Running in Limbo

I have a favorite running trail that I visit often. Its perfect for an undedicated runner such as myself. It has plenty of shade coverage being particularly helpful on warm days when I get a late start. The trail is not paved, which for someone who has bad knees is definitely beneficial. The trail is on a winding rolling terrain along a creek enclosed within a forest. I love the mountains of the Tennessee/North Carolina border and the trail allows me to think I am traveling the area lost in nature and peace.

I started visiting the trail because its rather unappreciated and under traveled which was the perfect place to allow my dogs to trot along leash-less without being a nuisance to anyone. I am one to believe my dog will obtain more exercise if she is not hindered by my pace. However, I am finding this solitude has one major drawback.

No, it's not because I feel unsafe and what if I met an unwelcome passer-by. It's not because I am worried I could injure myself and I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere in a cell phone dead zone. It is because I am the first one to use the trail therefore constantly running into cobwebs. If you believe the Old Wives Tale the harshness of the coming winter can be determined by the number of spiderwebs this winter is going to be a doozy.

As I am running on my favorite trail I have to remain focused and look straight ahead at all times hoping I will see signs of approaching webs. Sometimes the sunlight will reflect on the web and I can make a quick duck or notice the spider clearly waiting at the center of his trap or maybe a a leaf will be free-floating in the web creating attention. But inevitably I will make a face-plant into the web staring face-to-face with a spider on my nose or crawling through my hair. Most of the time I can feel the strands of web dangling on my eyelashes or arm as I am grabbing at nothing trying to free myself from the eerie entanglement.

What's worse, the webs are not necessarily at head level and since I run pushing a stroller in front of me with my daughter inside, sometimes she gets to meet fate with a spider. Not only am I zig-zagging the trail practicing my flexibility as I run and bend in futile attempt I am also batting webs and spiders before they are introduced to my daughter. A rather interesting obstacle coarse.

I need to design a hat or apparatus to wear that punches through the webs leaving me unscathed. Maybe I could wear superhero apparel protecting me from the threads of silk that send chills down my back each time I am ensnared. Actually, the spiders have been very understanding never leaving a bite mark as I demolish their home but I still do not enjoy the feeling of web sticking to my skin. I just hope I am not building a complex for my daughter to fear spiders. Hopefully, she will receive it in strides and gain appreciation for the great architects spiders are.