Fox on the run

In chronicling the highlights of the past month, I completely overlooked one mega event from last week - I saw a fox on a run. Yeah, yeah, it doesn't sound like that much, but living in an urban area, I have never seen a fox just darting around on his velvety little feet. What makes it even more Nat Geo-worthy is that the fox crossed my path in Friendship Park right along the river,  just east of downtown. Usually when I spot wildlife it's in the 'burbs - deer in Taylor Mill, wild turkeys in Indian Hill, etc. 

So, Mark and I were running a week ago last Thursday, heading back to the building after turning around in Friendship Park. Even though it was dark out, I could see a big cat with pointy ears sitting at the top of the path a short distance ahead. It spotted us and darted across the path, retreating to the woods by the river, and I could see it's long nose and the white tip of its tail. Mark was saying something and I totally interrupted him with, "That's a fox!" The fox ran through the shrubs for a few yards, then stopped to look back at us. I tried to point him out to Mark, who couldn't see him in the dark. 

It's a minor thing, but I love seeing animals while I'm out running. Seeing that fox totally made my day. When I got up that morning, I was tired and in a bad mood. Even running wasn't doing much for my morale. Once I saw that fox, though, and watched him run off, it reminded me why I get up and out the door at 6:00 a.m. These are the experiences that make running so special to me. Even though I feel like I spend the majority of my life indoors these days, it's my time outdoors that rejuvenates me. It reminds me of being a kid and being curious - exploring & inspecting everything around me. There are days when I wish I could go back to that, and running helps me get a little closer.