03/18/2012

So, I've been a little off of my running game the last month or so.

I've actually been off of any game lately, it seems. The winter darkness, the running injuries, the work stress......it all took it's toll on me this year.

I've sat back the last few weeks and let myself heal from the inside out, so to speak. My energy is coming back and my motivation has migrated back around.

The housework that was being ignored is now getting the attention it needs. The outside of the house is getting it's fair share of loving as well.

I've also become a yoga addict. 4-5 classes a week lately. My strength (full body) is increasing every day and my flexibility is improving like wildfire. I can see a huge difference, and I'm loving every sweat dripping moment of it!

If you live in or around Omaha, you REALLY need to check out Sound Method Yoga. Mandy is fantastic and she's been adding on other amazing instructors now that she has her own studio space.

Plus (fanfare) I started running again. I downgraded from the full marathon in May to the half.....and am training just to complete it and enjoy it. No PR's, no time goals, no brutal training schedules. Two weekday runs of 30 minutes. If I make it 4 miles, sweet. If I make it 3 miles, awesome. 30 minutes, twice a week.

Then my long run on the weekend. Gradually increasing those miles until the half in May. If my longest run before the event is 10 miles, sweet. If it's only 8, awesome. I can't wait to run it with family. Talk, laugh, people watch.....just enjoying the moment.

Will I eventually run a full marathon? Yes. Without a doubt.
Will I do one that I have to train for over the winter. Absolutely not! :-)

This weekend I finally did it. I took Sam with me on my run.

I've been debating whether to take her or not since last April, when she was old enough to start going. Sam is a lab. Labs have seriously addictive personalities. Every day, when I get home from work, I have to throw the ball. I don't have a choice in the matter. If Mot throws it for her just before I get home, it doesn't matter. She wants ME to do it because that's just WHAT WE DO when I get home.

I could take her for a walk, I could take her for a car ride....but it doesn't matter. Until that ball throwing session is complete, she won't leave me alone. She'll bring her stuffed toys to me, in bed that night, if we miss our game of fetch. She'll throw her stuffed toys at me when I get ready for work the next morning. It doesn't end until I do it........so now she has ME trained. I get home, I throw the ball.

(sigh)

Knowing that, I had to decide if I really wanted to get her addicted to running with me? Do I really want to risk her wet nose in my face every morning?

I only did 3 miles with her this weekend, just to see how she'd do....and she did great!!!! I ran her with a short leash on the first half. She did really well, but she's not keen on staying beside me when we run.

She's a hunting dog, and has been trained to work a field slightly ahead of us....so I thought, why fight it? I dropped the leash and let her run. It was early in the am, there was no one around.

She ran 2-3 feet ahead of me the entire time. If I took a walk break, or slowed down on a hill....she slowed her pace to stay right there with me. Another lab (a yellow) went running across our path. He'd obviously escaped his yard and was out exploring the neighborhood. Sam kept an eagle eye on him, but never left her spot in front of me.

Because of her color and because I don't want to risk injuring her....she'll only, from now on, be going on my 30 minute weekday morning runs. I'm not sure how she's going to react when I go out for my long runs alone. She watches us like a hawk. When those running shoes come out, when the GPS watch goes on my wrist...she knows what it means. And now that I've included her on the activity, what will she do when I leave without her on Sunday mornings?

Guess we're going to find out. Wish me luck! :-)