How I Almost Got Abducted by a Posse of Rapid Raccoons

Tuesday I hit the trails for a nice and easy 6 miler.  It was rainy and cold and windy and I was kind of hating life for the first mile or so.  But then I apparently went on auto-pilot as I started to think race strategy for Saturday's race (EEP!  SATURDAY!).  I got so in to my head that I didn't realize I had gone further than I had intended. 

On my way back towards my apartment, I saw a big fluffy kitty near the old folks' apartments. 
"Kitty!" I cried out.  When it didn't respond, I tried a different approach, "Meow?"  (Yes, I speak cat, this should come as no surprise.... now if only I could learn to speak deer.....) To which it stopped and looked in my direction.  I thought to myself "Hmmmm why is Kitty wearing a mask?" as I ran closer to it.  Shortly there after my eyes focused on the critter to realize it was actually a raccoon.... in the daylight.  AHHHHH RABID RACCOON RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!

And I did.

Seriously.  My easy 9:50s pace quickly turned in to 9's as I hightailed it away from this critter that wanted nothing more to consume my blood (rabies causes animals to become vampiric, no?).  Upon rounding the corner, I see yet another raccoon waiting for me.

HOLY CRAP RABID RACCOON #1 CALLED IN BACK UP.  THEY'RE SURROUNDING ME. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!

And I sprinted the last quarter of a mile home.

Apparently I need to learn to speak raccoon asap.