Happy first day of fall! I’ve been celebrating the coming of spooky season for a a minute, now, but it’s officially time to lean in. Even runs can be spooky, especially the early morning or late evening ones.The world is quiet, the air is fresh, and it’s just you, your shoes, and the road or trail. But every now and then, you turn a corner and stumble across something that makes that little voice inside say, “Wait a second…”
Now that it’s spooky season right around the corner, it’s time to be mindful of those bizarre, mildly unsettling things we encounter on our routes. They probably aren’t actual dark magic, or a portal to another dimension, but they definitely make you more aware of your surroundings as you pick up the pace just in case. Here are five scary things you might find on a run, and what you should do about them.
A Perfect Fairy Ring of Mushrooms
You’re cruising down a shaded path, and suddenly there it is: a lovely, perfectly circular ring of wild mushrooms sitting right in the middle of the grass. Folklore says if you step inside a fairy ring, you’ll be trapped dancing with mythical creatures for a hundred years.
Runner Reality Check: A hundred years of non-stop cardio? Honestly, the endurance gains would be incredible, but my running shoes wouldn’t survive it. We’re going to run around the circle, thank you very much.
The Solitary Shoe On The Side Of The Road
How does this even happen?! You’re three miles into your route and sitting on the curb is one perfectly good running shoe. Just one. No owner in sight, no matching partner anywhere on the horizon.
Runner Reality Check: Did a rival runner get beamed up by aliens mid-stride? Did someone get so frustrated with a blister that they tossed it out a car window? The mystery will keep your brain busy for the next two miles, but the golden rule applies: Not yours? Keep your hands to yourself.
A Wall Of Unseen Cobwebs (At Eye Level)
You’re enjoying a peaceful morning run when suddenly, you run through a web. The web itself isn’t the scary part: it’s the immediate realization that there might suddenly be a spider hitching a ride in your hair. Nope nope nope!
Runner Reality Check: Cue the frantic, silent ninja dance where you flail your arms, wipe your face, and sprint twenty yards at top speed. Congratulations, you just completed an accidental interval workout!
A Doll Head Or Random Toy Themed Creature
Nothing quite resets your heart rate like stumbling upon the glassy, unblinking eyes of a plastic doll, a weathered teddy bear, or a life size clown staring at you. Who put it there? Why is it watching the trail?
Runner Reality Check: It’s probably just a neighborhood geocache, a forgotten toy from a stroller walk, or an overzealous decorator, but those tiny plastic eyes are definitely watching you. Best to wave politely and keep moving.
That One Unexplained Rustle in the Bushes
You hear a sudden, loud snap in the woods right beside you. Your brain instantly jumps to the absolute worst-case scenario: a wild bear, a panther, or a mythical cryptid out for a morning stroll.
Runner Reality Check: 99.9% of the time, it’s a tiny squirrel trying to bury an acorn or a very startled lizard. But hey, if that sudden adrenaline rush gives you the energy boost you needed to finish your final mile, we’ll take it.
Running keeps us healthy, but the weird things we spot along can definitely create some high blood pressure and panic. Whether you’re dodging fairy rings, ducking under spiderwebs, or wondering about the mystery of the single shoe, embrace the spooky vibes on your next morning run.
What’s the weirdest or spookiest thing you’ve ever found on a run?
Link Up With Tuesday Topics
Welcome back to Tuesday Topics, as Jenny, from Runners Fly joins Jenn at Runs With Pugs to co-host this link-up! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
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