Running in Orlando my interactions with wild life were infrequent at best and limited to gecko's, bums, swans and the ducks around Lake Eola. (Oh and one time, an iguana. Random!)
Since moving to Michigan it's been a wild life free for all; I've had brushes with Jeri's infamous Black Squirrels, rabbits, deer, ill/under dressed running collegiates and most frequently geese. Canadian Geese to be exact and they're angry little b@stards!
One of my local routes takes me by two ponds that seem to be a gander hot spot and recently while running along, minding my own business, attempting to dodge all the goose poop (it's EVERYWHERE!) I had an altercation with an arrogant goose. He started huffing, puffing and... hissing.
I'd like to tell you I hissed right back and showed him who was boss but I have a profound fear of fowl (traumatic rooster attack as a child on the farm) so instead I jumped from the sidewalk onto the road and almost got creamed by a Fedex Truck. D@mn Goose.
Speaking of almost getting creamed, that was the second time that week! Last wednesday as I headed out for a 6 miler I was using a crosswalk, the light clearly signaling me across, when a car in the right lane pulls up, driver looking left to see if he can turn right and does a rolling stop, but never stopping. If I hadn't been paying attention to him I would've ended up being 10 pts. As it was, he never saw me. Not even when I yelled at him as I ran forward and across his path, to get out of his way, and not even when I smacked his car with my hand. Needless to say it was a pretty scary moment and only validated my fear of crosswalks.
Take this as a friendly reminder, make sure you're vigilant out there; whether it be wildlife or moving vehicles make sure you are aware of your surroundings and running on your guard. Run safe and always wear your Road Id.
Wildlife Encounter Tip from Spike: If a deadly goose threatens attack, raise your arms, yell and run towards it. Do NOT scream like a girl and run away. (Like I did.) What's the most random thing that's ever scared the crap out of you while out running???
34 comments:
"ill/under dressed running collegiates..." Why are there no pictures of this? Curious minds and all!
I used to run on country roads and had to run early to make it into work...well in the fall, this means 1. its dark (like pitch black dark due to no street lights) and 2. the deer are on the move because its hunting season. Imagine my suprise when a huge herd of deer busted across the country road about 50 feet in front of me at full speed in the pitch black darkness!
Geese are mean..and scary. I steer clear of them as they will bite...or nip...or whatever geese do.
I also steer clear of cars...they always win and drivers for the most part are too unaware or impatient of runners/bikers.
Uhm you have it all wrong. Redheads are worth double points, not just the usual 10 points!
I have to run by geese all the time when I run around the lakes by my house. During the spring when they have babies it's the worst. They get extra hissy. Good luck out there!
Had a black bear come out in front of me on the bike one time. He was more scared of me than I was of it, cuz it ran!
Most random was a freaking GIGANTIC crawfish out in the middle of a trail. A crawfish? Wha? How? I guess it came from the creak nearby?
Hilarious! This is what I do when I see snakes. I would much prefer to play it fast and loose with jumping in front of oncoming traffic than confront a reptile!
EEK! Yes geese are nasty! There was an incident with a big yellow Hummer I didn't appreciate.
Your timing is hilarious. This isn't running, but this morning I was out riding and went through a little tunnel. I was speeding through when OMG A HUGE DARK THING jumped in front of me. I shrieked and almost fell off my bike...then realized, it was my shadow. HA.
I almost stepped on a snake in the middle of the road this morning...scared the hell out of me. I live in the suburbs and there aren't a tons of woods around but I still seem to have lots of wildlife encounters - snakes, bunnies, wild turkeys, geese (where'd they come from?). The geese scare me as well. The seem to walk toward me, not away.
OMG, I had an encounter with geese this morning too! There's a pond on my usual trail and they were ALL OVER the path. (Um, what's wrong with the grass, birds?!)
Those suckers look mean and have been known to attack. I tiptoed my way through and made it out alive... and then I had to run by again on the way back!
Be careful out there! And UGH to oblivious/ignorant drivers!!
I surprised a skunk one time. It was on some grass next to the sidewalk. Luckily nothing happened!
I've also become startled by the sound of my own footsteps, and that's just sad.
The geese are everywhere here. Last week, at a park where I run, they killed 250 of them. They gassed them, right in the park. They might be mean, but they are living beings.
Snakes definitely get me, and it's not often, but when it happens, it's frightening. I got bit by a goose last summer, I may have been harrassing it...but only a little bit. They are mean!
Geese are the worst, they are all mean! I've run into tons-o-wildlife on my runs.... nothing has ever threatened me but I was pretty scared when I was cornered by three coyote. Nothing happened, but yikes!
Those lil' bastards!!! If you do decide to follow Spike's advice next time make sure you have someone video tape it... "Redhead attacks Geese" sounds like an awesome viral video to me!
HA - Jamoosh totally said what I was thinking too.
There is NO such thing as an under dressed college student.
There are some reactions that are just natural, like jumping in front of a FedEx truck.
At my last 50k there was a big black snake that went across the path, and I'm not bothered by snakes, I know it was just looking for mice and not me, but I gasped so loud it sounded like a scream and jumped way back. Too bad the jump was in the wrong direction, or it would have gotten me to the finish sooner - next time!
I was once bitten by a turtle. Yep, that's how slow I was running. FML!
I've had a few encounters with geese -- one time a goose started flapping his wings as he moved in to attack us! I also screamed and ran away like a girl. Next time I'll follow Spike's advice. Those things are mean!
michigan is a scary place for us runners...i swear someone almost runs over me every run!!!!! us michiganders are in such a damn hurry! LOL
Oh wow. I have to admit, that would scare me too! I dont't really see much wildlife on my runs (I'm almost a little jealous of you - almost).
Geese are mean, mean, evil creatures. I run at our local lake, and they are everywhere. Grrr. Evil. Swans aren't very nice either.
Can't think of anything scary that has happened to me on a run...well, there was the time I was SURE I was being chased by an alligator, but, that's just weird sounds + running by the lake/creek after a big rainstorm+ living in the south + being the ONLY person on the trail. Of course I'd be chased by an alligator when there is NO ONE else there to save me. But, whatever it was (or wasn't) I outran it and safely returned home.
Although, months later we did see a baby alligator on the trail (seriously! I have other witnesses!), so, it does probe that it COULD have been an alligator. All I'm sayin'....
"I would've ended up as 10 pts" Ha! SO glad you did NOT, oof. There are so many stupid drivers; I actually think that biking and running have made me a MUCH more attentive driver...sad to say, but its easy to get distracted, and it doesn't take much at all to completely take someone out. SCARY.
Um, we have geese all over DC, too and if one hissed at me? Safe to say I'd lose my sh*t. thankfully, that has never happened - but I do see Deer all the time in Rock Creek Park - they're also pretty timid, but omg Huge and it always makes me catch my breath. Whew.
My scariest moment with an animal had to be when i was out for a long run, just running along minding my own business and I looked off to my left on the side of the road. I saw a baby groundhog and it scared me so much! The groundhog didn't even move or run away as i passed! I seriously must have jumped a few inches into the air, mid run!
haha thanks for the blog shout out. Maybe my black squirrel friend high tailed it north east to join you, b/c I haven't seen one in a long time. And we have a TON of geese on the bike trails and there are truly a gaggle of them (groups of 30+). I got so freaked when they hiss at me. :/
You must have been around their little ones???? Funny how those Canadians head south for the summer....
Hmmm.. I would have to say when I ran face to face with a coyote on my run. Or maybe that huge rattle snake I ran by (PR pace that night by the way!). Or the stupid badger that lives on the road I regularly run. You gotta love the 'hood when you live in the country :)
I've had a goose fly at my head once so I know how aggressive they can be!
And crosswalks scare me a lot too. Drivers are idiots these days!
Absolutely hilarious and completely true! Those geese can be really scary! Glad you made it through okay!!
Yeah, so, 2 things.
1. Thank you for the reminder about ID. I just moved and realized half way through my run this morning that I was the only person in sight on a wet trail in a new city and I had no ID on me. Not smart. Clearly I need to get on this.
2. Scariest animal/running moment: I was once running at the fringe where my old subdivision met the neighboring farm. I was listening to my iPod, because really, it was the country and there was no risk of cars. And then out of freaking nowhere there was a dog chasing/jumping at me. It startled me and I sort of yelled. I probably would have heard it coming if I hadn't been listening to music. FAIL.
I have NO fear of hissing at the geese in the park especially if they are in my way. I consider hitting while still running 100 points in my books.
I got spooked by a shrub one. Seriously. There was some sort of animal underneath it, causing the leaves to rub together all of the sudden and I jumped mid-stride.
Road Id. hahaa, this brings up a conversation I had with a new running buddy a couple of weeks ago. t was her FIRST run outdoors.
As we were getting ready to leave, she saw me stuffing my id and debit card in my ipod holder and asked why I needed it. I told her, the debit card was in the event I decided that running back was not in the cards for me, I could take a cab. And the ID was so the police could ID my body in the event I crossed paths with a car or angry deer.
Scared her crapless, but it was pretty fun. LOL!
Miss ya girlie!!
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