I love running when it is 8 degrees at 7 in the morning (can you sense the sarcasm??) It is not the actual run that is the trouble, but the getting out of a nice warm bed, and worst of all getting out of the car. The dogs on the other hand could care less, they are ready to run and want to run NOW (especially since I cross country skied yesterday and left them at home). They love the snow and jump, hop and eat it during the whole run. It took about three miles for us (I train with my mom during the off season- she is an ultra marathoner) to warm up, but the rest of the eight mile run was enjoyable.
Yes, I just wrote that and 8 mile run at 7am when it was 8 degrees out was enjoyable. I am quite aware that that is an absolutely crazy thing to say(and am glad there are at least a few people out somewhere that would also find it fun...) But would I run if I wasn't at least slightly crazy? Cold runs like this, painful runs like those that will begin when indoor track starts, and slow tiresome runs after speed work outs are what make you a good runner, not the fast, easy ones. And the stronger you and your dog get, the more room for adventure there is. My dog and I spent the weekend in West Virgina mountains for my graduation present, and ran a race there. We have trained through wind, snow, rain, sleet, heat and cold. We have ran through streams, hills, fields, mountains, valleys and woods. We ran together in the hills of New York, one of the few times he has experienced the joy of being off leash with no boundaries in sight. We run for fun, run because we can, and most of all run because we love it. There is something amazing about running with a dog, something that has to be experienced and can not truly be described.
Karin and Owen
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment