Responsibility

I started out Saturday (yesterday) not really wanting to run. I didn't have anything to do, the First Lady was out of town, and the only thing I was interested in was sitting on the couch and drinking coffee on a 60-degree day. I'd scored some coffee product at a recent office Christmas event, and was eager to try some. I was not disappointed.

Of course, my inactivity got the better of me, and I laced up my Adrenaline 12s and went out for a run about 3:45, or roughly an hour before sunset. I covered much of the same ground I usually do, and felt pretty good, though my heart rate is still a bit elevated. More on that in a bit.

About two miles in, I was on the street, as a mother and child (two or three-year old?) at the corner house got out of the car, along with about a 20-pound terrier-looking dog that was not on a leash. This dog may have been in protect child mode as took off across the yard and ran me down from about 100 feet as I was running away from it and the house. It went so far as to bite me on the outside of my right calf.

Now I've been chased by dogs before, and I wasn't really alarmed when I saw this one come after me. I usually just keep on going and the dog will not chase anymore, as the threat moves away. That's what I expected to happen. So getting a nip on my leg was a surprise.

The lady came over and was sorry for what happened. She even asked if the dog broke the skin (it did), as if that would make a difference. I asked her to do better the next time. I was able to continue my run, which became a seven-miler in shorts and shirt sleeves.

I guess my message is that training your pet is part of being a good citizen. I was running on a road I've run on many times in the past, doing my own thing, running on a public street that I help pay for, without earphones. I constantly watch for traffic, hopping into someone's yard for a stride or two, or crossing to the other side of the street as needed. So I try to be a good citizen while I'm being a good runner. Meanwhile, a dog who doesn't know better because it hasn't been taught bites me on the leg. It doesn't take much to let your dog know where the boundaries are. Call Cesar Millan if you have to.

Just be mindful, respectful, and courteous of others. Your right to do what you want stops when it affects others, or when your dog bites me.

The seven miles got me to eleven for the week. I've done better at staying nearer to 9:00/mile pace, but worse at getting out for more than two runs a week. I also learned that my left hamstring is not really built for seven milers. So I'll keep the distances down and try to run three days a week, then four once the three becomes practical.

I don't really understand the heart rate thing-- the effort feels the same, and my weight has not changed. But I'm averaging upper 150 HR for the same runs that I've been in the 140s in recently. So it's something to watch.

Changes

As I alluded to previously, things are a little different in my world these days.

I no longer work retail at the running store. I've moved on to a full-time position as a bank teller at a local credit union. I enjoyed hanging around the running store, making new friends and hanging around old ones, but the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. I'm looking forward to meeting more new people and expanding my horizons.

It also means that running is not as big a part of my life as it was. Part of the reason I ran before was accountability-- can't work at the store and *not* run, plus we'd talk about training during down time. Working at noon really helped get those daily workouts in, which was a big help, especially during marathon and half-marathon training. 

Now that chapter is over, since my workday now stretches 8:30 to 6. My first week at the new job was the week of Thanksgiving, so that wasn't as bad, but the week following was an off week, and I've gone out two times in each of the last two weeks, ten weekly miles. I can tell I've lost a bit of fitness, and my hamstring pain is almost gone, though it was a little sore yesterday. 

Running is still very important to me, but if I run, it'll happen in the morning. So I'm looking forward to new challenges of learning a new trade and new way of life.