Shane and the Coyotes...

Many of you have been curious how the tradition of "Running With the Coyotes" all began.

It all started with a brave trek into the wilderness (a field on the side of the road, down Bellevue) to visit the future home site of the brother-in-law Shane and my sister, Yecats. Alas, it ended sadly when I drove my new SUV into a bog. Many tried to pull it out, many failed.







A 4-wheel drive with a wench - got stuck.

A tractor - sunk like a rock.

A tow truck - refused to try.

Finally, after the sun had retired for the evening, a bull dozer saved the day... but what happened during the quiet moments before the dozer's arrival, is what we are here to discuss. The inspiration that created the frantic joy and celebration that is...
"Running With the Coyotes"


The sunken vehicle was a far piece off the road and it was, like I stated earlier, dark (country dark, not city dark... reference the two obviously different photos if you are unfamiliar with the two terms). Yecats, Shane (alias Stain) and I were sitting in another vehicle (in a neighboring home's driveway) awaiting rescue when I noticed I had forgotten my cell phone. Shane offered to retrieve my purse from the SUV. He left the safety of the car and disappeared into the dark... I wondered, then, if we would ever see him again.

But those thoughts were quickly dismissed as my sister turned up the song "One Night in Bangkok." Soon, Yecats and I were engaging in talk of delightful childhood memories (like when I told her sea shells were candy and she ate a handful) when her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"
"PANT PANT HUFF HUFF!"
"Hello?" Asked in a higher octave.
"MEET ME AT THE ROAD!!! PANT PANT! DRIVE THE CAR.. HUFF HUFF! DOWN THE ROAD! PANT PANT! HURRY! HUFF HUFF!"
"Shane?"

The line went dead. In a panic we realized something had gone terribly wrong! Shane was in trouble! Yecats fired up the engine and we sped out of the driveway turning in the direction of the sunken SUV. Understand, it was impossible to see through the inky blackness so we coasted slowly along Bodcau with our heads out the window craning to spot the obviously fleeing man, but what he was running from? We did not know!

In no time at all a bobbing white glow materialized... Shane's dress shirt! (he had come from work) Then his face faded into view. He was moving fast, and yelling incoherently. We stopped and Yecats leaned back across the seat to open the door. With one swooping dive Shane landed in a full body flop across the back seat, spun around, grabbed the door and slammed it, as he yelled "Roll up the windows! Roll up the windows!"

"What is it?" 'Cats asked as she hit the gas to escape the threat.
"Just roll up the window!" Shane replied, exasperated and exhausted.

We let the silence fall around us as we sped away. Shane's fevered heaves slowed.

"What happened?" Yecats asked.
"Coyotes." Shane answered.
"What?"
"Yeah, they were after me... I- I think."
"Chasing you?" 'Cats asked to confirm.
"Yeah. I heard them howling first. Then it sounded like they were getting closer, so I started walking faster, away from the truck, then I heard them running."

We didn't return that night. Shane's buddy came with the bulldozer and fished out my truck. By dawn, the fright was fading into a beautiful inspiration... Running With the Coyotes!

Years Later: Here is a pic of Shane
with his new-fangled head-light just about to happen on a coyote pup waiting for the games to begin!! Boy, I bet that was a good chase!

If you would like to be a part of H-Town's grandest celebration "Running With the Coyotes," simply contact the festival's headquarters and ask for Shane. He'll hook you up. (Please be up to date on your rabies vaccinations. The Running With the Coyotes festival is not responsible for any scarring, emotional or physical.)


As for the future home site, well yes, they proceeded with the construction of their home, despite the horrifying memories and possibility of further encounters with rogue wildlife. You can see a coyote on the actual land this event took place... Bellevue Coyote. This is the creature that started it all (along with my brother-in-law, Shane, whom I lovingly call Stain).