We wake up to gun fire around here at the start of deer season. The season actually starts next Saturday, but there is a special youth hunt today and tomorrow, so I heard the distant rifle booms this morning as I contemplated an early morning run.

Although I’m thankful for the legions of men, and women, in my neck of the woods who bravely take to the forest to protect us from the poor defenseless Bambis out there, I do feel like I should wear hunter safety orange while running. Occasionally I’ll hear gunfire while I’m out, depending which trail I take, but I comfort myself knowing that if I hear the gunfire, then they missed me.

I actually have nothing against hunting, and maybe someday I’ll go. I would want it to be a challenge, however. I mean, c’mon man! I’ve been out running and seen deer close enough to hit with a rock, let alone a rifle and a scope. In the paper there’ll be pictures of kids with deer they killed. “Susie Q, 8 yrs old, from Podunk, MO, killed this 12 pt buck Sat. morning.” I never heard of an 8-year-old completing an Ironman. See, there’s a challenge!

Completing an Ironman must be a serious challenge, but training for one is challenging as well. For instance, I’m sitting here procrastinating a run and using the excuse that I need to update the blog. Can you blame me? It’s 34° outside. I have a warm quiet house because the kids are at their Grandmother’s, and I just made some coffee in the coffee press. So why in the world should I go outside and exert myself? Oh, and another reason to stay hunkered down, the woods are filled with children and firearms today.

Seriously, I’ll have another cup of joe, or two, then I’ll get out and do some running. No trails today. I’m going to keep it in town. There’s an Ironman somewhere calling, and I need to be ready, and I don’t want to get tagged by Susie Q.