Why running with my dog makes me a better runner:

I've been running quite a bit with Bear lately.  This post might seem a little Bear-centric, but I assure you, it's only because Bear likes to run whereas Sofie tolerates it on good days in trudges along most others - keeping an eye out for pigeons and scattering leaves that are fun to chase.  My dear, beloved little Sofie is a field dog.  She likes to hunt pigeons....and chase rollerbladers....and skateboarders (there's something about the sound of the wheels that gets her really revved up).  She loves to hike.  She love love love LOVES to SWIM.  She likes to nose around in the woods and roll in the grass.  Run - on a leash - she's not into it really.  Especially not for more than about 3 miles.

Bear, on the other hand, is a running dog.  After about half a mile, he settles in at the same pace I'm running, and is right by my side.  Slack leash.  He doesn't pull - doesn't chase things.  He occasionally looks joyously up into my eyes - ears flying - tongue lolling- big doggie "smile" on his face.

Back to the point.

Running with Bear makes me a better runner.

I notice scenery I never notice most other days because I want him to get to smell the flowers and nose around in the daffodils once in awhile.

I change my pace up so it's comfortable.  We run fast when we feel like it, and slow when we feel like it.  I want it to be fun for him, so I don't take it too seriously.

I stop to give him sips of water...so I also have sips of water.

I wet him down behind his ears now and again because I know it feels invigorating and keeps him cool.

I smile almost the whole run - because he's got the doggie equivalent of a smile on.

I make eye contact with more runners - because they're gushing over how cute he is.

I end the run feeling refreshed - not tired - refreshed and happy. 

The bottom line is that because I love him so much and want him to be happy, I do things that also make me happy.  I'm a firm believer that a tired dog is a happy dog is a good dog.  I'm also a firm believer that a tired human is a happy human is a good human.  Give a dog a job to do - it's a happy dog.  Give a human a job to do - it's a good human. 

Bear ran a total of 15 miles with me just this weekend.  That's not even counting on all the walks and fetch we've played.  Soon I'll start training again for my biggest run of the Spring/Summer - the NYRR Women's only 10k.  Once that starts, I'll run slightly less with Bear so that I can get in some faster, tougher runs.  But for now....I'll enjoy nosing around in the daffodils and watching his ears fly behind him in the breeze. 

Now I think I'll just give you a recap of our weekend.

Friday afternoon was so beautiful I took the doggies on about a 2.5 hour walk in the Park - complete with grass-laying time.  It was wonderful.  I felt very relaxed. I've been trying to take some time each day to lay in the grass and not think about things.  On Saturday I was very productive - I got up and went in to work (twice) but only for a short period of time.  Then I went running with Bear - then walked the dogs about 5 miles.  I was beat and the above picture of them sleeping on the couch was how they looked afterwards.  Perfect. 

Then Brian and I went on a date.  I got dressed all cute- aka not my running clothes and then we went downtown to Rye House.  We got beer cheese as an appetizer - it was freaking delicious.  And then he got the house burger with bacon, cheddar, red onion, lettuce, and tomato.  I got the 3 cheese grilled cheese with truffles.  I'm a big fan of truffles.  I had them first at Grégoire's house for a lab party.  I was slathering them all thick on bread before he quietly reminded me that "they were expensive."  Yea - and they're freaking amazing.  Worth every penny.  I had a nice arugula salad on the side with toasted walnuts, mushrooms, and more cheese.  You know how I feel about toasted walnuts (very positive).   I had 1 cocktail - because it was $12.00.  It was the best cocktail I've ever had.  Probably tied with the Lemon Drop I had at Christmas at the Cornell Club. It was ice cold, bourbon, bitters, lemon juice, honey, and a splash of seltzer.  Then we went to the movies and saw "Mud."  In answer to my mother's question as to whether it was the 1950's film about a politician...no...it's the one where Matthew McConnahey takes his shirt off and has bad teeth.

We finished the night by annoying the froyo guys at Tasti-delite by being the last absolute people to come in.  I got chocolate with heath bars.  Brian got chocolate with colored non-pareils. 

Sunday I woke up at the crack of dawn to volunteer at the Run as One race to support lung cancer research.  It was 5 hours of being on my feet but the weather was stunning and the atmosphere was great.  I was doing stuff the whole time so it went by pretty fast.  When I got home, I hung out with my friend Brendan - who happened to run the race.  We ate breakfast and then I ran another 7 miles with Bear.  Brian made us salmon (Brendan and he had crabcakes), roasted baby red potatoes with asiago, and broccoli for dinner.  It was capital.  I finished the night by hanging in bed with my pups reading one of my favorite books - the Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera.  Brian was working on his new drum kit out in the living room. 

I got tan - I ate good food - I ran - I relaxed - I worked - I dated - I hung with my dogs.  

It was a good weekend.

Carpe diem,

J