One of my favorite things about running is getting to be out in nature. Often I'll do my long runs in areas that are fairly remote. I mentioned to Dan back when I was training for the half that I sometimes wondered if I might run into a wild animal. It's so funny - in Chicago I always worried about muggers and hooligans and in San Diego I worry about mountain lions!
Anyway, today I was running and literally came face to face with a coyote. I stopped dead in my tracks and just watched him for a few seconds. He definitely saw me but he was already in the midst of crossing to the other side of the street. I decided to keep running and watch him. He decided to keep pace with me. So I changed direction and started heading back home. He decided he wanted to come with me. At this point I was seriously wondering what the heck I was going to do if this thing decided to have me for breakfast. Luckily right at that time a guy came flying over the mountain on his bike and scared the coyote away. I was able to make a break for it and took off.
I'm not sure what the point of this story is because it's not going to stop me from running. I'm just wondering now if maybe I need to start carrying some sort of protection!