Lucky # 13

Today was lucky workout number thirteen.  I've never been one for supersitions and unlucky numbers. But boy did today live up to be both superstitious and unlucky!

My alarm went off at 3am sharp. I was determined to stick to my workout schedule and get in a run before work. It would help wake me up. It would help energize me. It would put me in a good mood for work, which I honestly wasn't looking forward to (no real reason other that it's called "work" -- I actually love my job). And shockingly, when my alarm went off, I didn't press snooze for an hour like I normally do... I actually woke up.

No. I didn't just wake up.  I BOUNCED out of bed. I was excited for my workout. I was excited to be awake at such an ungodly hour.  (What in the world?!) I got dressed into my workout clothes immediately -- choosing a pair of neon orange capris and a bright teal shirt. I grabbed my phone and my head phones.

I was literally set up and walking out the door to start my run in 20 mins, once I added my safety/reflective orange belt around my waist.

The music was going. My C25K app had begun the warm up. I was halfway down my dimly lit street when I looked up and scanned down the street (I love my street -- very suburbs). I was only half paying attention until I saw something move.  It was a moderately sized dark mass on four legs.  At first I didn't really think twice about it -- that part of the street has a house where they have two old large chocolate labs who he lets roam freely about the neighborhood. Mostly harmless. They'll follow, but they won't bite. So I kept walking.

But wait a minute... It's 3am. He never lets his dogs out at this hour. Plus there was only one moving mass, and he always lets both of his dogs out at the same time. And they don't really (ever) separate away from each other. My walking slowed.

When I looked harder, I noticed that this particular moving mass was as tall as the mailboxes.  And certainly wider than a chocolate lab. Not by much, but still. And it's gait was... Odd for a dog.  My walking stopped.

I couldn't be certain (thanks to my dimly lit street), but I began to believe that what I was walking towards was not a neighborhood dog but rather a bear.  Yes.  A bear.  On my street.  Facing me.

I suddenly cursed my choice of neon orange pants and bright shirt and reflective belt. There was no way this animal, this bear, hadn't seen me.  I was practically glowing.

I did a 180 degree turn and started walking back to the house as quickly as I could muster without breaking into a run -- something told me that running away from a possible, probable, most likely bear would only entice its hunting instinct. And lord was I praying!

I kept looking back to see where it was -- it had suddenly started moving faster in my direction, making it clear that whatever kind of animal was on my street would have no trouble catching this chubby girl if it made its mind up to do so.  I walked a little faster. I prayed a little harder. I got a little closer to the house.

I was only 3 houses away now.
2 houses.

I glanced back -- still there.

1 house.

I glanced back, and it was gone.
I broke into a sprint up the driveway -- I had no idea if it had truly gone away or if it was successfully hiding from me as it drew closer.

I rushed into the house and yelled "Not today!"
Daniel, confused, asked what was going on, why I wasn't on my run. I explained to him what happened. He grabbed a flashlight and went outside to look, but wasn't able to see anything. I exclaimed "I promise I'm not making this up."
He said "I bet it was a bear. It's the right time of year after all."

A bear.
On my street.

And I'm most upset because it ruined my run and all future 3am pre-work runs.
Lucky workout number 13, eh??

At that point I didn't have enough time to get to the gym. My morning workout was shot. So when I came home from work, I had to workout then. I had a choice -- a neighborhood run or a circuit in the garage. I chose a circuit in the backyard surrounded by two anti-bear devices (my dogs and my fence).

Lord! What an adventure!