As you know, I’m visiting my mom this week and that means that my running routes are far different than those that I see at home. Settle back and let me take you on a run along the very same roads that a very young Deb used to run… Wearing my Asics Gel Scouts, I left the house for a combined trail/pavement run. The course I chose was very hilly, and if I trained on this regularly, I’d become a beast and would have laughed at those hills last week at the Reston 10 Miler!
I ran an out-and-back and didn’t start taking pictures until I turned around and headed home. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful day for this farm girl turned city slicker to spook a cow and watch it run through the fence! Yes, I did that. I followed the road to the left that you can see in the distance and scared that far white cow as I ran by. I guess they don’t see too many runners go by.
As soon as I got back to Mom’s house, I had to call my uncle (it was his cow) to humbly tell him what had happened. I even volunteered to help chase the cow back into the lot, which would have been a great workout after my run. Luckily, Uncle Tommy told me that it was a very gentle cow that would come back with a little rattle of a feed bucket.
After running along the river for a while, I started gaining elevation and at a distance you can see that I will continue climbing as I run up that road along the ridge…
The road keeps climbing up the ridge until it levels out near where my grandparents lived…
And then the road heads back down the hill in a very steep straight line…
Eventually, I made my way back to the muddy gravel road…
And before I knew it, I turned onto the lane of my childhood home, and found jonquils greeting me and reminding me that spring really is on its way!
- Questions:
- Have you ever chased a cow? Milked a cow? Petted a cow?
- If you run, do you run on hills, flat trails, or a combination?
- What signs of spring do you have near you?
No signs of spring here yet, but maybe a little grass starting to peek through in areas.
That cow story is too funny. That would definitely never happen in the area I live! LOL
I run past a few cows and horses when I run on the W&OD Trail at home, but I’ve never spooked one there.
Never chased. Never milked. Have touched.
I run flat here. There’s really not much choice.
The big sign of spring is that grass will turn from brownish to green. Even though it gets super cold, things never seem to completely die or wither.
I can’t wait for those first sprigs of green grass. I guess I’ll have to wait a little longer, because the forecast for tomorrow is for snow, sleet, and freezing rain…
I’ve milked a cow at farm camp!
As much as I dislike running hills, they do help with speed! I ran a very hilly route the other day and then was treated to an AMAZING view when I made it to the halfway point. We will have to run it together sometime!!
Count me in for the run! AND, you’ve done something this farm girl has never done. Can you believe I’ve never milked a cow?
I love how connected your family is to this place! And that you are able to go back and run on the lane where you grew up. Not many people have that connection to place anymore. My parents are still in the same house where I grew up, but it is very suburban and not so much family history there. Awe, thanks for a great post that warms my heart. I run into cows quite often here, actually, but that is just Colorado 🙂
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Yes, I’m very lucky. Mom’s three brothers live close by so I usually get to see them when I visit, too!
That running route sounds amazing! I kind of hate hills, but I love them when I get to the top! And I grew up near tons of cows but I’ve never milked one.
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Even though I grew up on a dairy farm, I’ve never milked a cow!
I love the walk down memory lane…
I also love that we are shoe-twins. I find that these Asics really MEAN it when they say they are for trails. I find them very uncomfortable to run in on the road… you?
Your uncle KNEW which cow you were talking about and knew his/her temperament. That’s amazing.
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I love my Asics Gel-Scouts and have been running in them all winter. I love the traction they give me in the snow, ice, and muddy paved trails on days that it’s not bad enough for Yaktrak.
The cow in question had longer curlier hair than the others and was mostly white so it was easier for me to identify it.
Looks like such a peaceful route!
Ha ha- this summer while riding our bikes we saw a cow jump a barbed wire fence- I had no idea they were so agile!
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It is peaceful, sometimes I don’t see even see a car go by when I’m running on those roads.
Yes to all three of your cow questions. 🙂 It’s mainly hilly where I run but the New River Trail is mostly flat, with just a gradual incline that you really notice when you start going back down it. Our Daisies have started to come up. I’m worried it might be too soon!
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I still want to run on the New River Trail with you sometime. I thought of you as I crossed the New River on my way to Blacksburg on Saturday afternoon. Those pictures you posted from your run on that trail last year were beautiful.
Hope your daisies survive today’s big temperature drop!