how you would come to that conclusion after reading my title but I assure you that smoozing with politicians is somewhere on my list of things I want to do in conjunction with shopping at a mall. Or any store for that mater unless it is a sports store with lots of man stuff. That being said, I was out on the pavement today around mile 5 when I noticed a big stick in the road,,, on my side of the road. I didn’t know 5 foot long sticks could move without the assistance of a 3 to 5 year old boy but there it was, slowing crossing the road. Now this may freak some folks out but I grew up catching black rat snakes and for a brief moment thought about the prospects of catching this beauty and taking it home. Black snakes are good to have around ones home if you live in the country. They help keep the mice down and the occasional Copperhead away from the premises. I was still about 4 miles from home and somehow the weight of a 5 footer hanging off of my arm just didn’t seem like a good idea. As I approached the snake I heard a pickup truck coming up behind me. I started to wave my arms like I was having a heart attack to attempt to slow the driver down. After all, if I couldn’t take her home I could at least help her get out of the road. The driver slowed down and saw what all the arm waving was about. It was just a snake and a runner. I think I saw a slight sneer as he passed and determined he was probably thinking about a turn around and running over both of us. Most people already think people out running are a little weird but, someone running in the heat and attempting to help one of mans hated creatures was a bit to much. I am sure I made great strides today in terms of helping our sport of running. I am just hoping this guy doesn’t see me at another time on the road and attempts to find revenge for making him slow down for a snake and a runner. A double insult for him I would figure. Anyway; I found a stick, a real one this time and proceeded to help the big ole lady slide on across the road. So what does this really have to do with running other than now you know for sure that I am a little off, especially when running in the heat? It caused me to think about my Dad. He passed away 9 years ago this month. I started to think about how he taught me a lot of things about life. He taught me how to tell the difference between a good snake(see non poisonous here) and a bad snake.(yep, poisonous) He taught me how to carefully capture a snake without getting hurt and not hurting the snake. I remembered about the one time I chased a King snake up and tree and out on a limb just so I could take him home and show my dad. Most people wouldn’t use a snake to remember their dad but then again I am not like most people. The point is, when you are out running there is always possibilities to not only learn new things about our sport, endurance, goals and failures but, to take time to remember some of the good times that you were blessed with to share a special moment with someone or something. Running is more than the sweat. Sometimes it’s the memories. By the way, if I had been within a mile of the house, that snake would be in my yard keeping away the varmints. Keep m laced up!