by Casey McGuire

There is no such thing as a boring trail run! We know this. There are reasons to continue kicking dirt for miles on end, and still not want to finish when we detect the little signs of nearing home. Still, regardless of how great things are, they can always be just a tad more adventurous.

You find me another trail runner within 50 miles of here, and maybe I’ll run with someone else, but for now, my imagination and I do the cruising together (it’s either the only thing I know that can keep up in the heat with me, or the only thing that will listen to me).  Einstein said that imagination is more important than knowledge, but he could say that because he could afford both.  I have to agree because, well, I have to.

Take your imagination along for every run, because there are so many opportunities for it to be used. Unfortunately, for my readers, this is when and where the majority of my inspiration comes along for the stories you have to contend with. It (my inspiration) is born from the desert dirt, and then ripens only to irritate with hope, that some day the stories will makes sense or have a point. Well, not today my friends, so keep reading and hoping.

So, with your imagination at hand, as the Olympic torch with glory, light the fire of creation. If you aren’t saying, “Vroom, vroom,” before you climb a hill, for example, you just aren’t living. This is not my opinion. I read that in The Scientific Almanac, or somewhere like that.

Also, for some reason, I recommend naming your trails. Whether mine have names or not, I name them. So, name yours! Don’t take ownership, but take pride of what you become a part of so often. Half the entertainment value of this is the “why” behind the name. Come up with something tough and fun, like “Harold” or “Trail of Doom” or “Mr. Spiffy.”

Interesting finds along the trail also add some adventure. The imagination can always get carried away and have fun with a good unique sighting. There are a few interesting things I come across, and I’d like to share a couple (oh good, maybe he’ll shut up), which I thought to be rather eccentric trail props.

This is what I should normally be running across, though this is a pretty seasonal image around here. I thought I’d share a little of the beauty that does surround me in my little desert first, before I leap to the slightly peculiar.

Now as nice as that is, I must go into the faintly more bizarre. Off into, or out to, the middle of no where (which is where I always run) this comes along.

Being exceptionally creative, I went all out with my imagination on this one and named the trail I find this on, “Observatory Road.” Give it some time, but you’ll come to think of why at some point. As you can tell, it really isn’t kept up well, and it isn’t near anything for miles. Of course, at this point in my run, neither am I, so which is more peculiar? Don’t answer.

It sort of reminds me of the White House on blocks, with a really poor front door design, and smaller, and in need of a paint job, without a fence, or a lawn. Other than that, it looks just like it.

I supposed that leads me to my crescendo of this story, as if I’ve built anything up yet. I run across this on one of my trails. What the hell is this?

Yeah, I know it’s a chair with a hole in a hole, but I think a reason for existing is of more value than a descriptive title for this image.

I’m sure every trail runner is thinking the same thing. This is some primal restroom at an aid station somewhere out in the Boonies. I thought that at first too, but have passed by it many times, and there is never any toilet paper, which almost tosses that theory completely out the window, or through that hole. So, this one eludes me for now, and until I deduce it’s true purpose for being, I’m using it to play a game I made up. When I know I’m about to approach it, I grab some rock, and when I’m about 10 feet away I toss it toward the chair. If I make it in the dirt hole, I get a point, but if I make it in the chair hole, I get five points. I’m not sure yet how I win or lose the game, but I play. Just in case it is a restroom, I make sure no one is using it before I throw rocks.

I wonder if it isn’t just some super creative distraction to keep the attention off of something else.  Seriously, there could be a dead body near by, and I’d be looking at this.

I keep thinking that some run, sooner or later, I’ll find a garden gnome sitting up on this, fulfilling one of it’s travelocity wishes.

Well, I hope we’ve learned a great deal today. I’m sure if you have, it wasn’t from anything here. I guess, if I meant to address anything, it would have been to take your imaginations with you on your trail runs. Oh, and certainly, to go “Vroom, vroom” up hills. You’ll thank me for that piece of advice, when you’re smiling up some hill. Imagination, don’t leave home without it!

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