Running in Austin, Texas can be fun, challenging and seldom dull. You never know whom or what you might see on the trails and streets.

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail winds around scenic Lady Bird Lake near downtown Austin. Most people in Austin still refer to it as the Town Lake trail. The trail includes several pedestrian bridges to allow access from one side of the reservoir to the other. The Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge connects the south side of the trail to the north side at South Lamar and allows access to downtown.

Routinely, the trail is filled with runners, walkers, baby strollers, bicycles, pets, and even an occasional rooster on the northwest end of the trail.

I have collected a lot of fun memories and stories about running the trails in Austin. One of my favorite memories was meeting Hannah as we crossed the Pfluger Bridge. Crossing the bridge from Barton Springs road toward downtown, the scenery is beautiful. The sunlight reflects off the water, flower boxes full of colorful blooms line the sides of the bridge and the downtown Austin skyline is the backdrop for the scene.

On one early morning run, as we neared the center of the bridge, I noticed a group of runners up ahead with a dog trotting along behind the group. I wondered briefly if the dog belonged to someone in the group. It seemed odd that the dog was following behind and not trying to run ahead or keep up with a specific runner. Suddenly, the dog dropped back further and began trotting along behind me. “Poor thing” was my first thought. “She is lost”.

Startled, I felt the dog nudge me from behind. I wasn’t sure if she actually touched me or just brushed me by mistake, but I moved forward toward the dog’s original running group as she moved toward my running partner and actually seemed to push her forward as well. I was confused as I noticed the dog drop back behind several other runners.

I heard a young man up ahead call out, “Hannah? Here, girl!” Hannah, I realized was the dog’s name. Laughing as he looked back for Hannah, the young man explained. “Hannah is an Australian Shepherd. She is a herding dog.”

It seems that even though the young man was running with one friend, thanks to Hannah, he now had an entire herd of runners following him. As we veered to the left and the young man and his entourage ran to the right, we just waved at he and his friend. Hannah fell back to round up some new stragglers.