My $3.00 Christmas Tree |
As many of you know, I started out a few months ago on what
I had thought was going to be a year-long running adventure. Unfortunately
things did not go as planned. My incredibly wonderful and tolerant husband, who
is usually 100% behind my crazy adventures, decided that he did not feel good
about going on the road for a year without a permanent base to call home. Plans
changed, and we found ourselves buying a home in central Florida.
The new house is fantastic. It is in a neighborhood with miles and miles
of quiet roads, both paved and dirt, to train on. There are even a few slightly
rolling hills. A 45 mile Rails to Trails
bike trail passes right through our community about a half mile from the house.
There are also miles and miles of great trail running, as well as three rivers
for tubing and kayaking and fishing. Plus it has a pool (triathlons in the
future?). In short, it is a great place
to be.
There was just one thing missing. I left all my running friends in California
and Michigan. I had no one to run with. What I really wanted for Christmas was
a new running partner...
I was not sure if I had been good enough for Santa to grant
my wish, but apparently I had. Meet my
new running partner:
Merry Christmas from Bandit!!! |
This is not my first running dog. I had a great running
partner named Rio who accompanied me on many runs, including some snowy runs in
Michigan. Unfortunately, his hips no longer permit the running that he used to
do (he is almost 11 now), so he just goes out on cool-down walks with me around
the neighborhood. It is time for him to step aside and let the younger
generation take over.
My trusty Rio |
Just like any new running partners, Bandit and I have to adjust to each others idiosyncrasies. We are in that getting acquainted stage of our running relationship. Bandit is more a “stop and smell the roses” kind of runner who is prone to forays off the beaten path. He has been known to cross the road (right in front of me) when something interesting catches his eye. I, on the other hand, have the annoying habit of wanting to run a consistent pace and the desire to stay on one side of the road (and on both feet). We are negotiating on the above matters, and I am sure in a few weeks, we will be running together like a well-oiled machine, but for now a good run is any one where I manage to stay on my feet for the whole run and where we only need to stop a few times for an interesting new scent.
Over the next few months, Bandit and I will work together to try to revive the stalled running (and writing) routine. In the process, I am sure that I will learn a lot about running with a dog. Of course, what I learn, I will pass on to you.
How about it? Do any of you run with a dog?
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