Running in the dark

I like to run.

It clears my head and allows stories to form and grow.

Due to my work schedule I usually run in the dark.

And when I say dark, I mean dark. I run in my yard, five acres nothing but pine forest.

No street lights and the closest neighbor isn’t very close.

All I have to light my way are the stars, moon, my yard light (which doesn’t cover my entire path) and a flashlight.

I’ll admit that sometimes, it can get kind of creepy out there.

Especially, when I first started. Every sound was new. Every sound was scary.

The rustle in the bushes

The splash of something big jumping into the water or dashing through it as you plod closer

The screech of an owl

That bark of a gator carrying for miles on the night air

The snort

Not miles away but directly behind me.

I never ran so fast in my life, I probably looked like a fat Flash Gordon.

I made it to the house and up the steps, my heart pounding. I called it quits for the day.

Did I go back out the next night?

Yep and there was no snort.

Later I realized that it was a deer. They snort warnings to one another.

I’ve become quite adept at identifying the sounds made by my furry and feathery neighbors but whenever I hear that snort…I still jump and my pace quickens. Instinct takes over but then knowledge and experience calms that burst of adrenaline and I continue plodding along until I’m done.