I set off with couchpotato2 who is nearing the end of her c25k quest, on a beautiful, if chilly, morning. As I moved a little ahead on the footpath, an off the lead puppy ran up to me, jumping up and getting tangled in my feet. You guessed it, in order to avoid stomping on the stupid thing, I ended up tripping over it. Banged my knee, hip, and elbow. I managed not to swear at the (very apologetic) dog owner by means of clamping my mouth firmly shut.
Luckily there was a handy bench right where I fell, so I sat there with my leg up and bravely waved CP2 on to continue her run. After a minute or two I tried walking and all was fine, so I caught her up and we ran back together. Everything is sore but nothing is serious, so I'm expecting to be stiff and bruised but no more. Two of my friends have had broken bones after being tripped up by dogs, so I think I had a lucky escape. On a more positive note, I did manage to run for more or less 30 minutes, plus injury time. I'm not going to look at the distance, please don't make me!
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grumpyoldgirl
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No, you don't need to look at the distance 'grumpyoldgirl', sorry to hear about your fall today because of that puppy tripping you while out running with CP2, you were very patient not swearing at the puppy. It seems that your injury wasn't too bad as after a couple of minutes rest on the bench you managed to walk then run back with CP2 , nevertheless that puppy should have been on a lead.
Yes you had a lucky escape considering that just recently two of your friends had broken bones after being tripped up by dogs.
As a walker, cyclist and now recently a runner I do find being a runner is the most awkward of the 3 regarding dogs.
Thanks Al, it was hard to know what to do to avoid it. It obviously had no recall whatsoever. So it should have been on a lead. For its own sake as well as mine, if it ran up to a bigger dog like that, it could have had a nasty experience. I just hope the owner has learnt the lesson.
Oh you poor thing! I think you did amazingly well to continue and still run after that! I'm afraid I would have probably cried with self pity and gone home and then been cross with myself for doing that haha! Truly whatever you managed after that is fantastic! I am always wary of dogs but have been lucky that absolutely everyone I've passed has been really considerate. I hope you get off lightly with the bruises and that your next run is superb to compensate!
Thanks happysouls, sadly I have no spectacular bruising to show off as yet. (Still hurts though!) I'm so relieved not to have done anything that would have stopped me running, I've already spent a long time on the IC in the summer. I think if I'd hurt my foot again, I really would have cried! This little dog was super excited and friendly, it looked like a border terrier, so it had a stocky little barrel body, and whichever way I tried to put my feet, it went too! Blooming thing! It carried on trying to lick me as I hit the ground, I was not impressed! Couchpotato2 let me rant on about irresponsible dog owners afterwards, so that helped
It's particularly annoying but sensible to slow down🚶 a bit when you see a pack of dogs on the path ahead of you when on a timed run🏃, it could make all the difference between a ie. sub 30 minute 5k or running it just over the 30 minute's. 😂
If I was on a timed run and aiming for a PB and a dog interrupted me I hate to think how I'd react! Luckily I rarely bother with time PBs at the moment as speed doesn't agree with my limbs. Focusing on distance and hills slowly for a while so all quite chilled out and relaxing. I've been blocked by a fair few oblivious people lately so I really like routes with wide pavements hahaha!
Oh grumpy, glad to hear you got out of that ok(ish). You didn’t get the old comment of ‘they just want to play’ did you? That one makes my blood boil! I’ve had so many run-ins with dogs over the years, particularly when trying to bike to school with my boys. Unlike AlMorr I’ve found it easier as I’m lower down (I’m pretty short anyway!) and my feet brake faster.
Hope you’re not too bruised and well done for getting through it!
They whip out of nowhere the little dogs they are so quick! I’m glad you weren’t too hurt and could continue after a bit of a recovery! It’s such a shock when one minute you’re upright and the next minute flat on the floor! Well done for not swearing 🤬 and it doesn’t matter the distance you got back up and carried on well done!
You're right Bridget, it's that low centre of gravity they have. And I'm very proud of my self restraint, but carrying on the run, well that just had to happen, I was In The Zone! 😂 I intend to limp around all day tomorrow getting maximum sympathy to make up for it. I have a reputation as a wuss to protect 🤣🤣
Knee, hip and elbow? See how you feel tomorrow once all three guys get cold. I recently had a knee issue when it kissed the ground and it felt fine on the night but the morning after l knew I’d be off for a few weeks. If any bruising or strain don’t push it, wait until you’re fine. And as for the dogs? I absolutely adore them, most of them are complete idiots and l simply stop when one them gets too close. Bless them, they have no idea.
It's terrible when dogs are not on leads but these people who use these ridiculous long retractable leads are worse. I've not had any issues with dogs yet since I started running 4 months ago. I have had dogs chase me several times whilst riding my bike. One time a dog actually sank his teeth into the wheel of my moving mountain bike!. My worst experience though involved one of these dogs on a long lead. I was cycling on a cycle track when I noticed a dog in the distance on the grass verge on the right side of the track. The dog owner was on the left. Before I realised the dog was on a long lead I was on the floor! Very expensive road bike damaged and many cuts and abrasions to my body. Dog owner didn't even apologise!. I'm very wary of dogs as a result. Hope you are not hurting too much
Grrrrrr...some dog owners think their dogs have more rights to the paths than we do...loads of them just stand chatting, taking the whole path up with their furry friends!! I just squeeze through them, shaking my head and chuntering in disbelief
Ouch that sounds nasty! I've come across similar, luckily I was running slowly enough to grasp the situation and run right around the outside. There was no escape today though, it was a footpath with hedges either side, and a puppy that was locked on to its target. I must admit, the dog was much stronger than I expected - I thought I could just slow down and brush past it. At least the owner was really apologetic, which is more than you got 🙁
Oh well done grumpyoldgirl ....you poor thing bumping everything?! You have got guts getting back up and carrying on...I think I’d have sat and wept on that bench! Pesky puppies....cute but dangerous!! Here’s a sympathy hug for you...and no, don’t bother with the time!! X
Sorry to hear that you had a trip up caused by a dog. You were indeed very lucky, bet it shook you up to. You were brave to carry on with the run. Well done to you for that.
Thanks agelesslass, I think it helped that it was such a beautiful day, so I was in a good mood, and everything was still in working order (as much as usual, anyway! 😂)
I will be casting a wary eye over cute puppies I meet in future though 🐕
Ouch! Sounds painful - hope the aches and pains mend quickly and don't interfere with your running plans. I have learnt to slow down when dogs approach, until I can work out if they "only want to play" or have a responsible owner. I love those owners that hold their dogs or call them back when they see a runner, and I always thank them. The other day I was out running and met a young couple with their two very powerful, aggressive looking dogs, both of which ran up to me snarling and barking. I froze completely and was absolutely petrified. The owner called them off eventually - perhaps he thought it was funny but I was shaken. Anyway, even cute puppies can be a nuisance, as you discovered! Much sympathy, and happy running. 😀🐕
Oh Jo that sounds scary. Some people just seem to get a kick out of having scary dogs. Luckily most dogs and owners are lovely. I'll give myself a couple of days off, then get back out there. Might take a big stick with me though 🤔
Hope you recover from your encounter quickly, when I’m out with our dog and we see runners we move to the side (even if it means into the hedges) and he sits until they have run past. When I’m out shuffling on my runs I’ve encountered the owners that say “he always does that” my response is “then he should be on a lead”
Susie, that is absolutely true. It is no consolation to know it's just being friendly when you're picking the gravel out of your teeth. (slight exaggeration, I left the gravel alone). I love considerate dog owners and always thank them.
Thank you, at least I'm still mobile and nothing broken. Feeling very much my age today, so going to leave it another day at least before running again. I've got some arnica balm to rub in, and it smells so lovely, it must be helping! 😊🌸🌾🌿🍊
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