A run in the sun 🌞

[Dexy5]

I have to admit I’ve been a bit picky about when I run lately because of the cold, windy and grey days but today turned out to be brighter than forecast.

After being put through the wringer, watching Katie Boulter play at the Australian Open, I had to get out and run. I chose Nike Running Club “Slow Down to Speed Up” guided run, and  UpTheStanley decided to run with me at my pace . 10 mins warm up , then 2 sets of 10k pace, 5k pace, 1 mile pace and a celebration run with recovery in between each. My main problem at the moment is my breathing rather than my strength and I think doing intervals once a week will help.

A lone little dog decided to run under UTS’s feet, which could have ended with him on the ground but fortunately dog and runner stayed upright. Owner was completely unaware of what dog was up to until I let out a swear word. Whoops. I don’t swear as a rule but it was the surprise of this trip hazard at our feet that came from nowhere.

I definitely did negative splits, so am happy with that, and it was a joy to be out.

Cappuccinos and water followed in a refurbished Beach Cafe, where we could watch the waves crashing in while sitting next to the radiator.

Have a nice day everyone. 😊

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Good run for you this morning Dexy5 , I know you never swear but a dog suddenly appearing out of nowhere at your feet would as they say, make a saint swear🤣, that is a nice photo of you and UTS, it looks like you are in Australia watching the tennis, by the way this morning I went a walk along the promenade at Helensburgh where almost 7 years ago this June I ran my graduation run

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to AlMorr]

😎😎 It wasn’t quite up to  RunWillie temperatures, but I did have to take a layer off while doing the intervals  AlMorr . A balmy 8°C.

It’s nice to revisit you graduation run and see how far you’ve come from that day 6 years ago.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

🏃✅

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Sounds like a successful run! We'll done on the negative splits. I'm glad that there were not injuries caused in the dog incident . Happy 🏃‍♀️

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Lovely run, apart from the close shave with the dog! I know someone who tripped over a very long dog lead whilst out running - he swore an awful lot at the owner 🫣😣😂. The weather was fabulous wasn’t it? Hope we get more of the sunny crisp days 🤞🏼 x

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Mudita11]

It was lovely, especially as it was forecast to be cloudy. Oh those extending leads are the bane of my life - owner on one side of the prom and dog on the other with an almost invisible hurdle in between.

I didn’t swear directly at the owner, but I did suggest she put the dog on a lead. It could have been nasty if UTS had gone down.

I hope you are doing okay Mudita11 , and able to get out on your bike.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

One of my running nightmares. Those ruddy leads 🤬 I do “give feedback” to the owners of undisciplined dogs if they jump up at me or chase me. After all, if I was a child he or she would be terrified!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Oops 🤭! Bet the owner will be more careful in future 😂. I was so shocked at your 🤬that I pressed “send” and have had to use edit to finish of my post! It is dangerous though; having an uncontrolled dog on the loose. I have to navigate my way through lots of dogs on runs, particularly at the weekend when people come out to the forest for a walk. Usually there is no problem; it is the ones you don’t notice until it is too late which cause the problem and that is more likely to happen in crowded places. It would have been no laughing matter had UTS tripped.

Negative splits? Brilliant work🙂. I am planning a little rehab trot when my porridge settles so🤞🤞🤞🤞.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yes it was a young little thing that came from nowhere. I bet it got quite a shock itself. I have no problem with dogs but some owners need training to take responsibility.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

After owning Old English Sheepdogs for 25 years or so, I agree! Big dogs can do lots of damage; puppies get under your feet. As Shakes would say, All’s well that ends well.🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That sounds just fab Dexy. A run beside the sea, all that sea air and then being warm afterwards with a coffee. Simple pleasures but the best 😍

Boo to the dog owner 🤬 there seem to be far more undisciplined dogs around at the minute than there used to be and the owners haven’t got a clue 🙄 No wonder you swore! What some dog owners don’t appreciate is that a runner could have spent months training for a special event and a reckless dog under their feet destroys that immediately 🤬 again! I hope the owner was appropriately apologetic at least.

Well done on the negative spilts too 👍

[nowster Metric Marathon]

My sister's dog is a mobile trip hazard.

On one walk last year he was walking next to me and suddenly turned his head so my shin collided with his jaw.

Even in the house he's always underfoot, second guessing where you're about to go and getting in your way.

Out on a run, I will happily greet any dogs I meet, offering a sniff of the back of my hand/glove and maybe a little scratch on the back of the head if they're friendly. A few weeks ago however, I was doing that to a smaller dog (on a lead) and was glad to have been wearing gloves as the dog made a snap at me.

I don't particularly mind off-lead dogs running alongside me, as long as I can see where they are and where they're heading. Most times that's happened they've only kept with me for a few seconds before their owner has called them back or they've realised they've strayed too far from their owner.

I can appreciate that this would make others nervous, though.

Dog leads, especially the really thin almost invisible cords of extending reels, can be a real problem.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

I once “ran away” with a dog that had attached itself to me and clearly wanted to play. The owner was having a real panic and shouting at the dog to return but he was having far too much fun running with me and ignored her. In the end I stopped and the dog looked from me to the owner as if weighing up who to go to 🤣

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Irishprincess]

😂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

They’re truly awful things  Dexy5 . In fact people should really think more of others when running with their dog on any kind of lead. They often feel invincible and oblivious to all around them. I also hate with a passion those long “lunge line”’type leads that people use to train their dogs off lead. The dogs end up running around with them trailing behind them, and many a time I’ve almost come a cropper when one would run up to Flossie for a sniff and wrap the lead round my legs. 🙄

I’m glad there was no harm done. 🙏 Oh, and I have no issue swearing in situations like that.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Just grand !!! A great run and a great reward... waves and warmth ! x Glad UTS stayed Up !!!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Oldfloss]

😂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on those intervals Dexy - I am sure you will feel the benefits too. Glad that UTS didn’t get taken down by that dog. 😬It’s frustrating when that happens, particularly if it’s due to an owner not really keeping an eye on their dog…(I have to say that MOST dog owners are fab and very on the ball, concerning runners).

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Sounds like a lovely run Dexy5 , except for the dog incident ! Glad all ok 👌xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Great job Dexy! Breathing is hard in the cold!!! Stick with those regular intervals and you'll have it cracked again. So glad there were no casualties - that's not how you want to remember a run!!!

[Katnap Marathon]

Good to know UTS avoided canine caused negative splits! 🤣

🐱 Katnap 🐱