Have you ever gone running with a dog?

While I was dog/house sitting for Mr SOTSS this past weekend I figured I’d try and take Chester running with me to give him the exercise that he is used to. Mr. SOTSS normally runs with him 2-3 times per week. Everything went fairly well.

my first running with Chester attempt

my first running with Chester attempt

And I think we bonded a little! He was 90% perfect! I won’t tell you about how he knocked me down at the end of our second run when we were just 2 houses from home in an attempt to get to another dog. 🙂

Second run....5 miles total. 0 with Duncan, 3.5 with Chester and the rest alone.

Second run….5 miles total. 0 with Duncan, 3.5 with Chester and the rest alone.

I learned a few things:

Speedy first mile!

Speedy first mile!

  1. The first mile—which is usually the hardest for me—became the easiest and the fastest because of Chester. He was just so darn happy to get out the door. Both runs we did together started off with a sub 10 minute first mile. Thanks pal! Way to get my endorphins going!
  2. Dogs stop and sniff a lot……like every single tree! I realized certain blocks that had less foliage allowed for longer stretches of continuous running but some of those tree-lined neighborhood streets were sheer stop and go. It took a little getting used to but eventually I just sort of coordinated walk breaks during his sniff breaks. He kept me running fast when we were actually running so our overall times were pretty consistent with my solo runs.

    sniff stop

    sniff stop

  3. It felt really good to give a dog the exercise that they need. So I felt even more accomplished after my runs with Chester.

    Happy dog!

    Happy dog!

But Chester and I (and Duncan!) took our resting time seriously too.

resting

resting

resting

resting

really resting

really resting

switch positions and rest some more

switch positions and rest some more

I came back home on Sunday night and my week has been fairly uneventful so far. I had a really terrible run Monday. I didn’t get going until about 11am and the sun was just too strong. IMG_5531I worked most of the afternoon and then in the evening I took Duncan to the park for a walk.IMG_5535

Yesterday I changed things up a bit. I took Duncan to the park in the morning, worked all day, and waited until after 6:30pm to get my miles in. While the humidity levels were higher the run overall felt easier without that harsh sun beating down on me. I ran a slow and steady pace but didn’t have to stop and walk at all.

8am walk in the park

8am walk in the park

Evening run

Evening run

So I have a silly poll for those of you who are in a relationship but don’t live together:

  1. How often do you communicate daily?
    A. 0-1 times a day (out of sight out of mind)
    B. 2-3 times a day (just checking in with a good morning or good evening)
    C. 4+ times a day (long text threads or sharing of daily happenings)
  2. What is your preferred method?
    A. Phone Call
    B. Email
    C. Text

Thanks!

I’m taking today as a rest day. My knee is a bit sore.

Do you have a dog?

Do you run with a dog?

Are you an animal person?

Hi everyone,

Happy Monday. I haven’t felt the urge to write much lately. Not really sure why. I’ll just blame the heat. I am one of the rare ones who doesn’t love summer heat.

I still managed to get out and walk for a bit a few days last week on my lunch break. Even when it rained.

Just walking at lunch in a drizzle

Just walking at lunch in a drizzle

Anyhoo, I didn’t run at all for an entire week but yesterday I decided to give it a go.

Getting ready for my first run in a week. 87 degrees out.

Getting ready for my first run in a week. 87 degrees out.

I had some various running injuries…a.k.a. “runjuries” that I hoped would ease up in the week I didn’t run and happy to report that I definitely had some improvement.

IMG_4390

My left hip had been sore for a few weeks. I don’t really know the cause although my theory revolves around the fact that it started over the 2 months that I was driving to and from work for 40-60 minutes each way and being quite sedentary during the day at the office, and also running mostly in the late evenings where I basically was sedentary right afterward. I think the hip got stiff.

My right foot arch had been sore for about a week. My theory for that is that my dress sandals that I’ve been wearing a whole lot over the last 2 months (due to the dress code at work) were a bit big on me and I was scrunching my foot unconsciously to keep the shoe from falling off.

I’m happy to report both of those sore spots were completely gone when I ran yesterday which makes me so happy.

woo hoo!

woo hoo!

The knee, (which was a huge issue last year) was much better and I’ll continue to foam roll and try not to run on any sloped roads and I’m sure in another week or so I’ll be able to up my mileage if I want.

For those of you that read here regularly you know I took the full time job a few months ago in addition to retaining my freelance graphic design business. Well, I decided the full time job wasn’t a good fit for me. I knew in my heart within the first week but gave it time just to be sure. So I wrapped up last week and now I’m happily back to my freelance life. Ironically the one thing I worried about wasn’t really an issue at all. I worried I wouldn’t be able to get my runs in, but I totally managed to get in 3-4 runs a week the entire 10 weeks including many awesome runs on those Friday evenings along the tow path by the office. But the job ended up not matching the description that I was under the impression it would be. I wasn’t being utilized fully. My skill set and senior level expertise weren’t being tapped into and I really wasn’t feeling very fulfilled. I’m really glad I gave it a whirl though. I learned a lot, especially how to work on a PC after only working on a Mac for the last over 20 years 🙂

Bye bye office building....hello again home office

Bye bye office building….hello again home office

I spent the weekend with Mr. SOTSS. We saw the Secret Life of Pets on Friday night and I was so disappointed. After the cute first 10 minutes or so it got a little too violent for me. I’m too sensitive to see animals getting hurt. Even animated ones. But the popcorn didn’t let me down. So there’s the silver lining.

Why is movie popcorn so good?

Why is movie popcorn so good?

On Saturday Mr. SOTSS and I took a drive down to the Jersey Shore. I wanted to just walk along the beach and maybe put my toes in the water. We didn’t look at the weather forecast and as soon as we arrived the sky got dark and severe thunderstorms came through. We ducked into a restaurant for a quick bite and then resigned ourselves to the fact that the rain was only getting heavier so we ran as fast as we could the 1/4 mile back to the car and left.

IMG_4350I read online later that 2 people actually got struck by lightening not too far away from where we were.

I love Mr. SOTSS’ backyard. When you sit out on the deck you really feel like you’re in a remote part of the world on vacation. We started our day yesterday with our morning coffee outside.

pooches at our feet

pooches at our feet

Morning coffee

Morning coffee

Then, we dined alfresco as well for dinner. We made some delicious fish tacos and paired some frozen margaritas with them.

All the fixings ready to assemble

All the fixings ready to assemble

I made the sauce. mayo, sour cream, chipotle, hot sauce, cilantro, lime, oregano, salt and pepper

I made the sauce. mayo, sour cream, chipotle, hot sauce, cilantro, lime, oregano, salt and pepper

Dinner is served

Dinner is served

Cheers to full bellies and full hearts

Cheers to full bellies and full hearts

It’s going to be in the mid 90s today so Duncan and I will be staying indoors for most of the day.

Do you like the heat?

Do you like fish tacos?

Happy Monday!

Summer is now officially here! I went running last night and timed it to catch the first official sunset of the season.

Summer's first sunset

Summer’s first sunset

I covered 8 miles and brought my anxiety level down a whole lot of notches!

8 miles

8 miles

It was really peaceful and for a hot summer day I lucked out as there was a great ocean breeze and the humidity had dropped.

IMG_6404

Sometimes birds will just chill out on these wood pilings. I always get a kick out of that.

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

happy!

My view for a few of the miles!

I'll never be able to move away from the ocean.

I’ll never be able to move away from the ocean.

Here's the hare....I guess I was the tortoise =)

Here’s the hare….I guess I was the tortoise =)

sweating out the small stuff

sweating out the small stuff

I had a highly emotional weekend. It started on Friday with a trip to my friend’s house. Her mom is in her last days as she has been battling cancer and it’s taking a toll. She’s lived a very long life but it doesn’t make it any easier to see someone deteriorate and suffer with the. I went for a run friday too.

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

I’ve been much slower but just happy to be able to run. I’m on track to start NYC Marathon training in about 3-4 weeks. Woo hoo!

Saturday I joined my friend and his family for the Walk to Defeat ALS. His mom was diagnosed last year as was a former coworker’s husband. It was a wonderfully successful walk and my friend’s mom even walked the whole thing but it brought so much emotion out. The cold hard facts about this disease are grave and hard to believe.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

My former coworker’s husband found a unique way to raise money for ALS research. It’s called Pickals. Go check it out.

After the walk I took Duncan to his first ever doggie birthday “paw-tee”. Peanut was having a bash for her 6th birthday.

it's not a party without a cake!

it’s not a party without pup-cakes and paw-tee bags!

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

It was really cute. Duncan was a little freaked out though by all the noise and hoopla. We stayed for an hour or so and he even won a prize for doing tricks. Then we had to head out to my brother’s house for a BBQ.

Playing with his loot the next day

Playing with his loot the next day

There was also some bargain shopping and some cleaning that went down in between everything else. And lots of chill time with this loyal companion…

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

in the car on the way to Peanut's birthday paw-tee

in the car on the way to Peanut’s birthday paw-tee

Here’s to a good week! Hope you all have a good one.

Tell me about your weekend?

I covered quite a few miles this year. Let’s start with some stats:

I covered about 1,255 miles through running (and walking) this year.

I ran across 12 bridges: 

  • Golden Gate in San Francisco, CA
  • Arthur Ravenel Jr. in Charleston, SC
  • Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, NY
  • Williamsburg Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, NY
  • Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, NY
  • Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, NY
  • Madison Ave Bridge from The Bronx to Manhattan, NY
  • Queensboro Bridge from Queens to Manhattan, NY
  • Willis Ave Bridge from Manhattan to the Bronx, NY
  • Pulaski Bridge from Brooklyn to Queens, NY
  • Calhoun Street Bridge from Trenton, NJ to Morrisville, PA
  • Trenton Makes Bridge (Lower Trenton bridge) from Morrisville, PA to Trenton, NJ

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