Run Parade

On Saturday, I ran for the first time in ages. And I ran with all four of my dogs.

Yes, perhaps I am certifiable.

But after over six months off, I am determined to find a way to get running back into my life. So on Saturday, I decided to try running with my dogs.

A friend of mine said I must look like a parade coming down the street. He's not far off. I surely must look like one person trying to hold onto a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon on my own. Still, the dogs seemed mostly game so I decided to run again today.

It went better . . . and worse. We ran a longer distance which was good. And we didn't run any slower (frankly, I'm not sure that's even possible at this point and still call it a run and not a walk). But it's dark at 5:30/6:00 AM now and I hit a small rise going over a man hole cover and BAM! I hit the dirt. It was pretty ugly. I landed smack on the heels of my hand and a wound on my left hand, given by one stressed out Henry just yesterday, burst open. My knees are scraped and my wrists are sore. This was MOMENTS after we began our run. SIGH.

Well, I got back on the horse so-to-speak and off we went. My lab, Zoe, is a perfect running partner in that she understands where to run (just to one side and slightly in front of me) and generally keeps up with me (more on THAT in a second). But the others . . . oh, the others. Stella isn't half bad - she kinda understands to stay to the side, but she's easily distracted. Running with Bingley and Buster is like running with two leashed Tasmanian Devils. Seriously. They're ahead of me one moment, behind me the next, and criss-crossing constantly. It's funny, but I'm regularly having to untangle myself and their leashes.

Plus there's the stopping. Now Zoe is efficient and doesn't require a lot of stopping. Neither does Stella really, but of course she takes more time. Buster and Bingley have to hit every tree, stump, curb, signpost, streetlight, hydrant, bush, flowerbed, and other dog smell along the way. Something about that male need to mark the world. And it's ACORN season. Apparently that's a little dog's delicacy. Seriously. Bingley and Buster want to stop for EVERY ACORN on the route! And EAT every acorn. It's humorous, but annoying too. How am I supposed to get any real running done?

And then there's Zoe's motivation. Well, she's 12 so I can't blame her, but she really doesn't WANT to run much anymore.

So what's a girl to do?

Now that the new semester is into it's fourth week and I start directing in early October, there is just no other way to get a run in without running with the beasties. It's kind of opposite of running with the bulls.

At least I won't get gored to death. Maybe just bored to death.