The best thing about waking at 5am and heading in to the dawn for an 8 mile run, is being able to witness the sunrise.  This morning brought me back to a summer in college, when my sister (OJ) and I spent most mornings getting out the door on our mountain bikes while it was still dark.  This was in suburban Massachusetts, not Northern California, so the landscape and terrain were extremely different.  But the thrill of being outside and moving and sweating while beauty slowly erupted before us/me, was exactly the same.

I snapped the above photo around mile 3.5, just as I was wishing I hadn’t left my cap and sunglasses behind on the kitchen counter.  The glare was level with my eyes (I’m only 5′ 2″) and I was experiencing some difficulty navigating the pebbly, dirt path in front of me.  The relative discomfort lasted until I reached the end of this surface, and found some relief as I was dumped on to a paved utility road boasting a small sign Watch For Trucks.  Now I have run this route tons of times, so much that I could probably do it with my eyes closed.  I have rarely seen more than a single public works truck and maybe an occasional Coast Guard vehicle pass by.  But for some reason this morning, with my eyes wide open, I witnessed a barrage of trucks heading towards me, probably on their way to the wetlands.  I skipped out of the way as the first one passed, finding my footing on the grass that runs along side the road.  There I remained and jogged along as vehicle after vehicle roared by me, until one slowed and drifted too close for my liking.  The driver leaned his big, stupid head out the window and called, “Watch out, little lady!”   His intent was clear in his condescending tone and choice of words.  I know that he was not giving me a friendly warning because I was nowhere near in his, or anyone else’s, way.  So I acted in the most crass and unladylike way I could quickly imagine- I simultaneously picked my nose, burped, farted and mooned the jackass.  OK, I didn’t really do any of those things but it would have been so satisfying and cool if I had.  Instead, I swore at him and muttered terrible things to myself as I ran away.
My adventures did not stop here as I still had slightly less than half my mileage to go. I reached the turn-around point, tagged a street sign and headed back along the scene of the confrontation. Once on the dirt trail, I picked up my pace knowing that I would soon be done. As I rounded a bend and approached the end of the trail, I spied a remarkably large group of runners for this time of the morning. There were probably 15 to 20 of them spread out all over the place, stretching, chatting and obstructing both the trail and the gate. I galloped closer and could see a few of them gazing in my general direction. Either I look damn good or none of these idiots have had any coffee yet! Move! Still no reaction as I quickly approached the gaggle, so I did what any person of sound mind and body under similar circumstances would. I plowed towards the group, screaming and animatedly waving my arms. Yes, I really did do this. My somewhat wacky antics had the desired effect- the whole lot of them scattered like pigeons in alarm, and one guy even laughed. Well played, VJB, well played.
From reading this blog, it may seem like I’m a confrontational person getting into it with folks all over Marin County. I’m actually a friendly and laid-back gal, most of the time. However, mess with me (or my training) and watch out! I just might do something mean, crazy and/or disgusting. Peace.