Getting Spooked on a Run in the Woods

    I mentioned in an earlier post that my time running in Morocco and in general has given me many opportunities to meet people I would not have otherwise. Sometimes those meetings are others that are running, sometimes they are people in a convenience store, and other times they are people I do not even speak to but will never forget. 

    I was running about six months ago in a forest between Rabat and Temara, Morocco. I was on some of the smaller trails that crisscross that forest (mule trails) and I had not seen anyone the whole time I was out there. As I came around a bent in the trails there was a guy walking by himself so I stepped off the trail as I passed him. 

    This is where this guy, who would have normally faded away from my memory without a second thought became someone I will never forget. As I passed him this quiet man who did not even acknowledge my "passing on your right" (in Arabic) suddenly came alive. He turned toward me, threw his arms up in the air like a mother bear defending her cubs, contorted his face into quite an interesting expression, and screamed a blood curtailing screech at the top of his lungs. 

    I was in total shock, in fact I was likely screaming myself (in a manly way). I jumped and then took off not knowing what this man was doing. After about ten meters I looked behind me to see if he was gaining on me only to see him walking with his hand back in his pockets, head down, smiling.

    Do you have any similar experiences with people who you met on a run that you will never forget? You can leave your story below in the comments. Then get out for a run.

The Dust Storm that Ruined My Run

    These are sad times. I was all ready to go on my last, if not short by comparison, long run (14 miles) before next weekends race. However, when we woke up this morning we found a storm on its way into town. Normally this would not be a problem, I would grab my rain jacket as a precaution and hit the road. But since it has not rained in almost two months here the wind that came in before the storm kicked up a lot of dust, dirt, and trash.

On a normal day you can see a mountain line from here.

    I do not mind running in the rain. I do not mind running in the cold. I do not mind running in the snow, and I do not mind running in the heat. What I do not like to run/cycle/hike/walk in is a dust storm. Now that would be different if I were to ever get the chance to participate in the Marathon Des Sables, a race in the Sahara of Morocco then I would be more than happy to train and race/run in a dust storm. 

    That's life, I am just happy that most of the year there is great weather for running here. As it stands now, my run is postponed until tomorrow and after that begins my one week taper before the Marrakech marathon.