I feel like I had a out of body experience. Today's run. W cancelled because of a work commitment so it was Cosmo and I at the park trail. I wasn't sure what my distance would be....3....3.5.....maybe even 4. I was going to play it by ear. Also thought I might throw in a few walking breaks. I really didn't expect much. We started off and hit the first mile at about 10:40. Huh. I thought that we would wait and see how things were lying at the 1.5 mark and maybe turn around there. Hit the 1.5, felt pretty good. Actually, I felt better than pretty good so on we went. I figured if I wanted to, we could walk a minute or so at the 2 mile mark. Got to the 2 mile mark at 21:30 AND I still felt pretty good. I was starting to fret a little by now. After all, it has been a long, long time since I have run and felt good. Specifically, 9/5. That was before I got sick and the last time I clocked a sub 11 mile for a run. On we went, hitting the 3 mile mark under 33, so I decided to go for it. Cosmo, who had been trotting along by my side the whole way, seemed to realize that things were looking up and he picked it up. He trotted (it is really unfair to call his pace a 'run' when he is with me. It is practically a fast walk) up in front of me and stayed there the whole last mile. You could tell he was happy, he was all perky and prancy.
The final verdict? 43:22, 4 miles, 10:50 mile pace. It felt so good, I am a little scared.
Showing posts with label cosmo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cosmo. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
When you run with a dog.....
The dog rules the run.
Today - 4 miles, 15 minute/mile pace. It was warm and humid but not THAT warm and humid, or so I thought. Cosmo thought differently. Especially at about the 2.25 mile mark. He stopped, didn't want to run. So we walked the 1.75 back to make our 4 miles.
I don't know why he stopped. Maybe he just didn't want to run today. Maybe he thought it was too hot, or he was too tired. He did eat a huge dinner last night and maybe that was why. In any event, when Cosmo doesn't want to run, Cosmo doesn't have to run. Cosmo rules our runs :-)
Today - 4 miles, 15 minute/mile pace. It was warm and humid but not THAT warm and humid, or so I thought. Cosmo thought differently. Especially at about the 2.25 mile mark. He stopped, didn't want to run. So we walked the 1.75 back to make our 4 miles.
I don't know why he stopped. Maybe he just didn't want to run today. Maybe he thought it was too hot, or he was too tired. He did eat a huge dinner last night and maybe that was why. In any event, when Cosmo doesn't want to run, Cosmo doesn't have to run. Cosmo rules our runs :-)
Monday, June 18, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Friday Eye Candy
I thought I would end the week giving everyone a little gorgeous eye candy to set the tone for the weekend. I hope everyone will appreciate my effort at actually going out for a run* and taking my camera so I could get a shot of the boys running. How blog-centric is my life? Does an event even really happen if it isn't blogged about? :-)
After run cuddles:
I even got a little video because the camera was on the wrong setting when I tried to take the first picture:
*For those smart alecks who are thinking, "Those dogs don't really look like they are running." Well, geniuses, they aren't. We, the humans, are running, albeit very, very slowly. They, the dogs, are so superior to us, they can maintain our pace while trotting briskly (and frankly, towards the end of the run, we slow down so much they don't even have to have any briskness) :-)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Mid week run
The only thing I will complain about more than the temperatures being below 50? The temperatures above 60. No satisfying me :-) Not a cloud in the sky - temps gonna be over 80 today.
Ideally, Momo, Bobo (no comments please, I know it is dorky) and I would have been out running at 7 am. But I had workers coming at 8 am. My plan was to let them in the house, take off for our half hour run before it got too warm. Did they show at 8? No. Did they show at 8:30? No. Did they show at 9? No. 9:11. I waited around and then the husb said he would stay until they showed so we could get out before it was too hot. We went out at 8:30. It wasn't too bad for me but the dogs really felt it, especially T'Bo. Momo is more used to it and can handle it better. We did 2.5 miles slow with a walk break at about 1.25 miles. Honestly, even warm, if it had been just me and Mo, we would have done the 3. I ended up draping a cool towel over T'bo for a few minutes when we got home to help him cool down.
T'Bo runs as far as he can behind me. I expected he would be a bit more competitive with Cosmo. He raced until he was 5 and I heard he was a moneymaker. When a friend and her greyhound run with me, both her dog, Wil and Cosmo run out ahead of us, neck and neck. They aren't willing to let the other one go ahead. That is funny because both Wil and Cosmo were unsuccessful racers. T'Bo, who was successful, seems to have no competitive drive to stay with Cosmo. Just goes to show, you never can tell.
Oh, while I think of it......shout out to the sanitation workers who took the filled poop bags I was running with. Those guys rawk! And also to our local school bus driver who will practically drive up on someone's lawn to give me and the dogs a wide enough berth on the street. Makes a nice change from those nimrods who like to go by me so close I can see my reflection in their side mirrors.....
Ideally, Momo, Bobo (no comments please, I know it is dorky) and I would have been out running at 7 am. But I had workers coming at 8 am. My plan was to let them in the house, take off for our half hour run before it got too warm. Did they show at 8? No. Did they show at 8:30? No. Did they show at 9? No. 9:11. I waited around and then the husb said he would stay until they showed so we could get out before it was too hot. We went out at 8:30. It wasn't too bad for me but the dogs really felt it, especially T'Bo. Momo is more used to it and can handle it better. We did 2.5 miles slow with a walk break at about 1.25 miles. Honestly, even warm, if it had been just me and Mo, we would have done the 3. I ended up draping a cool towel over T'bo for a few minutes when we got home to help him cool down.
T'Bo runs as far as he can behind me. I expected he would be a bit more competitive with Cosmo. He raced until he was 5 and I heard he was a moneymaker. When a friend and her greyhound run with me, both her dog, Wil and Cosmo run out ahead of us, neck and neck. They aren't willing to let the other one go ahead. That is funny because both Wil and Cosmo were unsuccessful racers. T'Bo, who was successful, seems to have no competitive drive to stay with Cosmo. Just goes to show, you never can tell.
Oh, while I think of it......shout out to the sanitation workers who took the filled poop bags I was running with. Those guys rawk! And also to our local school bus driver who will practically drive up on someone's lawn to give me and the dogs a wide enough berth on the street. Makes a nice change from those nimrods who like to go by me so close I can see my reflection in their side mirrors.....
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The carnage
On the raw feeding front, things are going pretty well. Both dogs converted over, cold turkey, very well. I read stories on the various groups about the conversion process and what to expect. While dogs get acclimatized to eating bones, they will hack up undigested pieces. Also, runny stools can be common. We have been just fine on the poop front here - I am amazed though at the little amount of poop there is. I used to joke that my boys ate 4 cups of food a day and pooped out 7 cups. Now the amount of waste compared to the volume they are eating is amazing. They are really utilizing the majority of the food they are eating. Water drinking has also declined. I used to fill their dish every day when it got low. Now I just dump out what is in there and fill it with fresh water every night.
Mal took to the raw meat like a champ. No sniffing, no lollygagging, he just laid down and laid into his meat and bones right from day one like he had been waiting his whole life for these meals. He did hack up a very small amount, about a tablespoon, of small, bony bits, the first two nights. There has been nothing since then.
Cosmo loves the meat and bones but was a bit more tentative than Mally. Cosmo is a kind of clueless kind of dog. He was very interested but puzzled by the meals. He works hard but he is a much slower eater than Mally. The first time he stood holding a chicken quarter by the skin for about 3 minutes, just bemused, trying to figure out what to do. Mal will down two chicken quarters in the time that Cosmo finishes half of his first one. He only hacked up the tablespoon of bony bits once and had loose poop once.
Both boys are very well behaved. I take blankets out and spread them out for them to eat on. They know just who's spot is who's and they stay right on them eating.
I will say that this is all disgusting and grosses me out immensely. I am considering buying beef hearts, pork feet, tails and necks and whole rabbits to add variety to their diets.
Mal took to the raw meat like a champ. No sniffing, no lollygagging, he just laid down and laid into his meat and bones right from day one like he had been waiting his whole life for these meals. He did hack up a very small amount, about a tablespoon, of small, bony bits, the first two nights. There has been nothing since then.
Cosmo loves the meat and bones but was a bit more tentative than Mally. Cosmo is a kind of clueless kind of dog. He was very interested but puzzled by the meals. He works hard but he is a much slower eater than Mally. The first time he stood holding a chicken quarter by the skin for about 3 minutes, just bemused, trying to figure out what to do. Mal will down two chicken quarters in the time that Cosmo finishes half of his first one. He only hacked up the tablespoon of bony bits once and had loose poop once.
Both boys are very well behaved. I take blankets out and spread them out for them to eat on. They know just who's spot is who's and they stay right on them eating.
I will say that this is all disgusting and grosses me out immensely. I am considering buying beef hearts, pork feet, tails and necks and whole rabbits to add variety to their diets.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Note to self
Self.......always make sure to plastic baggie the tubes of raw meat when defrosting them in the fridge. I woke up this morning and defrosted blood had dripped and coagulated all on my refridgerator shelf and down the side. It got all over the jar of my beloved applesauce :-( I had to throw that out because, man, I just couldn't deal with that. Hmmmmmm......I can hear all of you out there now. 'Raw meat? Isn't she a..... I mean, what is raw meat doing in her fridge?"
Well, the raw meat is for the dogs. After several years of playing around with the idea, always putting it aside because of laziness and concerns of expense, my dogs are now on a raw diet. I don't know if it will do any good but it can't hurt and frankly, I am desperate. I have lost two terriers before the age of 10 who should have lived easily into their mid/late teens. Bridg has lost two to bone cancer before the age of ten who should have had many, many more years. Something is wrong here. These were all dogs that got the best care and no expense spared. I could list numerous other dogs I know of, lost way too early. So, a raw diet it is for my two.
Against the advice of my vet, I might add. I talked to her about it and she was basically in sync with the idea. Over the years I have known her, I have seen her opinions grow and evolve as she questions the traditional ways of vaccinations and food. It is a slow process, though. Her strong suggestion, however, was to use a prepared, commercial raw diet. You know, so my dogs nutrition will be complete. When she told me this, I sat there, nodding my head, agreeing, because, well, you know, it sounded reasonable to me at the time.
When I got home, however, after thinking about it, well, I got a little offended. There is a lot of reputable, scientifically valid information out there about the nutritional needs of dogs. Is the veterinarian society telling all of us that we aren't smart enough, aren't capable enough to research and learn and feed our dogs properly? Hey, I somehow, without a degree in nutrition, managed to feed and raise 3 healthy kids. They are active, smart and not a one has fallen into that common American child hellhole of obesity. I think I can feed my dogs and feed them well. And if I screw something up? What the hell can happen? Their life is shortened? Got news for the naysayers and the vets and their like. They ain't living a hell of a long time on that grain filled, preservative-filled, extruded pebble crap we have been pouring out of bags. Can we say rat poison, tainted wheat gluten and melamine? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know everyone has got a story about dogs that have lived forever on Ol' Roy and Alpo. And I know 90 yr olds that drink and smoke every day and never exercised. They are freak abberations, people. They are the outliers on the bell curve. The odds of us and our dogs living that identical lifestyle and being on the same part of the bell curve as them aren't great.
So, Cosmo, Mally and I are now one week into this little jaunt. I secured 30 lbs of turkey necks and 40 lbs of chicken backs - all frozen - from a wholesale distributor. I turned my kitchen into a slaughter house, while I defrosted and pried it all apart to bag up individual meals (all the while praying to the vegan gods and the souls of the poor chickens and turkeys for forgiveness). It was nasty and I could gag right now thinking about it. The dogs are loving their food. They are all up in my business, come dinner time, prancing, spinning, jumping on me. No having to call them to their dishes. They are certainly enjoying this. I am still working out details and amounts. I have done the research and joined the groups. There is a lot of conflicting information out there so I am finding out what works best for the my guys. Right now their meals are:
Morning: 1/2 cup of veggie mix (pulverized veggies with raw eggs and shells, small amounts of organs and yogurt) with 1/4 lb raw turkey or ground beef. Their supplements are flax oil, glucosamine, alfalfa, kelp, acidopholus (sp?) and the previcox for Mally. I would love to get Mally off the previcox but right now he really needs it to cope with chronic pain from old injuries. I think I will also have to up Cosmo's food amount due to his level of physical activity.
Evening: 1.5- 2 lbs turkey necks. I will transition the chicken backs in soon. They are higher in fat and with skins so I wanted to use the turkey necks to acclimatize the boys first.
So, that is it for now. I don't know how the diet will change and evolve. I have been reading how some don't think ANY supplements or veggies are necessary - just raw meat, organs and bones. I am not quite ready for that. I like feeding my guys the veggies and supplements.
Well, the raw meat is for the dogs. After several years of playing around with the idea, always putting it aside because of laziness and concerns of expense, my dogs are now on a raw diet. I don't know if it will do any good but it can't hurt and frankly, I am desperate. I have lost two terriers before the age of 10 who should have lived easily into their mid/late teens. Bridg has lost two to bone cancer before the age of ten who should have had many, many more years. Something is wrong here. These were all dogs that got the best care and no expense spared. I could list numerous other dogs I know of, lost way too early. So, a raw diet it is for my two.
Against the advice of my vet, I might add. I talked to her about it and she was basically in sync with the idea. Over the years I have known her, I have seen her opinions grow and evolve as she questions the traditional ways of vaccinations and food. It is a slow process, though. Her strong suggestion, however, was to use a prepared, commercial raw diet. You know, so my dogs nutrition will be complete. When she told me this, I sat there, nodding my head, agreeing, because, well, you know, it sounded reasonable to me at the time.
When I got home, however, after thinking about it, well, I got a little offended. There is a lot of reputable, scientifically valid information out there about the nutritional needs of dogs. Is the veterinarian society telling all of us that we aren't smart enough, aren't capable enough to research and learn and feed our dogs properly? Hey, I somehow, without a degree in nutrition, managed to feed and raise 3 healthy kids. They are active, smart and not a one has fallen into that common American child hellhole of obesity. I think I can feed my dogs and feed them well. And if I screw something up? What the hell can happen? Their life is shortened? Got news for the naysayers and the vets and their like. They ain't living a hell of a long time on that grain filled, preservative-filled, extruded pebble crap we have been pouring out of bags. Can we say rat poison, tainted wheat gluten and melamine? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know everyone has got a story about dogs that have lived forever on Ol' Roy and Alpo. And I know 90 yr olds that drink and smoke every day and never exercised. They are freak abberations, people. They are the outliers on the bell curve. The odds of us and our dogs living that identical lifestyle and being on the same part of the bell curve as them aren't great.
So, Cosmo, Mally and I are now one week into this little jaunt. I secured 30 lbs of turkey necks and 40 lbs of chicken backs - all frozen - from a wholesale distributor. I turned my kitchen into a slaughter house, while I defrosted and pried it all apart to bag up individual meals (all the while praying to the vegan gods and the souls of the poor chickens and turkeys for forgiveness). It was nasty and I could gag right now thinking about it. The dogs are loving their food. They are all up in my business, come dinner time, prancing, spinning, jumping on me. No having to call them to their dishes. They are certainly enjoying this. I am still working out details and amounts. I have done the research and joined the groups. There is a lot of conflicting information out there so I am finding out what works best for the my guys. Right now their meals are:
Morning: 1/2 cup of veggie mix (pulverized veggies with raw eggs and shells, small amounts of organs and yogurt) with 1/4 lb raw turkey or ground beef. Their supplements are flax oil, glucosamine, alfalfa, kelp, acidopholus (sp?) and the previcox for Mally. I would love to get Mally off the previcox but right now he really needs it to cope with chronic pain from old injuries. I think I will also have to up Cosmo's food amount due to his level of physical activity.
Evening: 1.5- 2 lbs turkey necks. I will transition the chicken backs in soon. They are higher in fat and with skins so I wanted to use the turkey necks to acclimatize the boys first.
So, that is it for now. I don't know how the diet will change and evolve. I have been reading how some don't think ANY supplements or veggies are necessary - just raw meat, organs and bones. I am not quite ready for that. I like feeding my guys the veggies and supplements.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Wednesday Run
Cosmo and I took off right after work for our little midweek jaunt. The distance was 2.81 (yes, that is exact - you can thank http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/) and our time was 31.44. Now, we had a pee stop that lasted for a minute (I timed it - the boy really had to go) and a poop break that I didn't time. We did 11:18 m/m *actual time* but if I take a conservative 1:30 off for the pee/poop stop, we clock in at a more respectable 10:46 m/m. It wasn't easy - the last .2 mile, I was doing that grunting exhale thing, *huunh* *huunh*.
Edited to add: I considered running a little farther, but part of the reason we only did 2.81 is because I don't think I had the endurance to continue at that pace :-)
Edited to add: I considered running a little farther, but part of the reason we only did 2.81 is because I don't think I had the endurance to continue at that pace :-)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
This is just cruel
According to StatCounter, someone found my blog with the google search, "slowest running dog". I am going on the record, here and now. We DO run slow. But it is because of me. I am slow. Cosmo is NOT slow!
There.
There.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Post Run Pup
Cosmo after our 3+ mile hill run with Sue. He looked so cute with his jowl hanging down!
It seemed to have warmed up a little today so I was really looking forward to running. When we got there, well, Mother it was cold! I really thought it might have been too cold for Momo so I watched him closely but he trotted along nicely and warm in his bro. We did the hill loop 4 times, 2 times each way.
First time around, all I could think of was why is it still so hard to run when I have been doing it almost 4 years on and off? It was brutal. If Sue hadn't been there, I would have stopped. As it was, I could barely keep up with her. And she is talking the whole time! Second and third loops were better. Sherry joined us late at the start of our last loop. It was great because we hadn't seen her in a while and she was able to talk through that last loop which made it go by faster. We stopped and she continued on. I briefly thought about continuing with her so she wouldn't be running alone but I didn't want to push it. I felt decent at the end and wanted to keep that feeling. I felt a little bad but then I thought, 'eh, she is a better and faster runner than I am anyways, she doesn't need me. I would only slow her down!' LOL
GWC Walk
Our weather has been unpredictable so we kind of called off the walk yesterday. I still went out, as I don't live too far from the Erie Canal Camillus Park, so if we got there and couldn't walk, it wouldn't mean a whole lot of travel time for me lost. On our way there, the weather fluctuated from sunny and gorgeous to snow flurries. Don't worry, I took the picture below just by holding up the camera and snapping. I am surprised it came out :-)
I had Cosmo and Angus with me and we decided to walk even though we were the only greyhound walkers there. There was plenty of folks there though, cross country skiers, hikers, even a runner! We had a nice walk, the boys enjoyed it.
When we got home, the husb had Mally ready with his coat and booties on and we switched dogs. Mal and I went on a little jaunt through the neighborhood, I let him choose the way.
The two boys in their new ride!
It was a good day for dog walks!
I had Cosmo and Angus with me and we decided to walk even though we were the only greyhound walkers there. There was plenty of folks there though, cross country skiers, hikers, even a runner! We had a nice walk, the boys enjoyed it.
When we got home, the husb had Mally ready with his coat and booties on and we switched dogs. Mal and I went on a little jaunt through the neighborhood, I let him choose the way.
The two boys in their new ride!
It was a good day for dog walks!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
What a difference a run makes
Cosmo and I ran most of the Tipp Hill race course this morning. He was so happy to be out. He hasn't run lately but it didn't seem to bother him. This is a very hilly course. We were able to run all the hills with one exception. They weren't easy and we (really *I*) had to stop at the top of most of them but we did make it up them. The last hill was the killer - it comes after a long gradual incline. I could see the stop sign where we were to stop but I just couldn't make it.
So, long story short, I do feel positive about this race. It won't be easy and I will probably be very slow but I do think it is do-able. We have 4 weeks to the race. My plan is to run the course the next three weeks.
Oh, in reference to the title - I have been pretty miserable lately for lots of reasons - weather, lousy job interview, etc. Well, after my run, my mood has done a real 180. Guess exercise does work.
So, long story short, I do feel positive about this race. It won't be easy and I will probably be very slow but I do think it is do-able. We have 4 weeks to the race. My plan is to run the course the next three weeks.
Oh, in reference to the title - I have been pretty miserable lately for lots of reasons - weather, lousy job interview, etc. Well, after my run, my mood has done a real 180. Guess exercise does work.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
From the depths of depression, part deux
Take a dog.
A dog that loves to run.
Have him run upwards of 15 miles a week.
With a group - his own little running 'pack'. (He is the only dog in this 'pack' so he gets lots of attention)
Take some typical CNY winter weather - lots of cold and snow. Too cold and too much salt on the roads for the above dog to run in.
What do you have?
A depressed dog.
A dog that loves to run.
Have him run upwards of 15 miles a week.
With a group - his own little running 'pack'. (He is the only dog in this 'pack' so he gets lots of attention)
Take some typical CNY winter weather - lots of cold and snow. Too cold and too much salt on the roads for the above dog to run in.
What do you have?
A depressed dog.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Bro
We decided, after much research, that a typical greyhound coat wouldn't work for Cosmo to run in. He needed something warm, but lighter, wouldn't create static, and would be non confining. The 'bro' fit the bill to a 'T'.
The bro is the creation of Jen for her own dogs. It is perfect when something is needed, but not a lot. Cosmo runs in his bro and it works perfect.
I tried to take a few pictures of him when we were getting ready to run on Saturday. All the pictures are crappy because he would get 2 feet away from me. He was afraid I was going to leave him!
I should fix the velcro but I probably won't. It's not as if the coat is falling off of him. When we run at the park, Cosmo gets lots of admiring glances and comments from other runners and walkers.
Wednesday Run
I hurried home today, grabbed Cosmo and headed out into 20 degree weather for a proposed 3 mile run before dark. Yep, you read that right, 20 degrees. It was cold. I wore a longsleeved underarmor type shirt with a longsleeved tshirt over it and a cotton hoodie jacket, gloves, ear warmer band and pants. Cosmo wore his bro. I debated whether to take him or not but I knew if I left him, he would be hysterical. So I made a judgment call. Now I am making another one - we won't run outside under 25 degrees.
It was too COLD. I think I fared worse than Mo, he seemed to tool right along, having a great old time, happy to be out, cutting a dashing figure in his bro. I was pretty warm with the exception of my face. But I felt slow and sluggish because of the cold. I think it will have to be the treadmill for me in these temps. We planned on 3 but did 2.4. That was enough.
It was too COLD. I think I fared worse than Mo, he seemed to tool right along, having a great old time, happy to be out, cutting a dashing figure in his bro. I was pretty warm with the exception of my face. But I felt slow and sluggish because of the cold. I think it will have to be the treadmill for me in these temps. We planned on 3 but did 2.4. That was enough.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Back to running
I have been sick ever since Christmas - head cold, sinus infection, cough, poor me, so no running. This week I set into recovery mode and started feeling good. Mo and I headed out Wednesday after work for an experimental, let's-see-if-I-can-do-this-without-hacking-up-a-lung run. We did the little 2.11 route (I know this exactly because of http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/ - great site!) and while it wasn't easy, it wasn't grueling. I just felt tired and heavy but we perserved and plodded along and Cosmo was one happy, happy boy. I didn't time myself because I didn't want to get depressed at my 'I should just walk it' speed.
Today, after bopping home, I laced up the sneaks and we went out again. We did the same route, it felt pretty good. I didn't push too hard and we ended up doing 10:58 m/m. :-)
Tomorrow is the slow distance run at the park with my buds. Jen will be joining us so that should be lots of fun.
Today, after bopping home, I laced up the sneaks and we went out again. We did the same route, it felt pretty good. I didn't push too hard and we ended up doing 10:58 m/m. :-)
Tomorrow is the slow distance run at the park with my buds. Jen will be joining us so that should be lots of fun.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Crappy times in River City
I have been sick since Christmas day - sinus infection and head cold. I haven't run since the Sunday before Christmas. All I do is get up, go to work, come home and deal with all the attendent kid and dog drama. This week was only four days but it felt like the longest.....I woke up this morning thinking, how can it NOT be Saturday yet????
Needless to say I am looking forward to this weekend - no plans. I do hope if the illness abates to head down to Highland forest on Sunday for a day of hiking and letterboxing with Angus and Cosmo. Sunday is forecast to be the best day of the weekend and I am looking forward to getting some fresh air with the dogs.
I have lots of blog reading to catch up on.....
Needless to say I am looking forward to this weekend - no plans. I do hope if the illness abates to head down to Highland forest on Sunday for a day of hiking and letterboxing with Angus and Cosmo. Sunday is forecast to be the best day of the weekend and I am looking forward to getting some fresh air with the dogs.
I have lots of blog reading to catch up on.....
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Woohoo!
This week did not go quite as I expected. My plan was to run Monday (hills), Wednesday (three miles), Thursday (2 miles), Saturday (45 minutes). I got the Monday run done but somehow the next two runs simply vanished into the mists of other responsibilities and commitments. Needless to say, Cosmo was distraught and all up in my business continually. But this morning, Cos and I headed out to the park for our long, slow run, supplied with orange glazed scones for an after-run snack. Our plan was to run 45 minutes.
My inside, right knee has been hurting a little bit. Not much, just a bit. So I was determined to take it easy, nice and slow, about a 12 m/m pace. The west trail is 4 miles long and I figured I would be slightly before the turnaround at 22:30 minutes. I started out, feeling fine and imagine my surprise when I reached the turnaround at 22:36. Hmmmm....I thought. I might be able to do the whole 4 miles in 45 minutes. Just past the half way point, Bridg, doubled back to meet up with me (because she was way ahead of me being a fast little bugger) and took over Cosmo duty so I was free to concentrate on my running. I really, really can't wait for the hands free leash to arrive :-) I kept track of the quarter mile times. I knew it was going to be close and resigned myself to not making it in 45. I just slowed down slightly between 2.5 and 3 miles. I hit the last half mile to go mark at 39:30 and knew it was going to take some effort. When I got to the last quarter mile, I picked it up as much as I could and hit the start point at exactly 45:00 for an average 11:15 m/m. Certainly not 'fast' by any runner's definition but I am very, very happy to have set that pace over 4 miles. My goal is to eventually be able to do 4-6 mile runs under 11 m/m and I am beginning to feel it just might happen. :-)
Oh, by the way....the scones are spectacular. Vegan with a Vengeance. Everyone should have this cookbook.
My inside, right knee has been hurting a little bit. Not much, just a bit. So I was determined to take it easy, nice and slow, about a 12 m/m pace. The west trail is 4 miles long and I figured I would be slightly before the turnaround at 22:30 minutes. I started out, feeling fine and imagine my surprise when I reached the turnaround at 22:36. Hmmmm....I thought. I might be able to do the whole 4 miles in 45 minutes. Just past the half way point, Bridg, doubled back to meet up with me (because she was way ahead of me being a fast little bugger) and took over Cosmo duty so I was free to concentrate on my running. I really, really can't wait for the hands free leash to arrive :-) I kept track of the quarter mile times. I knew it was going to be close and resigned myself to not making it in 45. I just slowed down slightly between 2.5 and 3 miles. I hit the last half mile to go mark at 39:30 and knew it was going to take some effort. When I got to the last quarter mile, I picked it up as much as I could and hit the start point at exactly 45:00 for an average 11:15 m/m. Certainly not 'fast' by any runner's definition but I am very, very happy to have set that pace over 4 miles. My goal is to eventually be able to do 4-6 mile runs under 11 m/m and I am beginning to feel it just might happen. :-)
Oh, by the way....the scones are spectacular. Vegan with a Vengeance. Everyone should have this cookbook.
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