With the crazy hot temps and humidity recently, I decided to go for a late evening run. But I went too late, or too far… Either way, it made me want to share.

I don’t know about you, but typically, I like to get my run out of the way early in my day. In the heat of summer, the ideal time/temp to go is 6 or 6:30 a.m., but I can’t seem to make that work w/ my schedule and kids and such.  I hate pushing my workout to the end of the day b/c I’m usually so pooped that I can’t get motivated. But last night, I had no choice b/c it had been 2 days since my last run and I wasn’t going to get a chance to go this AM. Plus, I have a long run with a friend scheduled for tomorrow early AM.

So about 7:55 p.m. I headed out w/ a bottle of gatorade, a gel pack just in case, and some tunes blaring in my ear. I started around E. Lakeshore heading clockwise around the lake (the opposite route of The Ache), and felt so good that first 15 minutes that I decided to go all the way around. Now, as you know, some of those hairpin turns around the lake have little to no lighting w/ tall trees on all sides. That’s great during the daytime b/c of the shade relief. But, as the sun starting setting behind Hogback Mountain, I noticed those turns–while cooler–were darker. Did I wear reflective running wear? NO! Did I have a headlamp? NO! I thought I could make it back in time…

I crossed over the dam, peaked over to see if water was going over, and of course it wasn’t. That was just an excuse to stop for a few seconds. I continued on past the folks enjoying a meal at The Tea House…and saw boats cruising the lake w/ their lights already on as the sun sank lower. I had 2 more miles to go.

So, trying to complete this loop–heart rate in the 170s and sweat dripping from everywhere–I tried to run each and every hill to get home before that dreaded, ultra-dark 2/10s of a mile I have to endure to get home. It was getting darker still.

Loping down some hills at a nice pace…thinking, “hmmm…this is what 7 minute miles feel like,” I neared that last dark, tree-lined curve. That’s when my heart rate soared. Not because of my pace, but because I was cringing at the thought of Freddy or Jason jumping out of the woods. I turned up my music and hustled home. If they get me, I don’t want to hear ”them” coming….

The adrenalin of a scary night run did me good. I’ve lived here over 9 years and know that movie serial killers usually don’t dwell around our race roads, but the imagination and heat can get to you sometimes. Needless to say, since I’m writing this post, I got home and pushed through it.

Hopefully, your next lap around Lake Lanier won’t be a scene from an 80s horror flick. But if you do go out at night, be smart unlike me and have light and reflective-wear.

Stay cool….

Scarlette