Snakes on a Run

Not a fan.  Not a fan at all of snakes.  Holy moly.

This is a stunning artistic depiction of what happened to me on yesterday's run.

I left in the late morning for an easy 6 mile training run.  It was pretty warm and my endurance was suffering, but my knee and ankle were doing well. I was pleased.  I spent most of the run listening to Ted talks and I was feeling like quite the genius.  psst - Goldie Hawn's secret to success? Getting past self doubt.

Anyway, so I'm running along on the trail and all of a sudden I notice in front of me the largest snake I have ever seen. No I'm not exaggerating.  It was more 6" long and about 4" thick.  Seriously.  It was huge.

Its head was pointing into the woods and most of its body was on the trail.  I didn't think too much, I just ran as fast as I could and leaped over the far end of the snake.  I just wanted to get away from it as fast as I could.  I didn't scream, but as I ran away (at a 6:30 pace covered in goosebumps) I kept saying out loud, "Oh S&*#".  Snakes > Being classy.

As I was sprinting away I kept thinking that I should 1. take a pic for the blog 2. take a pic because nobody would believe how big it was 3. get the heck out of there.  Survey says? Option 3 won.

Once home I did some research and am 98% sure the snake was a venomous cottonmouth!  Shut the front door!

source

They're doing some new construction in the area, so maybe he was relocating?

When the heebie jeebies subsided I whipped up a pumpkin smoothie while watching the Real Housewives of Miami marathon.  Is your DVR set for the season premier friends?  IMHO Orange County is the best housewives, but I'm hoping Miami will hold our interest.

Smoothie supplies

The pumpkin smoothie was refreshing and very fall.  In the mix:

• 1/2 cup pure pumpkin
• 1 scoop vanilla Designer Whey protein
• 5 drops NuNuNaturals vanilla stevia
• 1 tsp peanut butter
• 1/4 cup oatmeal
• pumpkin pie spice
• chia seeds
• enough almond milk to move it
• ice

I was very happy with the way the smoothie turned out.  Mmmmm!

Have you ever encountered a creature on your run? What did you do?

Love and parseltongue,

Carissa & Kyle