He hangs out of the back of Don (yes, that couch has a name-long story) and watches for me to come back home. He knows that he can see the road and driveway from there..... (he *might* be a bit attached) Once in a while, he gets to go with me on the shorter runs!
When I go for a run, Cally and Mulligan do this:
They are so overcome with worry that I might not make it back that they pass out. Or not...
When I go for a run, Mr. P does stuff like this:
He will actually empty the clean dishes and put the dirty ones in the dishwasher! What a guy!
When I go for a run, I do this:
My elbows sweat. Gross. Actually, I think even my eyebrows sweat. I don't care. It feels great when I'm done, but the elbow sweat thing weirds me right out...
Friday I went running with my friend Pammy. Here's the story of how she and I started running together.
We met in college and this past April we were at a convention together. As we were huffing and puffing on the stairs of the parking ramp trying to figure out upon what level we left the car, Pam said, "I'm out of breath doing stairs, how am I going to run a half marathon?" HUH? Wait a minute. Back the puppy bus up, a half marathon? And she says, "Yeah, not just any half marathon, I want to run the Princess half marathon. Do you want to do it with me? It'll be fun!" This is were I promptly informed Pammy that she's nuts and no I don't want to run a half marathon. That's insane.
Then I went home and thought about it. Maybe I had a beverage or two during the thinking process. We could do a half marathon. Look at all the stuff we've done already. And since the Princess is in Florida, we can get our buddy Lynn to suffer though do it too!
That's how this crazy half marathon stuff got started and that's why Pam and I went for a run yesterday. We did four miles after I got to her house. It was a beautiful fall day. The air was crisp and the leaves were pretty (theirs haven't all blown off like the ones around here). Here's our route!
Looks like we went farther than four miles-doesn't it? Apparently Minneapolis-St. Paul can be looped in four miles! :)
After our super fabulous run, we went shopping!! We headed down to this running shop we've been hearing about. You know, like how totally awesome they are, how they actually know how to fit you for your running shoe, stuff like that. It's called the Start Line.
And people were right! Super nice and knowledgeable sales people, friendly and totally awesome. Pammy got her "ouchy" issues addressed and got fitted for new shoes. She had lots of options. When I got fitted for my new shoes, I had only one other option other than the shoe I already had. A whopping one other option for my pigeon toed, knocked knee'd stance. Ah well, I took it. I can always use more running shoes, right? Pam settled on a cute purple/white pair of shoes. Thankfully, she didn't buy these:
The super trendy runner that I am, probably couldn't run with someone wearing these. I'd be too distracted and fall on my melon. Ms. Pam was told that these weren't a good shoe for her needs anyway. Lucky me!
Pammy also signed up for her first 5K!! We'll be running the Turkey Day 5k on Thanksgiving (duh). I captured this remarkable moment... I'm so proud of her!
And I got to meet the newest member to Pammy's family-Simba. He's sooooo freaking cute!!
Of course, he's Bunker's nephew, so how could I not love him?? Those Fast-Traxx dog people have some awesome pups!!
It was an awesome Friday spent with an awesome friend! Days like this should occur more often and be cherished!! I can't wait to do it again!
I'm so excited!! Soon we'll have an interview with one of my heroes!! (I told her she had to do it or else I'd just make up the answers and pretend they came from her!) I'll post that soon!
Otherwise, I had my eight mile run the other day. Eight miles. That's the farthest I've ever run. Eight miles seems crazy. Eight miles probably is crazy. Do you know what I can do in the time it takes me to run eight miles??
I can solve lots of the world's problems. (look for world peace to be headed your way soon)
I can write a billion blogs in my head. (none of which will probably end up here)
I can imagine myself in a parade. (not really sure why I'm in the parade, but whatever)
I can wonder where this road actually stops. (that particular one was smack dab onto highway 10)
I can make a mental "to do" list of what else I need to accomplish that day.
I can listen to my entire running music playlist. (obviously it needs work)
I can get scared half to death when the ambulance comes screaming up behind me.
Yep, about mile 6.5 an ambulance came rip roaring up behind me. I had my headphones on, listening to my running music when an ambulance went screaming past me with sirens and lights and all that jazz. Since I live in a quiet area, that's not often seen. (thank goodness) I later met that same ambulance on my road by my house. (without the lights and sirens-etc) Brad was getting worried that maybe I was struck by some random farm equipment and the ambulance got me and was giving me a tour of the lakes, thus driving past our house. He was happy to see me sweaty but alive.
I've been meaning to run with some type of ID. They make various forms and aren't expensive. So I ordered myself up the1 Band IDthat afternoon. At least if I'm not swift enough to dodge the oncoming combine or swather, the ambulance will know where to drop off my sweaty (but fashionably dressed) body.
This type of ID will go right onto my running garmin so I won't have to wear a separate bracelet. I'm excited to get it soon!
As for the ambulance, I haven't talked to the nosy but super nice neighbor yet to see what all the commotion was in the neighborhood and if everyone is ok... hopefully they are!
Ohhhh boy!! Have I ever mentioned that my mother used to take me shopping? Since I grew up in "sticks-ville" we had to drive about two and a half hours to the nearest mall. It was in a different state. No lie. And since you drove all that way to shop, you did an entire day of shopping. I mean an ENTIRE DAY. The whole thing. Dawn to dark. Then drove home. It was a marathon of shopping. (notice I didn't say buying-just shopping-there's a difference-right?)
So anyway, while I really don't care to shop for an entire day anymore, I do appreciate a great deal. And what could be better than free? So here's your chance to get in on the opportunity to get some great free stuff!! Jess also known as The Blonde Ponytail is having a Hair Flair Headband giveaway! She tends to dress in all black because she's super cool but I personally have developed this obsession for trendy, super cute running clothes. I may not be fast, but I'll look good running! I almost always wear a hairband because I run with my hair down. I'm not fast but with your hair flying all over the place, you at least FEEL fast!! A good hairband is necessary to keep those beautiful locks from flopping onto your sweating glistening face. And a hairband that doesn't slip and looks great is simply a bonus. You can get in on the opportunity to get your own Flair Hair band on her blog here. They have several uber cute styles and colors to choose from! I may just start sporting these at all my future agility trials to keep me from playing with my hair during the weaves...hmmm......
And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, what a better month to win a free Moving Comfortbra?? These things are AWESOME! Totally full of awesome, really. Did you know that when you run, breasts will move (read-bounce) eight inches? EIGHT inches. That's crazy, and that just can't be good for the girls-if you know what I mean. Isn't gravity harsh enough? That's where these Moving Comfort bras come in. It's like the twins are on lock down. No bounce, no moving, no abuse! And as most women know, good bras are not cheap. So over at Taking It On, you can sign up to win one! She also did a great video review of one of their bras so you can see it in action and sign up for your chance here.
In other news: My coworker Shannon- she's my real life hero. She ran the Mankato Half Marathon yesterday and had an awesome time of 1:59:08. That's less than two hours to run 13.1 miles!! She's so awesome. I'm so proud of her!
Oh- and *sort of* ended up with my cold. It really only took me out for a little bit and I missed two of my runs, but I'm feeling much better now!! I'm gonna keep up with the vitamins over the winter to keep the nasty viruses at bay!
And I've started re-training Bunker's dog walk. He's so smart, but it'll take some time to get that TOTO perfected! One baby step at a time-right??
I have an addiction. (So Brad tells me) It's been going on for years. Not many people know about it. I keep it pretty hidden. It looks a lot like this....
Obviously if I put it up here it's no longer a secret. There they are, hanging to be seen. I won't tell you how many there are, or how deep they are stacked. I love them all. I've worn them all. I'm pretty sure there are a few that are stashed in the hall closet for some reason or another. I can tell you one is missing. My newest addition:
Ok-so that's not the best picture of it. It's my new running jacket from Athleta. (totally scored on clearance!) I SHOULD have worn it on Sunday for my four mile run. Instead, I skipped the jacket because I'd read that you should be a bit chilly for the first ten minutes of your run or else you're overdressed. EECK, I can't be overdressed! So, I ran without the jacket. Here's the thing, after running for ten minutes, I'm over a mile from home. At this point, I'm not going to turn around and go back for warmer clothes. I'm going to run faster to keep myself warmer. Yep, yep. Perhaps this brilliant logic is related to the cold I'm fighting. (i.e. popping Vitamin C like pez candy!) I even skipped my scheduled run tonight to give myself a chance to fight, fight, fight it! Who will win?
I was smart enough to wear the sassy new running jacket on Monday for my seven mile run. Smart me!! It is light and comfy and super cute. It kept me warm and toasty! AND-I'm in love with this feature:
Built in hand thingys!!! Whoo hoo!! (notice Bunker's pink turtle in the background?-it's there for a size comparison. "Oh what big hands you have!")
Anyhow-love the new jacket. (as if I have any that I don't love??) It might get some hang time before my runs this weekend, it all depends on whether or not the laundry fairy shows up at the house. I'm not holding my breath....
I’m totally bummed.I know you’re not supposed to start out a new blog all depressed and totally bummed out, but I am.It’s the “Eeyore” in me.I was going to give you this super fun update on the Fargo agility trial and I took a bunch of pictures with my phone to prove it and my husband was going on about how my phone needed an update and when we got home he promptly installed the new update (taking 4 hours but whose counting?).Well, the new update erased every picture on my camera roll.Every stinking one of them.Every pic of Cally in the shower from our Nationals trip, every pic of Mulligan with his camo bandages on from his TPLO, every picture of Bunker with his Frisbee in his mouth.They’re all gone.And my super techy husband left town this morning, so he doesn’t even get to experience my full wrath.
Where was I going?Oh yeah, so all the pictures that I took of the Fargo trip-including the costume contest are gone.Gone, gone, gone.That’s why I’m bummed.Oh bother.
Anyway.We had a blast at the Fargo Moorhead Kennel Club AKC agility show.First off-they have new mats!Whoo hooo!!They other ones were getting pretty hard and traction was an issue without tons of tacky paw. The judge was good. (not that we were super successful on her courses or anything-not a standard Q to be had by us-but we were close)The club in general is awesome!Totally adorable!They are soooo freaking cute.They have all this homemade food (where can you find a rice crispy bar the size of your fist for only $.50??)and they announce the qualifiers of every class and everyone claps and “whoo hoos”and celebrates everyone’s successes.It’s also a small enough trial that you get to see lots of other people’s runs and that’s always fun.
As for how we did, well-Cally gets a “you don’t have to Q” card because she did soooo awesome up at Duluth last weekend going 5/6.She did pick up a couple of jumpers legs.In fact, on Sunday I decided to scrap the double front cross or backy-upy move that everyone was doing before the tunnel and do a one handed serpentine move. Just for fun-zies. This is how it ended up....
And then the 24 inch class, let's see if we can do it again.... after Cally's run, I had people coming up to me saying (joking) "you know, nobody likes a show off!" and "that's world team stuff!"
The best was after Bunker's run-which really- felt really really good. I soooo needed that. I had one guy come up to me and tell me that "you know-the second time you do it is just rubbing it in!!" He's so freaking cute.
Dang I love that dog, but I'm so frustrated with him.He’s starting to miss two out of three dogwalk contacts in competition.How frustrating is that?And the one he hit this weekend, he dropped one bar keeping us from a clean run.So, between the DW contact and the one bar syndrome, I’m ready to retire him.I’m just tired of dealing with a great run, but just one thing keeping us from qualifying.We have the next six weeks off, so we’ll see what I decided after that/in that time.Brad says he can’t retire but really- he doesn’t run him.
So here is where I was going to show you pictures of the costume contest.I brought Mulligan’s old football jersey at the last minute because I’m not very costume creative, but when I saw the things people had come up with, I left it in the bag…. My personal favorite was the “Aqua Lab.”The Labrador complete with mask, snorkel, fins and scuba tank.He won first place in the big dog division.I think the “One banana, two banana, three banana” won first place in the little dog division.They were three little dogs dressed as bananas (duh) and popped out of a Dole banana box-totally freaking cute!
On a side note, I'm not really sure how I'm going to get any training done for this half marathon done while training/running the dogs. I did managed to run four miles last night after we got home, but it was supposed to be seven and I missed the run I had planned on Saturday. The last thing I feel like doing after a long day of trialing is to go run a zillion miles. Hmmmm...
What would you do?
Do you have any thoughts on how to retrain a four on the floor to a TOTO?
Have you ever trained for a half marathon or any other event and did dog agility too?
