The last week has been GREAT training for me. Last Thursday (4th) Panda and I left the house to explore a few trails off Lochside Trail that we had never been down. I initially thought we were going to be gone for 30 minutes or so, but it quickly became apparent that the day was too nice to squander and we hit on one trail that kept going and going. After 60 minutes and a killer climb we popped out at Royal Oak Cemetary (actually pretty much right at my dad’s grave site) where Panda got to run off leash and the trail just flowed. This run was a great turning point for me. I feel focussed, relaxed and ready to start training for next year.
Friday and Saturday were sick days for me, massive headaches and little sleep, not my favorite combination of things! My next run was Sunday night (sadly) on a treadmill at work and the 65 minutes flew by. Monday was a nice rest day, took Panda for a relaxed hike and did some house work.
Tuesday the 9th was a very special day. Kitt and I were out running errands downtown when Kitt said that we should look in the SPCA for a cat to help with the rat problem in our crawlspace. When we pulled into the parking lot we said that we should look at the dogs too, cuz Panda might want a little friend to keep her company when Kitt and I are both working dayshift. As it played out, we never even looked at the cats up for adoption, (it’s too cold to try and adopt an outside cat anyways!) and went straight to the dog kennels.
There were a lot of sad eyes, dogs so depressed and broken that they didnt even raise their heads from their beds as we walked by. In the second section I spied a pair of bright eyes and a happy, hopeful face. As I went up to the gate this young Shepherd/Rotti pup got off his bed and sat at the other side of the gate and pressed his body so hard against it that he nearly came thru the gate! His tail was wagging the whole time I scratched him thru the bars. I don’t know what it was, maybe the hope in his eyes, but I knew we needed to take this little guy and give him a good home. Kitt tried to get me to look at several other dogs but I kept coming back to this little pup. Finally, Kitt just smiled at me and said we should go talk to the ladies at the front desk and find out more about him. Poor little guy had just been shipped in from Quennell, was about 9 months old and VERY high energy. In other words: perfect running partner! Luckily we had Panda (who is not the most social of creatures where other dogs are concerned!) in the back of the truck so we were able to walk them together and make sure that they got along. After a lot of deliberation and test walkies with a few other dogs, we took the little Shep/Rotti home! I’m a lucky girl with a fantastic husband!!
Tuesday night when we brought Guinness home we took both dogs for a 45 minute run, which ensured that no one tore up the house when we finally got inside. We got both of them up on the couch while we had dinner and Guinness could hardly keep his eyes open. We thought Panda would like a little friend, and at first she loved having someone to romp with, but now she keeps looking at us like ‘when is this annoying dude going home??’ I think the novelty has quickly worn off and she wants to be the sole center of our attention again. Poor girl! Wednesday afternoon Kitt, Marc, Panda, Guinness and I went for a lap around Thetis is in the beautiful, warm sunshine. Marc took us off the usual beaten track and we ran to the top of a hill with a beautiful towards Royal Roads and the ocean. The trails were extremely mucky and slick, Marc bailed while racing Kitt around a corner and got soaked! The dogs loved it and Panda was able to race around off leash, Guinness doesnt come when he’s called yet so he stayed attached to my waist (picked up the tip from watching ‘The Dog Whisperer’ – just loop the leash around your waist and voila! umbilical cord and hands-free running!) Guinness’s only major downfall is that he isnt house trained and I had forgotten how small puppies bladders are!
Guinness is a great little runner, nice long legs and his is game to be just out and about! Panda is an amazing dog, extremely fit, but she has a narrow spinal column in her hip area that pinches her spinal cord and causes her extreme pain in her hind end when she has done too much. My intention, as I train for MdS, is to try and do 6-8km with both dogs, then as Guinness gets older and fitter, to head longer with Guinness to avoid causing Panda any pain or discomfort.
Tonight we went out for a run around the Bog under the gorgeous moon. While running back towards the house and the moon we turned our headlamps off and ran by moonlight. It was fantastic, almost spiritual. The peace and quiet was so beautiful, I wish it had been lightly snowing and it would have been perfect! Now I’m at work for the night, wishing I was home with Kitt, the dogs, hot chocolate and a book. I can’t wait for the snowfall warning tomorrow – bring it on!! I hope we get a ton!
