broke 3 miles with body guard dog!

Brought my own body guard: Robbie, my Rott/Doberman mix. I was not afraid tonight even when I ran past an empty parking lot and some scowling, fifty something, ragged looking, smoking (of course) guy gaped at me.

I usually get annoyed when people shrink from Robbie because it's such a case of judging the book by the cover. His favorite sport is cuddling and watching TV, not rabidly ripping apart the mail lady (who refuses to deliver our mail even if Robbie is outside with us). At 95 pounds, though, and with a clear Doberman body and Rott heft, I must admit he is a bit intimidating.

I had to run after 9 p.m. tonight, when I got home from work, and I really wanted to run further than three miles, but that meant going farther a field and even past some scary-at-night long stretches of dark, empty construction sites. Well, as I tugged on my road shoes, Robbie wagged his tail so hard he banged out a rhythm against the closet and bashed his nose into my leg. "Oh, sweety, you want to go for a walk." It hit me! Take him running w/ me! Why had I not thought of this before? This is not a dog most people make cooing noises and try to pet. Some people glance at him and scowl at me for my audacity at letting this beast out in public, or, especially if they are walking with children, perform a sudden, quick hop to the other side of the sidewalk, kids clutched to their sides, to avoid him.

I had never run w/ Robbie before and I worried he might not be as well behaved as Flappy--- but he was AWESOME! He stayed right by me and even agily weaved with me in and out of smoking obstacles in leather, studded jackets sauntering down the side walks of Main. He even kindly moved closer to my left leg when we ran by anyone.

Only problem: that dog is not as in shape as his muscles would imply. He ran about half a foot behind me and I had to keep yanking on the leash or saying his name to get him into my peripheral vision. His tongue nearly dragged behind him and he panted the entire run. This is not an old dog and he should not be so out of shape. It did make running with him a bit like trying to drag a wheeled cart full of mud at the same time.

Stats: My Garmin was not charged so these are not as specific

Distance: 4.07 (thank you "map my run")
stops: two-- one short one to stretch, one longer half block one to catch my breath
Smoky smelling houses: too many to count-- I just don't get how houses can actually smell like smoke--whenever I run by one and it's just overpowering I always look for someone on the porch smoking and there isn't anyone--I think one time I'm just going to walk four miles and really investigate this house smoke smell. Thing I hate: after passing a few of these I can really feel the slow down and my lungs fill w/ sludge. Ugggh. My civil libertarian sensibilities fight with my desire to breath in no Co2 and just let big ol' brother outlaw smoking all together.
Dog drag: 95 pounds
Beautiful, starry night-- loved stretching afterwards, especially when I was in triangle pose and lifted my head and arms up-- just amazing sight and it felt like my body was flying into it-- yes, that is a runner's high talking. Nothing like it.

Pace: again I tried the fall into the run near my toes stride--it is faster. I also did alot of inner association (and some disassociation--at one time I actually reached a perfect yoga state of mind and was not thinking at all-- then I realized I was doing that and began a whole lot of analyzing how I did it and what it meant and if I was conscious how I could really be thinking nothing--which is also a form of inner dissociation--just not as complete). What worked the best tonight as far as pace, comfort, mood: imagining I was in a race and certain landmarks ahead were the finish line-- often the end of a block or a traffic light. It's weird but that mindset made me surge forward w/out much effort or pain. It felt good. At one point, I even realized the slight tension in my legs and chest felt good. Felt like life.

pace: no idea--- again, no Garmen. But I feel like, at points, it was faster than my recent, and very sad, 11 minute miles. I did have to practically drag my very large, teenage-in-dog-years Dob most of the way.

I'm excited now for the zoo 10K in two sat.

The night's run ended perfectly with a stop at the mailbox to find that three very, very generous people donated to the Leukemia/Lymphoma society. It really added more joy to my run. One of my colleagues was just diagnosed with Meyloma and I think about her along w/ my beautiful, brave, gloriously alive newspaper student who just won her first round against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I visualize both of them now when I get to a sinister hill ,and I want to stop. It helps. Both of them have a bravery I hope I never have to find within myself.

A family friend sent me a note the other day that his dad died in 1973 (the year I was born) of Leukemia. This note came with an astoundingly generous donation to the TNT Leukemia/Lymphoma society. I guess you never know who has been impacted by these cancers. I look at smiling, bright Austyn, now back in my newspaper class, and I have hope.