In the film Dances with Wolves, the Sioux tribe John Dunbar befriends give him a Sioux name based on what they witnessed in the following famous scene.
I thought about this scene today when I went out for a run in the fields surrounding my village. I am by no means a running enthusiast. I have never felt inspired to enter races, join clubs, or run marathons. In fact, when time permits, I prefer going for long walks. Nevertheless, I do enjoy jogging in nature a few times a week. It's a good way to get my heart rate up a little and it helps me counterbalance my sedentary job where I often spend eight or more hours sitting behind a desk.
Running in the fields around my village is particularly enjoyable. The land is relatively flat and the scenery is lovely. For example, on clear days, I can see the Alpine foothills and the Schneeberg in the distance. Another positive is I always encounter many kinds of wildlife during a run, from cranes and ducks near the river flowing through the landscape, to the small clusters of red or roe deer grazing in the fields near the thickets. Occasionally, I inadvertently flush out some pheasants or catch the attention of the local fox, an intensely curious fellow that often stares at me from beneath the cover of an elderberry bush. But the animals I encounter most are rabbits, more specifically European hare.
Though abundant in other countries, the European hare population in Hungary is relatively small. Having said this, they seem to be quite plentiful in my region because I never fail to encounter at least three or four during a run. Like the fox, the hares are often curious when they see me approaching and choose to dart away only when the distance between us is less than ten meters. Sometimes they decide to run in the same direction I am running, and for a half-a-minute or so it almost seems as if the rabbits and I are out for a run together.
As a result, I have decided my Sioux name, were I ever honored with one, would simply have to be - Runs With Rabbits.
Granted, it's not nearly as magical (or manly) as Dances with Wolves, but as far as I know, there are no wolves in Hungary. Besides, Runs With Rabbits would still be far better than the only other possible options - Breathes Too Hard or Sweats Too Much.
Running in the fields around my village is particularly enjoyable. The land is relatively flat and the scenery is lovely. For example, on clear days, I can see the Alpine foothills and the Schneeberg in the distance. Another positive is I always encounter many kinds of wildlife during a run, from cranes and ducks near the river flowing through the landscape, to the small clusters of red or roe deer grazing in the fields near the thickets. Occasionally, I inadvertently flush out some pheasants or catch the attention of the local fox, an intensely curious fellow that often stares at me from beneath the cover of an elderberry bush. But the animals I encounter most are rabbits, more specifically European hare.
Though abundant in other countries, the European hare population in Hungary is relatively small. Having said this, they seem to be quite plentiful in my region because I never fail to encounter at least three or four during a run. Like the fox, the hares are often curious when they see me approaching and choose to dart away only when the distance between us is less than ten meters. Sometimes they decide to run in the same direction I am running, and for a half-a-minute or so it almost seems as if the rabbits and I are out for a run together.
As a result, I have decided my Sioux name, were I ever honored with one, would simply have to be - Runs With Rabbits.
Granted, it's not nearly as magical (or manly) as Dances with Wolves, but as far as I know, there are no wolves in Hungary. Besides, Runs With Rabbits would still be far better than the only other possible options - Breathes Too Hard or Sweats Too Much.
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