I promise I'll be good!!

If Blue could talk that must have been what he was telling me. Why? Because I actually took him RUNNING with me last night. The reason this is surprising is because about 3-4 weeks ago I swore off running with him. He was still pulling hard, barking badly at little dogs and people and chasing squirrels and just generally being a pain in the ass! The day I came back from a run actually angry was the day I said I'm not taking him anymore. I run to feel good, not bad. Which is SAD. I LOVE to take him running and he loves to go running.

Enter the crap weather we had yesterday. Now don't get me wrong this has been the BEST WINTER EVER for running outdoors and dog walking. No snow, not really all that cold, a couple crappy days . . . I'm not complaining! But yesterday it just so happened that I really NEEDED to run. I couldn't put it off but I really wanted to. It had snowed during the day, wet snow that stayed on the ground just deep enough that you splash slush onto your other foot as you run, you know what I talking about. And it was windy. I didn't want to run. I almost wasn't going to. But along my drive I convinced myself I really should run. By the time I was home it was actually a hard drizzle and with the wind it just wasn't pretty. But I knew that no matter what I had to walk the dog and since I needed to run FOR SURE then I should just combine the two, suck it up, take Blue and hope for the best.

Blue was excited to go. I think he was slightly confused. He knew I was putting on the running gear which is different from the walking gear. So he seemed to sit calmly waiting. I think he wondered if he was actually going to get to go. Then I grabbed the choke chain collar - no way I was going with regular collar. Got him all set up. Got me all set up. Off we went.

We hit the first part of my path along which we encounter two little dogs. I run off the path onto the grass to avoid the first one. The second one, the lady is WATCHING us run towards her. As I get closer, I begin telling Blue - NO, NO. The lady can hear me - she still lets her dog cross the path to come towards Blue as if we are going to stop to meet. WTF?? Sometimes people irk me.

We continue along and fall into a nice rhythm. Blue is running nicely on his leash - not pulling. I'm confused. I keep waiting for this dream to end. It doesn't, he keeps running nicely. He's out in front of me a bit and he leads, taking the turns on his own, every single turn exactly where we need to go. This is NOT a daily walk or run. It's a monthly one. I'm so proud of him. We finish the run on a high note and I get back to the house
raving about the run.

What bad weather? All I noticed was my great dog.

YEA! WE RAN!

So I've been putting off running. Mentally I just couldn't do it. I'd think about it. I'd plan it. But when it came time to actually run . . . I'd have a reason not to. Or I'd run "out of time" (conveniently).

I ran with the ladies a couple times without Blue. Then on Sunday I went for a run with my brother and took Blue. All things considered, it was a good run. I haven't taken Blue for over one month so this was definitely good.

We had a couple of quick things. A bunny. A squirrel. Two dogs - at separate times.

The only other issue I really had was that he wouldn't run on the grass and let my brother and I have the sidewalk, lol.  He insisted on running on the sidewalk. I'd move him over and he'd come right back beside me, just in front. So I was either kicking his heels or tripping on them.

We ran 5.5 kms. Got back home and Blue immediately went for his toys and asking us to play!  Geez take a rest!!

I should either run tonight or tomorrow again . . . I already don't want to tonight lol. Not that I understand this thinking because I LOVE running while I'm doing it and after. It's just the before. Blah.

Speedwork and Nine Kms

This week was a pretty eventful week. Wasn't exactly how I thought it would go.

Tuesday a.m. Blue and I did a regular little run. Our 3 km walk route only we ran it instead. I have no stories - it was uneventful.

"Little D" and I made plans to run together both Thursday night and Saturday a.m. (Little D - wink, wink - remember Nigel! This was a nickname given to D last year during our marathon training clinic.)

Thursday night being our regular "speedwork" night at the track after work. Saturday would be a "long run" - really long for her and not so much for me. Little D is training for a half marathon. I am not - I am running for "fun". So I asked D if I could bring Blue along for our long run. She gladly agreed. I reminded her that he was doing a lot of stopping and starting and if it was a problem, we wouldn't take him next time.

Anyway . . . along comes Thursday . . . D has to cancel or make it later. Later wasn't really good for me so I told her to go during the day without me and we wouldn't get together this time. So while sitting at work pondering what to do, I realize that I can just go home, get the dog and do the speedwork at the high school track nearby. Then we will both benefit. So off we go. It's early  . . . 5:30 p.m. I know  we are going to meet quite a few people along the paths at this time but whatever . . . Blue needs to learn to adjust.

We meet up with a few "off leash" dogs in a little clearing about 200 metres from our house. That's fine. We stop and play for a couple minutes and then head off.  We meet up with a couple people and dogs but it's the squirrels that seem to be capturing his attention.

There are quite a few out there. Running around, jumping branches, fences. Once again I tell Blue "NO, leave it, leave it."  Blue whines at me and pulls the other way. Good boy I tell him. We continue and we eventually make it to the track. WELL . . . what I see is not what I want to run in! The track is mostly lakes - not puddles but lakes! and there are mounds of dirt and grass all over. I'm not sure if they are going to fill this in or why all that dirt and grass is there. Doesn't really matter anyway because there is no way I am running on that  track!

So I decide that I will just do hill training instead. Similar function in the end - Building leg strength. So we continue for a few minutes to the "hill". We end up doing 4 repeats - AWESOME! I'm proud of myself and proud of Blue. He actually did really well with me on the hills. He seemed to "like" them. It's probably the extra exertion he liked! So off we go home. This is where the trouble starts . . .

We meet up with two dogs along the way. Blue seems a little more strung out than usual after running past them. To make matters worse there are a lot of squirrels. They are driving him crazy - think about Bob Murray and the groundhog in Caddy Shack . . . Blue is trying to run after all of them. Doesn't really matter what I am saying at this point - he's yanking my arm off! We get 1/2 km from home when up ahead are two older ladies and their three little fluffy dogs. Ok no problem.  I try to talk Blue through it to keep running . . . Nope, he drops. Heavily. Not moving. He's waiting for the other dogs to get into range. I look up at the ladies - they aren't walking they are CRAWLING!! Oh no, this is going to take forever! They take a few steps, pause, take a few more steps, pause. OMG I think I'm going to die. I feel like picking Blue up in my arms and walking past them that way! I wait patiently - YES I'm saying patiently. Finally they make it close . . . well I guess the build up was more than Blue could handle - he LOSES IT! SNAPS! Barks like a crazy dog, lunging, not listening to me at all. I struggle with him on the ground trying to keep him from jumping. The ladies look at us in shock. I'm a terrible owner and Blue is a vicious dog. Yup, I'm sure I heard them say that. I kknow  that's what they were thinking.

So I pick Blue up - he continues to bark! What!! He always goes calm when you pick him up?? I get away from the ladies and their foofoo dogs and put him down. I am SO mad and frustrated. That seemed to come out of the blue (no pun intended). I just never expected that! So I walk instead. We are done and I am not running the rest of the way home. I walk him, in the heel position, the rest of the way home. I don't let him roam at all. I am seething from that episode. I feel bad but so frustrated! lol.

All I can think is . . . running is supposed to relieve my stress NOT PRODUCE IT!!  What a day!

Well . . . that post was WAAAYYYY longer than I thought so I'll have to leave the "Nine Kms" part of this for another post.