Running With the Dogs

Distance: 1 mile
Time: ?
Location:  Rio Vista School and Back

Tomorrow is the big Cucamonga Peak hike.  I should have been running for several weeks prior to this endeavor, but instead I did virtually nothing.  I rolled my ankle on my last run, which was November 4th, and haven't run since.  Part of that time was spent recovering, but my ankle seemed to heal pretty quickly, so I really didn't have an excuse.  Finally, tonight, on the eve of the hike, I had had enough.  I decided just to go run and not even think about it, because the minute I start thinking is the minute I come up with a million reasons to not go.  So I quickly put on my running shorts and shoes (I didn't bother with the MiCoach) and headed for the door.  Once there, Deborah suggested I take the dogs, and since I wasn't going to stop and think about anything I quickly said, "sure!"  So we threw the leashes on them and out the door we went.  Before I knew what had happened I was running up our street being practically pulled by two dogs as if I were on a sled!  They had a lot of energy initially and I was definitely going faster than I had planned.  But we all soon fell into a comfortable pace and kept it the whole way to the school.  Once there we stopped for a quick breather.  My dogs were doing great.  They didn't stop the whole time and they would only increase their pace when they would hear another dog.  We were soon heading back and it was smooth sailing all the way home.  All in all it was a great run!  I may just take the dogs out more often!  They keep it interesting and probably force me to increase my pace more than I would otherwise.  So hopefully tonight's run will help a little for tomorrow's hike.  Obviously the reality is it is probably too little too late, but it's better than nothing.  Tomorrow is going to be a challenge like no other.  We'll be climbing over 6,000 feet to the summit of Cucamonga Peak!  It's going to be one of the most epic things I've done.