While I'm on the subject of doggies and "training" (although Cesar doesn't train dogs... he rehabs them; and he trains people), Leslie, our local doggie trainer who's trying to help us break Kona of the KILL approach she takes toward all other living things, called this evening to cancel our class for today. It was too hot, she said. Shortly after I heard from her (and knowing that the dogs HAD to get some exercise today -- especially since Cesar has me believing his Exercise, Discipline, Affection approach), I decided to go running with 'em. They really do pretty well. They've gotten soooo much better. Both of them actually know how to walk now. And if I help them exert some of ther energy early in the "walk" by running, it usually goes so well! Anyway, I didn't get (read: take) the opportunity to run today on the treadmill, so I went with dual motives... exercise the dogs and exercise the self. It was good stuff. Felt great. Although, outside, I do a terrible job of knowing exactly how far/long I've run... so I think I cut corners on the normal routine. But it's something, right? Anyway, so tonight, the daily thunder/lightning clouds were rolling in from the southeast just as I was going out (we've been getting consistent thunder-boomer clouds -- remember thunder-boomers guy, Haley?!?! -- every day for a few weeks now... the rain often jumps right over us, but we get the clouds, thunder & lightning... all very cool, especially when it actually rains!). So, we had quite the little show during our exercise. Luckily, we didn't get struck by any of the lightning, so that's one good thing that happened to me today! Anyway... after I bragged on how well the dogs do walking/running on leash, now I'll tell you how they didn't do so well. Just about the whole way back to the house, whenever I quickened the pace, Cooper used that as an opportunity (as his little legs picked up momentum) to jolt across in front of me and try to bite (gnaw, attack, jump, whatever) Kona. So, that was annoying. I had to pull him back across more than a few times... which is not so easy to do when you're concentrating on holding the leashes up out of the street, not stepping on pawpads, tugging the red dog with your left arm... all the while trying to keep up the pace so you don't disappoint yourself with a "walking period". I hate the "walking periods" that I just have to have sometimes. I really don't have to have them. I know I don't. I'm stronger than that, darn it! One time when I was running on my mom's treadmill at M&D's, my dad came down to "chat" while I was running (which you -- well, I -- can't really do, but he talked while I huffed & puffed). As I slowed to a brisk walk at one point, he asked me what hurt... you know, what caused me to have to slow up in the middle of my run. And I didn't have an answer. Nothing really hurt. I was just tired... not physically unable to perform (which, dang it, if Curtis Martin doesn't come off that list soon...), but what? Mentally tired? It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Maybe when I actually figure out how to push through those "I must stop now" moments (which I truly can do with the right song playing on my iPod... something about a red top does it every time), I'll actually consider myself more of a runner. Until then, I'm a pitiful amateur-ish poser who just likes to pretend she's getting some good exercise and doing something healthy for herself... while she has hand-spun milkshakes and chicken sandwich combos for lunch. Oh well. At least the scale isn't tipping in the wrong direction b/c of my eating habits. Maybe, just maybe, the running helps keep it solidly on ... yeah, did you really think I'd TELL YOU? Let's just say it's around the same number I've ALWAYS been. I swear... always... since, like, when I was born. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. But at least since I was 1.
Well, that got to be an extremely long paragraph. About nothing but dogs and running and eating. Typical blog post yet again. My apologies for being boring. Oh well... might as well finish it out with the standard doggie pic(s).
 |  |
Fair warning... I had to "force" those pics in (since, for some reason, Blogger has just stopped providing the HTML for me when I upload pics!); but, hopefully, I've learned my lesson & made the links to the full sizes work this time!
Anyway... wherever you find yourself over the next few days, try to make sure you stop to smell the flowers (and ignore the shadow of the crazy lady standing over you snapping pictures of you doing it).
Sending you much exercise, discipline, and affection. XOXO
No comments:
Post a Comment