A Running Mate

I am happy to say that this week I was able to keep on track with my training schedule despite the weather. It has been a very hot summer and I was not feeling encouraged by the idea of running in the midday heat. What has been working is running before I go to work... which is not a big stretch or change in routine as we are already up due to our own personal Rooster. He has always been an early riser...and that is no exaggeration as he is typically up by 5, and ready to start his day after a cup of milk and a cuddle. Usually I can drag this out until 5:30am...I long for the days of sleeping past 6am! However, it has worked to my advantage as I have now found myself a pretty good running mate. He loves the jogging stroller so it is a nice way of incorporating spending time with someone I love, with something I do not love as much....at most I can say that I am starting to appreciate running, at most.

Our morning runs have consisted of me loading up the stroller with our gear, and heading out- usually with Rooster still in his PJ's,snack in hand. There is usually a lot of talk about all of the cars, trucks and city buses that we see. We have been very lucky this week as there has been a fair amount of road/house construction which produces MANY "Tractors!!! Diggs!!". I have really enjoyed spending this time with him in the morning, out in the fresh air listening to him label every thing, and I mean EVERYthing. I have been finding that it has helped me add two things to my training- one is my pace, because I am talking to him I have to be conscious of my breathing and if I feel like I am not able to 'talk'to him I slow down a bit. The second is that it has added perseverance and meaning to my routine. Because he is with me I have to finish...I have to get him home and for some reason that has really helped (the momma bear instinct is a very amazing thing), as well as just spending quality time with him.

Today was my long run day, and we did pretty well...it was my first 7 km in a very long time and I felt pretty good throughout it...hell I made it home, that was good for me! Just when I needed a pick me up, he started being very silly, taking of his sweater and shoes and singing at the top of his lungs. I was quite thankful that he wasn't able to get the rest of his gear off. I look forward to getting a Garmin as I am sure I add many more steps to my runs with him, including having to run back and pick up his clothes ;)

Lisa