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I’m a city girl born and bred. I’ve been running concrete roads since I was thirteen and have learnt to navigate the dangers of urban outdoor exercise. Always run when it’s light, stay in well-populated areas, be aware of your surroundings, keep an ear out for cars/predatory assholes.
The idea of running in the Connecticut woods seems idyllic. Dirt trails through pine forests that open up to paved roads through rolling green hills, pastures dotted with pretty red and white barns and farmhouses, and more delicious pine forest.
For the past month, I’ve been loving my runs in New Milford, Connecticut. Apart from the humidity and those rolling green hills — they feel so much steeper when you’re running them — my training runs through the woods have been a true delight.
Except for one thing. Bears. Or at least the possibility of them.
In the spring, my friend Bev, New Milford local and resident Unlocking Litchfield blogger, posted about running with a can bear spray. Uh oh... Do I need to add bear spray to my list of running essentials?! When I arrived at camp, I asked how safe it was for me to be running on my own. Bev said if I played music out loud while I ran, the music should be enough of a bear deterrent.
Then last Monday, Aaron and I were driving along 202. It was the middle of the day, with plenty of cars around, and we spotted an enormous black bear pacing up and down the side of the road.
It’s one thing to see a bear from the (relative) safety of your car. It’s entirely another thing to imagine seeing one when you’re out trying to enjoy an early morning jog.
I managed to get out for an 8.5km run on Tuesday, but I was anxious the whole time about encountering that bear. With my terrible long distance vision, every large mailbox along the road was a bear waiting to leap out and wreak havoc on my pace.
There were several bear sightings last night, and this morning I was even more nervous for my long run. I managed another 16.5km, and except for signs indicating Bear Hill Road, Little Bear Road, and Bear Lane, there were thankfully no bears in sight.
Throughout my runs I've been keeping a steady stream of show tunes blaring from the phone in my pocket. Whether it's the noise of me huffing and puffing down the road, or the fact that bears just don't dig the Lin Manuel Miranda mixtape at 7.30 in the morning, let’s hope my training continues to only involve Lyons and timers!
The idea of running in the Connecticut woods seems idyllic. Dirt trails through pine forests that open up to paved roads through rolling green hills, pastures dotted with pretty red and white barns and farmhouses, and more delicious pine forest.
For the past month, I’ve been loving my runs in New Milford, Connecticut. Apart from the humidity and those rolling green hills — they feel so much steeper when you’re running them — my training runs through the woods have been a true delight.
Except for one thing. Bears. Or at least the possibility of them.
In the spring, my friend Bev, New Milford local and resident Unlocking Litchfield blogger, posted about running with a can bear spray. Uh oh... Do I need to add bear spray to my list of running essentials?! When I arrived at camp, I asked how safe it was for me to be running on my own. Bev said if I played music out loud while I ran, the music should be enough of a bear deterrent.
Then last Monday, Aaron and I were driving along 202. It was the middle of the day, with plenty of cars around, and we spotted an enormous black bear pacing up and down the side of the road.
It’s one thing to see a bear from the (relative) safety of your car. It’s entirely another thing to imagine seeing one when you’re out trying to enjoy an early morning jog.
I managed to get out for an 8.5km run on Tuesday, but I was anxious the whole time about encountering that bear. With my terrible long distance vision, every large mailbox along the road was a bear waiting to leap out and wreak havoc on my pace.
There were several bear sightings last night, and this morning I was even more nervous for my long run. I managed another 16.5km, and except for signs indicating Bear Hill Road, Little Bear Road, and Bear Lane, there were thankfully no bears in sight.
Throughout my runs I've been keeping a steady stream of show tunes blaring from the phone in my pocket. Whether it's the noise of me huffing and puffing down the road, or the fact that bears just don't dig the Lin Manuel Miranda mixtape at 7.30 in the morning, let’s hope my training continues to only involve Lyons and timers!
In July 2014, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Three years post-transplant, I’m running the NYC Marathon to help raise research funds for the team that saved my life. Can you donate to Fred’s Team and help me raise $5000 towards making cancer history?
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