Spring Training

Spring has sprung in my Michigan woods. The crocus are blooming and the spring flowers are starting to pop. And I am about ready to pop too! I’ve gained a few lbs over the winter – those dark days and cool nights had me munching on a few too many milk bones. I noticed my collar is getting a little tight too!

So – I decided it is time to shed this winter coat and get moving! I am 100% in spring training mode! I signed up for a 5k to keep my training on track so I stay motivated, recruited my brother hooman to be my running partner and keep me accountable, and I have been getting extra sleep so I have all the energy to RUN RUN RUN! 

Training started this week when my hooman came home. He got my leash out which is my clue that we are headed out to the road! I was so excited (normally I am not allowed near the road). We started with a little warm up. The fresh smells had me eager to explore but I knew I had to FOCUS. After the warm up, my hooman picked up speed and I had to keep up. I started galloping, then my heart started pounding, I started panting. Then I felt kinda sick.  

Maybe I am not a runner dog, I thought. Maybe I am a couch dog. My stomach kept churning while my hooman kept running – pulling me down the road by my leash. Regrets filled my mind – all those milk bones in bed. Why did I beg to lick the hooman plate EVERY NIGHT?!

My legs were burning and I couldn’t catch my breath. That is when I decided to stop. Right on the side of the road, I put on the brakes. I am done, I thought. My hooman began pulling on my leash – “let’s go!” he commanded, “let’s go!”. Nope, I thought – spring training can shove it. My tongue was hanging out the side of my mouth and I was tempted to drink the dirty water in the ditch. I was desperate! I wish I wouldn’t have been so eager to sign-up for a 5k. What was I thinking? A 5k is like 3 miles! 

Then I realized – I can’t just stop. I gotta at least get off the side of the road. So I scooched toward my hooman and LEANED into him, hoping he would get the cue that I am not a runner dog. I think he got the hint because he squatted down next to me and rubbed my ears until I could get my breath back. He was saying really nice words too (I think they were nice words – they sounded like nice words anyway). Then my hooman turned toward home and slowly walked me back to my familiar woods. 

The next few training days were pretty much a repeat. I panted and felt sick most of the days. We would run but then we would walk. All the while my hooman would say nice words to me. We had to do that quite a bit until I could get the hang of it.

I had to make a lot of sacrifices too. My hooman interrupted a lot of my naps – telling me it was time to “go for a run”. I noticed he cut back on my milk bones in bed too, but in the end all the sacrifices were worth it. Our 5k race is coming up and I am proud to report I can run THREE full miles and only stop to mark a mailbox every now and again. 

I noticed that sometimes when I am eager to try something new, I tend to over do it- sprinting out the door anxious for a new adventure. Then when it gets to be too much – I want to stop and quit. I’ve learned I have to pace myself, the secret is to keep moving. Having a friend who will say nice words really helps too.

So friends, as we head into this new season, let’s spring into action! Find your motivation to get moving and shed your winter coat. If you sit, stay and lay down all the time – you may find yourself unable to get up! I hope you get out and get moving this week – if you do – you may find out you are a runner dog just like me!

Bark at you next week – your friend,