Encounters with Cougars

So last night around 9:00 pm, I was just tying the last loop of my shoe to go running when I heard my brother Seth come into the house and announce that he had nearly hit a mountain lion on his way home. Seth is a very honest and forthright fellow and we could tell he wasn't lying, so everyone asked where it was and started worrying.

Apparently he nearly hit it with the car along the very same running route I frequent 2-3 times per week. Apparently it was as large as the deer he did hit a few weeks ago. Apparently it was quite large--it's back came up to his hip.

So I considered whether I should follow the same running route... and concluded to take another.

But by the time we had called Animal Control, or "wildlife" as they like to call themselves, and by the time we had discussed all the strategic tactics for defense against lions, it was already 10:00 pm, and I was a little more than trepidatious about the run... I HAD to go though--I couldn't break the schedule! So after Seth declined my invitation for him to follow me in the car while I ran, my sweet dad offered to follow me in the car.

So Seth and Dad grabbed a high powered spot-light and hopped in the car. They wanted to see if they could spot the cougar. And for some reason I started feeling more as though I were live bait than a privileged runner--especially when they stopped following me while I ran through the darkest part of the road, where the cougar probably lay waiting, stalking...

Providentially, I didn't die and my gallant brother and father caught up to me after spotting a fox and guarded me the rest of the way home.

Herriman

Last Friday I went for a quick run before going to a Halloween party. I have to say that running in Herriman is sometimes a sublime experience - not always, but more often than you'd think. I'm going to try and describe it, but it might sound quite cheesy. It was just very nice :)

On Friday it was quite nice. I first noticed the cool October air and decorated yards as I ran through the neighborhood. I love the musty smell of the fallen oak leaves as I ran through the small patch of woods and around the lake, the sunset giving the lake and all the hillsides around a pretty glow in backlit muted browns and blues and yellows and tans. I ran a bit longer than I planned just so I could keep looking at the valley lights and changing colors on the mountains as the sun set--three temples glowing their light. And the mountains are so spectacular just being there! They're huge! The groups of deer I passed weren't scared by my running towards them. They deigned to lift their heads from the grass for a bit, then went back to their feeding. And all this to the very fitting music of Nickel Creek and my other favorite songs (When You Come Back Down, Pastures New...).

It was just very, very beautiful...I wondered how many people get to notice this artwork. We go about our errands and work against this spectacular backdrop, and it probably happens every single day! I need to go running more often :)