Week 8 - here we come! ๐Ÿ˜Š: Yes, โ€˜weโ€™ - Mr... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,591 members โ€ข 158,675 posts

Week 8 - here we come! ๐Ÿ˜Š

RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate
โ€ข10 Replies

Yes, โ€˜weโ€™ - Mr Rainbow suggested I take one of the dogs with me this evening. I wasnโ€™t convinced it was a good plan; I know Fluffy can be very temperamental and is not shy about just sitting down firmly when sheโ€™s had enough, and Scruffy is only little and in the past hasnโ€™t seemed happy to run more than about 5 mins at a time. Heโ€™s full of energy though, and is a Tiny Terrier, so I found the hands-free lead and off we went.

Since it was late and dark by the time we were setting out, I decided weโ€™d go down the main road, the way I tried a couple of weeks ago. The big advantage of this was soon demonstrated once we started running - Tiny Terrierโ€™s desperation to chase every bike (or motorbike, or bus) which went past meant he was pulling me along very determinedly. ๐Ÿ˜

Five minutes in and he was still going well; at ten minutes I was using him to check I was keeping to a conversational pace (despite his best efforts!). As we passed the chippy I did suggest that we could just stop there, get some chips, then run home and claim weโ€™d done the whole run properly, but he wasnโ€™t having any of it! Running is Serious Business for a Tiny Terrier, dontchaknow... ;)

On we went then, turning down the road which leads to the river, and wondering how far weโ€™d get before Laura said halfway. Turned out that it worked pretty perfectly - the halftime announcement came just as we got to the long bridge, so we went over it and turned round at the other side.

Everything was feeling good - knees tweaking ever so slightly, but a mild ache rather than any sort of pain, and other than that it was actually comfortable! Back to the main road, and start what feels like an ever so gentle incline all the way back up the next mile!

Tiny Terrier started to tire slightly on the way back - by which I mean he occasionally ran alongside me rather than out in front! But we both kept going doggedly (heh!) one foot in front of the other in my case, two paws in front of the others in his.

Suddenly Laura said there were just five minutes to go! Ok, that was easy then, I knew I could manage that! By the time she said it was the last minute we were really properly running - Tiny had apparently caught on to my excitement and was off in front again. And then we were done!

Five minutesโ€™ walking brought us perfectly back to the gate - we got in, he had a big drink and is having a well-earned snooze now :)

Written by
RainbowC profile image
RainbowC
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
10 Replies
โ€ข
CarolineKC profile image
CarolineKCGraduate

Lovely to read and well done to you and Tiny Terrier (is there a companion canine graduation certificate available at the end of week nine?)

Lillybeth30mins profile image
Lillybeth30minsGraduate

Ah that was lovely ๐Ÿ˜Š my doggyโ€™s turn tomorrow after work ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

JoP61 profile image
JoP61Graduate

Love it! Hope Tiny Terrier gets to graduate as well as you! Brilliant run - you're nearly there! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

PS: What is a hands-free lead?!

RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate in reply to JoP61

It's basically a waist belt, with a slightly springy lead which clips on to it.This isn't quite the one I have, but you get the idea: amazon.co.uk/Hands-Free-Run...

The humour value of Tiny Terrier lunging after a passing cyclist and being pinged back by the bungee lead will never fade...! :D

JoP61 profile image
JoP61Graduate in reply to RainbowC

Sounds hilarious - entertainment as you run! ๐Ÿ˜‚

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Graduate

Excellent ๐Ÿ•๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe5Graduate

Brilliant- I really enjoyed going with you both! ๐Ÿ˜„

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

Ahh, brilliant post which made me grin and giggle! Well done Scruffy :) I love the description of him chasing the bikes etc, my spaniel is like that with furry and feathered things - sometimes in the wrong direction in the case of squirrels up trees!! It is fun running with a dog though and yes I talk to Mr Squiggs, quite often having to say 'St-ea-d-y!'

Mamabear5 profile image
Mamabear5Graduate

I've seen someone use one of those waist leads before , i love taking my dog with me , but being a dalmation that likes to say hello to other dogs I'm not overly confident to use one , it is nice having him join me and i also keep him up dated on how long we've got left

RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate in reply to Mamabear5

I definitely orefer the waist belt to a normal lead for running - if the dog lunges suddenly, Iโ€™m much more stable rather than having my arm yanked! ;) But it definitely takes a bit of getting used to at first - and Fluffy Pup hasnโ€™t yet learned how going out with that is different to a normal walk. I think if I did it regularly she would understand it quickly, but at the moment Iโ€™m concentrating on taking *me* running regularly. Dogs can become regular companions later...! ;)

You may also like...

Week 8 here I come!!!

like I'm running); I need to remember it's not about pace but completing times, as I did on my run...

Week 9 here we come!!!

suppose that's probably the point of running, just going with the flow. Turns out I smashed my...

Week 9 here I come - with wardrobe malfunction...

in taking off Skins - to discover they were on back to front! No wonder they felt weird! So room...

Graduation week here i come!

this evening I was back to my usual road run. Instead of tracking my warm up, run and cool down...

Week 1, run 1...C25K here I come!!!

only run for a minute for the first 3 running sessions. I had no puff!! For the other running...