17

I took Denise for 17 today, her first at this distance. We crossed into Montgomery County before turning around. She was pleased at the thought of running from one county to another.

It was a good day for large animals. Just before the turnaround, a mature fox ran across the trail towards the stream, halted when it saw us, and retreated back into the woods higher up on a hill. It stood partially concealed in the woods watching us, and allowing us to watch back. We lingered for several minutes admiring the handsome animal before we continued along on our trot and allowed the fox to finally achieve his drink at the stream.

On the return, we were graced by a large, horned, buck leading two does to drink at the Anacostia. He was standing in a clearing checking the safety of the trail while his ladies lingered in the tree line. We came to a dead stop when we saw him. He stared back before retreating to the woods and leading his does around us.

The heat of August 1 is, perhaps, making the large suburban mammals bolder as the approach for a drink in the streams and rivers the trails follow. It was a treat to see them.

I noted to Denise that seeing fishing ospreys, large bucks, foxes, and pre-dawn bats and owls were a bonus to the rewards of long distance running.

Denise ran 35 miles this week, capping it off with a 17 mile long run. She, too, is about to achieve the moniker of "endurance athlete".