Categories: What's New Tags: animals, barefoot running, snakes
Categories: What's New Tags: animals, crow pass crossing
Dogging It
From Sky News:
It was a battle of man against beast in Sydney on Tuesday as two of Australia’s sprinters took on a greyhound.
Christopher Baddock and vetren (sic) Matt Pilkington lined up at Wentworth Park against the four legged Shy Bond.
Due to their two legged disadvantage the humans were given a 40 metre head start…and they both outpaced the K9 over 70 metres.
However Shy Bond’s trainer Malcom Smart demanded a rematch claiming his star racer was still getting over a virus.
Categories: Outpost of the Odd Tags: animals
Foxy Lady
A runner in Arizona was attacked and bitten by a fox. While removing it from her foot, it latched onto her arm and wouldn’t let go, so she ran a mile back to her car, detached it and threw it in the trunk, then drove to the sheriff’s office, where the fox also bit an animal control officer.
So the entire running community has one question: What was her time in that mile? Since we’ll try anything, you may see a lot of runners in your next race with small woodland creatures attached to their arms.
I’ve already pitched it to Brooks, Nike and Garmin as an apparel accessory.
Categories: Outpost of the Odd Tags: animals
The Birds, the Bees, and the Yappy Little Dogs
Animal encounters are the price of sharing the great outdoors with God’s creatures, but perhaps because runners cover so much territory we seem to have more than our share.
I’ve had a gash opened on my calf by a nine-pound yapping monster -on a retractable leash, mind you – and had a huge friendly Labrador follow me on my entire six-mile run. I’ve been chased by yellowjackets and a crow. Evidently I’ve only scratched the surface.
A little research turned up runner stories and advice about encounters with birds, bees, deer, coyotes, and rattlesnakes.
And if you’re on the trail in Australia, watch out for wombats.
It’s a serious safety issue, but there’s a comedic side to all the animal do’s and don’ts. Aggressive dog? Avoid eye contact. Aggressive wolf? Maintain eye contact.
Don’t yell, wave your arms or make aggressive movements towards a dog. If it’s a dingo, go ahead and make a sudden loud noise, and continue until it goes away.
Grizzly bear? Play dead. Cougar? Stand and fight.
And then there’s this helpful hint: “A charging polar bear should be interpreted as a bear intent on injuring a person.”
Thanks for the safety tip.
I’m a runner, not Marlin Perkins. I picture myself being eaten alive by raccoons or fruit bats while I rummage through my mental files for the appropriate response.
Women runners have one additional animal nuisance to deal with, but don’t worry. Squirt water in his face and he’ll leave you alone.
