Two days after my adventure run, I ran my longest distance yet.

So I started running, and at the half mile mark, I hit the center button on the iPod nano to check my pace and time, and it tells me “5 minutes 25 seconds, 0 miles completed, pace 0:00″ Say what?

I stop the workout, check my shoe, and sure enough the transmitter is in there. I hit the reset button, and try again. Okay, NOW it’s receiving info from the transmitter. And I have an half mile that’s unrecorded. Bummer!

So, I start again. I really want to have a recorded long distance, so I decide to run 8 1/2 miles on this run, even though I already ran the 1/2 mile.

Right around mile 5, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Two teenage boys, dressed all in black, are putting out a fire they have set because they saw me coming. I can smell burning paper. I run by them, not making eye contact. This is the first time I ever felt uneasy on my run. Of course, I am at a point where I am going to turn around shortly and have to pass by them again.

I macho-ly assess the situation, “I could take these guys if I had to,” I think to myself, “groin shot to the big guy, and get the eyes of the skinny one. They’re just kids. ::pause:: I *really* should get myself some pepper spray.”

After I turn around, I see that they are heading away from me, towards the creek. By the time I catch up with them, they have crossed the creek.

The rest of the run goes without incident. After I hit 8.51 miles, I walk a quarter mile back to my car.