Attack of the killer...Mallard?...

I started today with a lot of different intentions, but I have to say the way it ended up (which wasn't in the plans) was so much better. First I was going to run during my lunch break today, but let's be honest, what lunch break? Then I was going to run through downtown Annapolis before a meeting this evening, but well, I needed to walk Duncan first. Then I was going to run through downtown Annapolis after my meeting, except I parked my car on the Yard (that would be the Naval Academy campus for the non-Annapolitans out there) and I was carrying a cookbook...don't ask. So, after my meeting I had a little pep talk with myself since I was waivering from running at all now that none of the plans seemed to work out. I convinced myself, even though the sun had set at this point (and you know my policy on night running...I'm a danger to myself) I would run the sidewalks and roads along the sea wall on the Yard.

Since I was parked in front of Halsey Field House, I took off toward the sea wall and was momentarily stunned by the mega yacht anchored off the end of Ego Alley, then I remembered I had ordered a pick up in style :) Okay, perhaps I'm hallucinating now but I did indulge in several minutes of pretending I owned the monster that I believe actually belongs to the owner of the Ravens (he anchors down in Annapolis part of the year). A few moments of indulgence was enough before I settled into enjoying the glassy surface of the Severn River lapping up against the sea wall.

If you've run the Yard, you know the typical sea wall route...bending in sight of Ego Alley, back behind Rip Miller field, down around the Santee boat basin, passed the Glen Warner soccer facility and so on. The one typical part of the jog I really don't like is the wooden footbridge that connects main campus with Hospital Point. I dread crossing it in the light of day, let alone the dead of night, but I sucked it up and cruised on across hoping all the boards would hold (I heard the Severn River is still pretty darn cold). Low and behold, it seems to hold together for me, so here's where my policy of no night running often comes in handy. If you are clumsy, you should not invite dangerous situations, like running the gravel path of the sea wall on Hospital Point at night with no guard railing and almost no lighting. There are two sides to this coin - the near pitch black really allows me to settle into the run and just enjoy the feeling, alternately, I am nearly shocked into the river by the mallard that decided to pop onto the path right in front of me in the pitch black. Yes, he had absolutely no fear of the runner pounding away along the path, and he had friends. Not one, but several. Ultimately I survived the ducks, but geez I jumped so high and far I nearly did go for that swim.

The rest of my run wasn't quite so dramatic. After curving along by the columbarium and back across the proper concrete bridge (as opposed to the wooden bridge), I reversed my path. What better way to get another look at my future yacht? All in all, I had a super pleasant jaunt and may eschew my night running policy again to take in the quiet solitude I had this evening. Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles: 4.53
Time: 38:46 (average pace of 8:33 per mile)
Location: US Naval Academy, aka the Yard
Feeling: Settled into my stride and loving life