After missing the full moon Pisgah this month, I found myself thinking about the hill a lot

the last few days, and by this afternoon it was like I had no choice.  I HAD to go !

I couldn't wait to get there, and eagerly took off hoping for an 'all run' trip.  Just as I was

approaching the power line intersection, I saw a guy jogging from my left (on the pline),

and then he turned up the main trail just ahead of me ..... oh boy !  a rabbit !  I can see

that he's running, but he's wearing a big straw hat and has a sweatshirt wrapped around his

waist.  He's no runner ...... wait, he's putting some distance on me on the steep part.

The only way I can keep him in sight is to push the downs and make up ground, but on the

last steep pitch he just leaves me.  I top out at 37:44, stoked, and looking for my straw hat.

Not in sight.  I ask a photograher if a straw hat just went by,  and he says "ya".   I haven't

run the south shoulder agressively or sober in years, but I'm going after that hat.  Just before

I get to the creek I spot him just below me, and we cross together.  He smiles and says " I

wondered if you'd catch me".  Oh.  He knew.  I didn't think he'd seen me.  Smokes, drinks,

and his only running is this hill, sometimes regularly, sometimes not.  Compliments me on

my run to get him, and says he hopes to be doing that when he's my age, "and I've got

about ten years on you .... I'm forty".  wow.  I like this guy.  Say he likes to run Pisgah in

the winter, but the rain and mud make it hard .... wishes they made gortex shoes.  He made

me laugh a lot .... straw hat guy.  Ken Wages, Thurston class of '88.  The moth did not get

burned by this Pisgah flame, and the rabbit was a hoot.  We finished strong together.