Unintended Speed Work

A couple of weeks ago we were running on a country road at 6:15 in the morning.  It was a morning without a moon so it was very dark.  As we were running I see a dark silhouette shoot across the road.   Me "Look did you see that?"  Terry "you are crazy, you didn't see anything, you are getting old" We run a bit further and I see it again this time on the side of the road.  Me "there it is!" Terry "yeah I see it, I think".  As we get a bit close it becomes clear the skunk is small but running in the little ditch right beside us, keeping pace right along with us.

Screech...we come to a halt.  Me "What do we do?  If we get in front of him will he turn and spray"  Terry "I don't know, we can wait"  Me "Let's outrun him, sprint until we get past him"  Terry "OK, let's go". 

We take off pushing our pace, we catch up to him and for a few seconds he is beside us and then we pass him.  Not daring to stop we keep our sprint pace until we are sure we are far enough ahead that he won't catch us.

Success!  We did indeed outrun a skunk on a day when speed work was not on the plan.  Nothing like unintended speed work.