Get a dog they said. It'll be fun they said. He'll help keep you fit they said. Well they were wrong. Not about the fun - he constantly makes me laugh- but as for keeping fit?
Our walks are slow and short - he's too young to go far. And he struggles with being left alone, so when I do manage to get out for a run, that's slow and short too!
I've put on half a stone since we got him. When I was running 15-20k a week I could eat whatever I wanted, and it's taken me a while to realise I can't do that anymore. It has consequences!
So, my running has been sporadic to say the least. But I've still had a couple of adventures - got caught in an absolute downpour 3 weeks ago, which was a great incentive to keep running. And I overtook a car last week whilst running! It was on a rutted farm track where the car was in danger of breaking an axle, but I'll take it!
And there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. I've been working on getting pup used to being left alone without fretting, and can now leave him for over an hour.
You may remember at the start of the year I followed a Jeff Galloway plan to increase my speed. It worked, but because it was all interval work, it killed my ability to run further than 1 mile without a break. I was gutted. I now know I'd rather go slow and long, than fast and short. So now I can finally start working on increasing my distance, and I'm finally back up to 5k. And it hasn't been as painful as I had feared. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's been fun!
So for all those out there who are on the IC, or those where life is getting in the way, and even those who have lost their mojo, don't despair. You won't be starting from scratch when you come back, in a remarkably short time your body will remember.
We can do this!
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Tartancat
Graduate10
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Look at the size of those paws .... he's gonna grow and grow ... you're gonna need some speed and will be shedding pounds in no time He's gorgeous. 10k here you both come
Lol! I'm sure he will have plenty of stamina as soon as he's allowed to decide for himself. Our old girl is heading for 11 now, but she'll always head out the door with whoever is going next - no matter how long she's already been out for
I've been trying to up my speed, but I must say I enjoy a longer shuffle-jog when it comes down to it (not very far, just slow and longer!!!) LOL.... I've got a doberman (now aged 4) who runs herself ragged there and back over and over as I run slowly... and an older plodder dog who is about as over weight as I am (he's a doberherd)!
So good luck enjoying your runs and soon you new K9 baby will be able to share the joy!
You’ll get back up there TC, I have no doubt about that! And what a gorgeous pup! He’s such a handsome fellow. 😍 He’ll soon get the hang of running with you and/or being left long enough for you to enjoy yours. Hopefully the former, as it’s fabulous fun running with a doggie buddy. 😀
Thanks Cheeky. The plan is to run with him, but at the moment he can't even walk in a straight line on the lead, too many distractions. I have visions of constantly falling over him if we tried to run! But I live in hope!
Practise will make perfect. They soon understand about leads - although because we hardly ever used one when our Lab was small, she took a while to grasp the concept! Nowadays she’s awesome, and when I’m running with her she trots along in a more or less straight line the whole time. ❤️🐕🏃♀️
Let us know how you get on with your little fellow! ❤️❤️
Canicross is great - lots of folk run with boxers. Get him a harness designed for running and he with definitely pull you up those hills! My pace increases dramatically when Squiggs sees a squirrel 😂!
Nawwwww look at him!! It won't be too long before he is out there with you 😊 but best to take it slow with him so he doesn't end up on the IC! I always run with my dog - she is the best motivation there is - she needs a walk every day anyway so it may as well be a run
That's my plan. I think when he's older I'll start him on C25K - proven to minimise the risk of injury!
What a sweetheart! My tip would be to ignore him for a short while before you go out (rather than making a fuss of him when you leave) and then ignore him for a short while when you get back, it reduces separation anxiety.
Thanks Helen, that's a good tip. He's finally learning that when I leave him I will be back, but he gets bored, and that's when the trouble begins! Oh well, all part of having a dog 🐕
What a beautiful pup! I’m so pleased to read your post as I haven’t been able to run for nearly 3 weeks due to injury and being a new (5months) runner I’m worried I’ll have to start from scratch to build up my fitness but you’ve given me some hope that it may not be that bad! 🐕🐶
thankyou Tartancat for those words. I had just finished C25K with no probs but then got a dreaded sciatic issue and off running now for a month, so thought all my hard work would have been in vain. Maybe when I get the all clear it wont be back to square one completely.
Love a dog but my puddy tat would not be impressed. he is lovely think you are going to have lovely 4 legged running buddy there
Totally adorable pup! That's the nicest reason I've seen to have to limit your running Life is stopping me running for a few weeks and it is frustrating, but I'm not worrying - it will be there waiting when I'm ready.
So pleased you are back up to 5k! It's funny, once we are used to 5k and pushing for 10k+ we forget that 5k is still a long way to run and beat ourselves up about not being able to do it or missing the fact that it's a big achievement - so HUGE well done! Enjoy the journey and puppy training
Well, considering I've had a few weeks of only being able to run 10 minutes at a time (round the block, home to check on pup, round the block, and repeat), being able to do 5k is a minor miracle! Loving it!
Well, after a few weeks of only being able to do 10 minutes at a time (run round the block, check on pup, run round the block, and repeat), it's a joy to know I can still do anything at all!
A Springer- they just love to be kept busy all day, I bet he's brilliant. Boxers tend to be more Usain Bolt than Mo Farah, so I don't know if he'll cope with longer distances, but we'll give it a good go!
The dog won't be a pup for long, and has he grows he can go that bit further each time until the day dawns when pup can run as long as he likes. I say "he" likes as that's what will determine how far you go. They know when they've had enough. For bigger breeds they have to grow slowly into their running legs, as do we, so we can't push things. When he has been out on a run and has eaten - and is tired- he will sleep so you can nip off then to do your errands and such. They are a tie for sure! Lovely though, and you will lose weight once your runs are longer and regular.
It's going to be such fun. You can explore new routes and trails. I often recce new routes with my running buddy
Aww, cute puppy alert!! How could anyone resist going outdoors with him?! Glad you're getting back out there Tartancat ...hopefully the weather improves for you too
Thanks Mummycav 😊. I don't really mind what the weather does to be honest, but it would be nice to see some sunshine at some point this summer. Bit of a difference to this time last year!
Just Look at that face..... ❤️❤️❤️. Loved your post. Great news on getting back up to 5k. You have given me a bit of a boost. Have been on IC for 6 weeks but feels like 6 months!!! Just started ankle exercises. Very bored. Getting fatter. I know I am a lovelier person when I run too. Here’s to getting back to 5k no matter how long it takes us.
Ouch. I haven't had an injury to contend with, but I was surprised how little fitness I had lost. Good luck on your recovery and I look forward to hearing about your next 5k!
They are so clever. A good friend had a Boxer when our children were small and kids headed off to the corner shop, left him behind and if we hadn’t witnessed it, wouldn’t have believed it. He jumped on their trampoline in the back garden, bounced several times and over the neighbour’s fence and joined the kids. 😂 Result! 👍
Hi Tartancat, Sounds like you have been busy learning about the many and varied aspects of running. Interesting that you found increasing speed curtailed distance. Sounds like you very soon sorted that. I wonder whether your dog is now up for longer dogs. Presumably, there will come a time when he'll out run you!
Oh he can outrun me already, but only for short distances - he's definitely not up to doing a 5k, far from it! I've got about a year before he'll be able to run in earnest.
And yes, I've decided speed isn't my forte. I don't want to spend all my time checking my pace, and cursing because the farm gates take an age to unhook and hook back up - I just want to enjoy getting out in the glorious countryside!
It does take us a while to work out exactly want we each want from our running. That's for sure. And I think what we would like changes with time. Happy enjoying the scenery to you! 😊🌳💐🦆
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He's gorgeous. 10k here you both come 
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