Gettysburg North-South Marathon

Sunday morning, I woke up at 5 AM, got dressed, choked down 1/2 a banana and a Clif bar and headed out at 6 AM for the Gettysburg North-South Marathon.  We arrived in Gettysburg around 6:45 AM, I picked up my packet, met up with friends and waited for the start.  It was chilly at the start but looked like it was going to be a perfect day for a marathon.

Soon, we were off.  I've been wavering a bit on what I wanted to attempt to do with this race.  I signed up for it to be a long run before Capon Valley 50K (in three weeks which is a long run for Highlands Sky).  I also wanted to PR (under 4:25).  But, I'm feeling a lot stronger and did not think just a PR under 4:25 was a big stretch.  So, I decided to make my public goal under 4:15.  My, 'I know I can do it if everything goes right but I'm not going to tell anyone goal':  under 4:00.  That didn't happen but I still got my public goal and still believe if everything went right, I would have been able to get the other one...next time.

One friend was running this and several others were going to pace him throughout different sections.  This was nice because I had people to talk to at various points.  I'm not a huge talker but it's nice to pass some of the time.  Talking was also a good plan since this was advertised as a 'No Headphones' race.  Of course, I saw tons of people with them.  I'm fine with the rule but if the rule exists, enforce it, because I definitely would have had my music with me if I knew I'd be able to get away with it and still get a finishing time.  Considering it was a small race (455 finishers according to the results), I thought I might not be able to get away with it.

The first few miles clicked by quickly.  This is a small race but also has a wheel division.  We went up a steep hill early and one of them was struggling to get up with all of us runners going around.  I can't imagine what that would've been like.  It's a course filled with lots of rolling hills which is actually what I'm the strongest on but most would consider this a fairly tough course if they do not like hills.  For me, it's exactly what I'm used to running so it worked well for me.  By mile 3, I was warmed up and got rid of the long sleeve shirt.

Around mile 6, I needed a pit stop and stopped at a water station.  The port-o-potty was occupied with the occupant showing no signs of leaving soon and another guy waiting in front of me.  I ditched the plan but luckily another one appeared shortly thereafter at the relay exchange.  Much better.  We keep moving through the country roads passing an orchard at this point.  The course was scenic and pretty because it was country roads but not exactly what I was expecting since we were in Gettysburg.  I thought it would have been more like Freedom's Run where we actually ran through some sections like the battlefields.

I decided to wear a pace band to help me see where I was and also remind me to eat Shot Bloks since I'm not the best at remembering this.  I've never had stomach issues with them and not sure if it was them or just something else on this day.  At the half way, another stop was needed but otherwise feeling good.  I started pulling away a little from the group I was running with but met back up with them after stopping again at mile 17...argh.

My legs were feeling good though and pretty soon I was at mile 20.  At this point, I moved in front of the main group I was running with again but met up with my neighbor.  I'd been back and forth with him throughout the day as well.  I had no idea he was running this but just randomly saw him at the start.  It was his first marathon and think he was starting to feel it around mile 21.  I left him and continued on my way.

Luckily, my stomach issues stopped after mile 20 and I felt good all the way to the finish.  I stopped eating the Bloks several miles earlier, ate half a granola bar somewhere in there (I packed a smorgasbord in the pockets of my skirt apparently) and just took a couple salt pills.  Sure, I wanted it to be over and had moments where I thought about walking but never did and passed lots of people in those last 3 miles.  I finished feeling better than I have in either of the other two marathons I've run.Must be the Aspaeris Pivot shorts (still convinced).  Well, either that or the fact that I'm running a whole lot more this year.  That might have something to do with it as well.  Official time:  4:09:46.  Way off 4:00 but still well under the 4:15.
 

I look kind of rough here, partly because my I'm in the middle of eating a bagel.

See...this is more the typical post race photo of me, not enough hands to carry all this food I must shove in my face.

Self promotion (milesandmutts.com)

Splits:
Mile 1:  9:18
Mile 2:  8:51
Mile 3:  9:00
Mile 4:  8:45
Mile 5:  8:58
Mile 6:  9:09
Mile 7:  10:15 (Port-o-potty stop 1)
Mile 8:  9:07
Mile 9:  8:43
Mile 10:  9:06
Mile 11:  9:17
Mile 12:  9:32
Mile 13:  10:17 (Port-o-potty stop 2)
Mile 14:  9:09
Mile 15:  9:31
Mile 16:  9:12
Mile 17:  11:10 (Port-o-potty stop 3)
Mile 18:  9:51
Mile 19:  9:18
Mile 20:  10:44 (Port-o-potty stop 4)
Mile 21:  9:09
Mile 22:  9:42
Mile 23:  9:04
Mile 24:  9:47
Mile 25:  9:49
Mile 26:  9:19

I now also own a shirt that has a picture of a Confederate flag on it.  :-)

Hungry?

A few things happening in the kitchen around here lately.  Click on the link for the recipes.

Beet and Barley Salad.

 Tuscan Glazed Chicken

Coconut Coffee Banana Smoothie

Asparagus and Chickpea Stir Fry

 Slow Cooker Apple Cherry Pork Loin

Pure and Simple Crab Cakes

The full April menu created for OAMM can also be found here:  http://onceamonthmom.com/diet-april-2012-menu/

We'll Call it a Taper

The Gettysburg North South Marathon is next weekend.  I'm not exactly 'tapering' for it since I'm using it as a long run, but I'm embracing the taper idea this weekend.  I didn't even leave the house today.  How's that for taper?  I didn't even step outside.  It's rainy and I've been go-go-go for the past few weeks and had a few stressful issues at work so it felt great to sleep in, eat a big breakfast and just relax at home.

Then, I ran an odd distance of 11 miles which I'm pretty sure is the longest I've ever been on a treadmill.  I could have run outside, it's not storming, but for some reason I had no desire so I went for the treadmill and just ran as long as I felt like before getting too bored.  I spent the time watching the Food Network which always feels counter-productive because I spend the entire time deciding what I want to eat or cook after I get off the treadmill.

Unlike today's lazy day, yesterday was very productive which is part of the reason I do not feel guilty about today.  I woke up really early, cleaned the bathrooms and all floors and then headed to the shelter to pick up this girl for a Miles and Mutts run.  I'm really going to have to run something other than hounds soon.  It looks like I'm just running with the same dog each time!  

I loaded her up in a crate and made the short trip to the rail trail.  My driving must have been a little off yesterday.  She tipped in the crate twice and as we pulled in the parking lot, puked before I could get her out of the car.  Note to self, stock car with appropriate cleaning items.  I had blankets under the crate so used those to clean up since that's all I had.  

At this point, I wasn't sure if it was just car sickness or not so I wasn't sure if we would actually run.  I walked her a bit and she started to get excited with the new smells of the location so I started jogging slowly.  I picked up the pace as she got into it.  She did wonderfully, even easier to run with than her sister which was surprising because she was harder to walk when I tested them out a few weeks ago.  Although, she is much more leery of other people than her sister.  But, that's part of the reason this is really good for them to get them socialized.  She stopped dead in her tracks anytime we saw another person.  

  

Close to the end of our 5 miles, which didn't even seem to phase her, I tried talking her up to a power walker.  She wasn't interested in allowing him to pet her though and she resorted to the pose above which is jumping up on me in a 'hug me and get me away from this man' way.  It's actually pretty cute and while I shouldn't encourage the jumping, she did it again in the parking lot and one last time when I took her back to the shelter and went to put her back in her kennel.

I headed home and now had the motivation to clean my car.  Thanks, Athena, for puking all over it.  The inside needed cleaned anyway.  I cleaned the car, mowed the lawn and then wanted to get in a few more miles.  By this point though, it was too hot to take my own dog.  So, I walked all of the dogs and then ran a few more miles by myself, fast.  I felt like I was going to puke for most of it.  I remember again why I don't like to run fast.

I knocked out a bunch of chores and errands and eventually crashed last night around 11.  Successful day before my Sunday inside taper!  

Marketing that has worked

While I may be turned off by the marketing of the mud runs, there are plenty of companies where their marketing has worked on me.  While I don't like to spend a lot, particularly on clothes, over the past couple of years, I've tried all kinds of stuff for running and spent some money along the way.  Some things are for me, some not.

10 Things I love:

1.  Newton shoes.  I've given in.  These work for me despite trying several other shoes along the way. I've finally come to peace with the fact that these are the shoes for me, despite the outrageous price tag.

2.  Aspaeris Pivot Shorts:  I gave into the blog marketing a few months ago when there was a 50% off sale.  I bought a pair.  They arrived and I thought they were the most ridiculous looking things ever.  I didn't know if I was going to squeeze myself into them.  After the half in March, I wore them to run the next day when I was sore.  I was sold.  I wore them for my 50K in March and wore them after my 22 miler a few weeks ago.  I'm convinced, maybe solely in my mind, that they help.  Either way, just bought another pair since they are doing another 50% off promotion (code is APS4me for anyone interested).

3.  Body Glide:  I'm pretty sure everyone discovers Body Glide when you start running more and more.  You know what else I found out.  After posting about my watery eye issues, I found out you can use BodyGlide on your face.  They even have an SPF product for it.  Thanks for the info (and the new sticks) BodyGlide!

4. Nathan Intensity Pack: I bought this late last year.  It has been the best investment ever.  Enough said.

5.  Sansa Clip mp3 player:  I love this little thing.  No iPod for me.  Now, if I could just find headphones that work.        

6.  Garmin 305.  I own two of these.  I had one and it stopped working for awhile.  It never liked me after I got back from China last year (I guess I worked it too hard to find satellites).  I used the reward points from a card we didn't know earned points until we found out they were expiring and got a second Garmin 305 for free as a backup.  By the time I got it, the old one worked for awhile but eventually it went haywire again.  I'm pretty sure I do not run 2 minute miles or 20 miles in an hour and a half.  The Garmin is necessary since I wander.

7.  Nuun.  Yep, because of blogs, I tried Nuun.  And, I love it because it has a mild flavor.  Grape is the best!  It's all I ever take on long runs anymore.

8.  Clif Shot Bloks.  Just not the Margarita flavor, gag.  I use these for regular long runs and then for the trail things, I add in generic granola bars and whatever junk food and soda I can get my hands on at the aid stations.

9.  Hammer Endurolytes.  I cramped up during my first marathon.  I was handed a salt pill and was convinced I wouldn't be able to swallow it so I suffered through it.  Later, someone told me just to break them open.  I did that once, it was rather disgusting.  I learned I actually can swallow them just fine and these definitely help for the long races.

10.  These Bridgedale socks, which appear to be discontinued.  I have two pairs of these and the days they are not clean are sad days.  I need to find a replacement because I'm sure they will not last forever either.

And, the 10 things that are not for me (although half of them aren't products).
1.  Gels, of any kind or brand.
2.  Ice baths, I've done them and thought they were helpful until I didn't do them and realized I felt exactly the same.
3.  Hammer Perpetuem Solids - barely choked one of these down.  Such a disappointment because I thought it was going to be love.
4.  Speedwork.  I don't know how to run on a track.  Maybe someday...doubt it.
5.  Coaches.  I tend to have issues with people telling me what to do and think I know what is best for myself.
6.  Doctors.  Same as above and I feel they are a waste of time.
7.  Expensive sports bras.  I just wear two.
8.  Changing my form.
9.  Complicated Training Plans.
10.  Other compression gear.  Other than the shorts as listed above, I haven't really found too much of a difference between using compression gear and not using it, but I'm sticking with the shorts!

Anyone else fallen for marketing and discovered some must-haves?


*This is all stuff I've purchased on my own, except for the two new sticks of BodyGlide.   They didn't ask me to post anything but I do use and purchase their products.              

Commercial and Manufactured Mud

A few weeks ago, I was running with a few friends.  One mentioned wanting to do something different over the summer, something like a Spartan Race, Tough Mudder or similar race.  My response was immediate and I indicated they were a little too 'commercial' and 'manufactured' for my tastes and had no desire to do one.

Just the other week, I started seeing some new ads coming up on some of the pages I visit.  Intrigued by the name and location on the ad, I clicked on it only to find it was yet another incarnation of some type of mud run or obstacle course type event.

The race that appeared in the ads was the Mud Dog Run and there is one near my hometown of Deep Creek Lake.  Being the dog lover that I am, I thought maybe it was actual trail run that you can do with your dogs where you get all muddy - like the Dirty Dog 15K.  Nope, looks like Mud Dog Run is just another event that looks like it has manufactured mud.

Real Mud.

I figured this could make for some interesting blog fodder because based on the fact that these are popping up left and right, I'm thinking I'm in the minority.  I've concluded my opinion must be one of the following:

• Running road and trail races has turned me into a running snob
• I'm old and boring and have no idea how to have a good time
• I'm too weak and therefore afraid of these events.

Case #1 - I have become a running event snob.

Half of these events aren't really related to running since they are more focused on the obstacles.  I get that.  I see the appeal and why they are marketed to the masses.  The races are marketing to a new breed of weekend warrior type individuals which I suppose is a good thing.  It gets the US population moving.  I'm all for that. 

However, my thought is if I wanted to participate in some hard core event, I'd pick something a bit more...umm...natural?  One where the challenges weren't travelling around the country packed up in semi-trucks waiting for the next stop to set up, execute and tear down.  Isn't that more like and arena rock show concert?  Wait...half the time, that's what these are, I forgot.

What seems challenging and natural to me?  Maybe SavageMan for those into triathlons (I have no interest in triathlons though), Megatransect for a trail event or really any trail event of any distance depending on your ability.  The list could go on and on, it just takes a little research.

Natural Obstacle.

I'm not necessarily opposed to the 'series' aspect.  I posted the giveaway for The North Face Endurance Challenge because I actually felt I would like the race.  I'm not a complete sell out.  The mud there would be real.

Case #2 - I have no idea how to have a good time.

I will admit that I'm a little boring.  I like routines and schedules and am a homebody through and through.  I'm certainly not the life of the party.  So, maybe these events just aren't my scene.  However, I do not have anything against people who want to wear costumes and have a good time.  They can still kick ass.  When I signed up for Ragnar PA last year, I was pretty sure it wasn't really my thing.  But, doing it as an ultra still sounded like a challenge and I embraced the idea and went with it.  It was a challenge and I had a good time.  At the same time, it ended up still feeling too commercial for me so I doubt I'd do another one.

Case #3 - I am a weakling who would fail at one of these events and am therefore frightened.

I'm a whopping 5 feet tall.  I don't exactly have killer upper body strength.  But, I'll still be ballsy enough to say I think I'd be able to complete one of these and I don't think it would be the hardest event I've ever tackled.  

Obviously I've never participated in any of these races.  However, the flashy websites, built in online stores filled random products and videos claiming the hardcore status turns me off.  Money making enterprises marketing to the masses generally turns me off.  Warrior Dash, Spartan Race, Tough Mudder
Dirty Dash, Ultimate Mud Run, Mud Warrior...I'm pretty sure the list could go on and on because they seem endless and that's the list I came up with in a 3 minute search.

What are your thoughts, yay or nay to the mud runs?  Want to convince me to change my opinion?

My Kind of Weekend

Saturday morning, I woke up and drove the rescue/shelter to pick up this girl:

We drove over to the rail trail for our first 'real' test run.  It was a huge success and you can read more about it on the Miles and Mutts blog here.

My homemade 'Adopt Me' vest held up as well.  A few months ago, I mentioned the ugly yellow denim.  This was its purpose.  I made several of these in various sizes.  It stayed put just fine during our 5 mile run so even though they may not look completely professional, they'll do the trick.

After taking her back to the shelter, I headed home and headed out with one of my own runner buddies for 3 more miles before taking the other two dogs on a walk.

The rest of the day was spent going out to lunch and relaxing.

Sunday morning, I headed out for 10 miles before going to Gettysburg for an pet adoption event at a pet supply store.  By the end of 4 hours, I was tired, hungry and had a terrible headache.  The dogs we had were exhausted too.  They just wanted to find a place to curl up and sleep.  Interacting with people for that long is way more tiring than running for hours!  But, it was worth it, we had 5 dogs there and ended up with adoption applications on 3 of them.

Last week, I decided to schedule this Monday off work.  My company has a 'flexible' vacation plan.  This means we can take off as much time as we need and do not have an actual bank of vacation days.  Are you thinking this sounds awesome?  Then, you are likely the type of person that doesn't actually work.  I hate it.  It was much easier years ago when I'd get that notice from human resources that said I needed to use vacation time or was going to start losing it.  It forced me to schedule days off.  Last week though, I scheduled a few days off over the next few months since I'm not planning any actual vacations this year.

My plan for the day was to head over to a local park and get in some trail time.  Nothing long but a few miles on the trails before running some much needed errands.  I ran just over six miles and I'll admit these hills and trails kicked my ass today.  It felt so difficult but that was a good reality check.  Time to keep working hard!

After running, I ran several errands and headed home to clean the house and prepare the garden for the summer.  Between the trails and lugging all the 40 and 50 pound bags of soil and manure, I think I got my workout for the day.  Plus, I got lots of upper body work with this tool.  I have a strange love for using the pick axe.  Garden is now prepped and any built up anger I had has now been released.  

North Face Endurance Challenge - Winner

North Face Endurance Challenge - DC - Winner!

Random.com liked #5.  runkatie - I sent you an e-mail...hope you still want to run!!

The Best $7 Ever Spent

After I posted the picture from my last post, I decided to check how many posts I've featured that gray tank top.  It may look like I only own one shirt.

The count of posts that had pictures = only 5.  Damn, I need more pictures.  It should be much higher.

The gray tank top was purchased in early August 2010.  I know this because I have a blog and took a random picture of my shopping trip:

It was purchased at Marshall's and if I remember correctly, it was $6.99.  I know it was no more than $8.  Any article of clothing over $10 requires careful consideration because I am cheap.  The brand is 'Athletic Essentials' - some knock off generic brand that you can't find anything about online.  Well, except for a few random eBay postings for used clothing.

It is my absolute favorite tank top and the day I eventually have to give it up is going to be hard.  It's been through a lot over the past year and a half and still going strong.

I'm pretty sure it saw the first time I ran 18 miles plus many more miles during 2010.

I wore it for my first marathon.

And my second marathon.

I wore it for a 30K .

I wore it for a 50K.

 I wore it for a 22 mile run.

That's just the long runs I have documented here.  There are many more.  I've worn it on runs in at least 5 states and 2 countries.  It's seen small towns, cities, roads, mountains, the Appalachian Trail, China and I have no idea what else.  It's outlasted every pair of running shoes I've had and one Garmin.

If I could find more of these 'ae' tank tops for $7, I would stockpile them.  Best fitting and comfortable tank top for running...ever.  

Long Run Wanderings

Easter Sunday morning I headed out for 22 miles.  It was my last really long run before the Gettysburg North-South Marathon.  Actually, it's my only 22 miler ever.  For my first marathon, I ran 20 miles - once.  It's all I could get in as I struggled to build up my mileage.  For my second marathon, well, I never even got a 20.  A few 16 and 18ish but that was it.  Last fall, I got my act together and did a few 20s but still never went longer than 20.

I strangely enjoy long runs alone.  I enjoy the act of wandering on a long run.  This is probably why I enjoy them alone.  So, this long run was no different.  I had no set route in mind as I headed out.  For pretty much every distance under 15 miles, I have fairly standard routes that I run.  I can tell you routes that are exactly 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, or 14 miles beginning and ending from my driveway.   

If it's over 14 though, it requires some distractions beyond just new songs on the mp3 player.  The run will need some new roads to cover and new neighborhoods to explore.  Luckily, I live in an area that has an endless supply of back roads to cover.  On this day, I decided to do some new exploring that included closed roads and it didn't pan out exactly as planned.  I think it was for the best though.  The act of wandering did the trick to distract me.

I headed out and started with the very standard 2 mile neighborhood loop to start.  At the end of the 2 mile stretch, I have the option to head in one of two directions.  I chose to go to the left which is pretty common.  By 5 miles, I decided to go down the long hill.  It's one I love to hate when I'm going up it.  After the long hill, I took another left.  By this point, I was in an area I'd only run in once or twice before.  I kept going.  Eventually, I came to another intersection and was about 10 or so miles into the run.  I decided to take another left and try to make this one big loop.  Or, maybe I was thinking I could be a little lazy and avoid having to run up that long hill if I back-tracked.

At this point, I'm on a road I've never run on before and I start seeing several 'Road Closed Ahead' signs.  I ignore them and decide to see where the road goes.  I think I know which road it will intersect with and I'm fairly convinced that whatever this road closure is I'll be able to get around it.  I pass a few farms and now the signs indicate 'Bridge Closed Ahead'.  I still think I'll just go around it.

Eventually, I get to the closed bridge and I decide there might be an issue.  At one of the farms I passed, I picked up two running buddies.  Two very cute little dogs ran out and started running with me.  I stopped, petted them and tried to get them to go home but they just kept running with me.  I figured they'd eventually stop and head home.  Since there was no traffic on this road, I wasn't worried about my little running buddies.  That is until I'm at a bridge that is closed and clearly in the middle of construction.  There are materials and equipment everywhere and the bridge actually looks a little bigger than I expected.  I looked down at one of the little dogs and decided to turn around.  I could tell they were going to just keep going with me.

I'm pretty sure this was for the best.  By the time I passed the farm where the dogs lived, a person was outside and they ran right back home and stopped following me.  My little detour was enough to keep my mind off the miles and I continued chugging away to back-track where I came from.  And, I ran up the hill and it felt good once I reached the top.  I felt great through mile 20 and can definitely say this is the best long run I've probably ever had.  The last two miles kind of sucked, I was close enough to home that I just wanted to be finished but I got there fast enough.

This doesn't look normal to a non-runner?  

I ended up back home, went inside, stretched, ate, showered and continued to feel good the rest of the day.  Long run wandering was successful.  However, my husband seemed to think my outfit was a little bizarre and I admit that I got a few stares.  I love my hydration pack though, so I'll wear it, even on the road, for my 22 miles!

The North Face Endurance Challenge - Washington, D.C. {Giveaway}

Want to run one of the events of The North Face Endurance Challenge - Washington, D.C.?  I mentioned the race a few weeks ago in this blog post here.   

The events will be held during the weekend of June 2-3, 2012.  There are trail races of 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, 50K and 50 miles.

Events of marathon and longer are on Saturday, June 2nd and the shorter races will be held on Sunday, June 3rd.    

You can register for the events here.

But, lucky for one of you, I cannot go (though I wish I could!).  So, I have a single entry into one of the events.  The entry is good for any of the events, provided there are still spots available in that event at the time of registration.

If you are able to get yourself to the starting line in Sterling, VA at Algonkian Regional Park on June 2nd or 3rd and interested in one of the events, enter!

To enter the giveaway, leave a separate comment for each entry.  

1.  Mandatory: Which event of The North Face Endurance D.C. will you run and why?
2.  Optional:  'Like' The North Face Endurance Challenge on Facebook.

Feel free to follow this blog or like it on Facebook but no additional entries for either of those.  Entries accepted through 11:59 PM EDT April 14th, 2012.  Winner will be chosen via random number generator and will posted here on Sunday, April 15th.  Please make sure your comment is linked to your e-mail/blog/or other identifiable information so I can contact the winner.  If I cannot contact the winner within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen.  


*Disclosure:  The North Face Endurance Challenge provided me with one free entry into the event, either for myself or to giveaway in exchange for promoting their event.  All opinions are my own.

March in Review

Total Miles Ran:  183
Number of those miles that involved me holding a dog and a leash:  35 (hopefully this will increase soon if I can get Miles and Mutts going!).Number of those miles on trails:  41
Songs with the most airtime on my mp3 player:  Gotye - Somebody that I Used to Know, Spose - I'm Awesome (don't judge that one!).
Number of P90x or Jillian Michaels Workouts:  10


It's a little late for a March recap but it's been a little busy around here.  In March, I was able to get back to races for the first time in several months, which is always fun.  I ended up with PR's in the half marathon and 50K so looks like the goals for this year are going OK.  On top of those, I made the announcement about Miles and Mutts, which was actually my number one non-running goal that I made at the beginning of the year - to make it a reality.    


Today, it was a beautiful day out so I got out for a 22 mile run, the last long one before the Gettysburg Marathon, which I'm only planning on running as a long run.  Of course, it's still a race so who knows!


Yesterday, we had family over for dinner.  Having people over is always the best motivation to catch up on neglected house chores so the outside and inside of our house looks better than it has in a few months thanks to having Friday off work.  Between everything I made for dinner and the desserts, I used almost 3 pounds of butter.  Butter must be great fuel for running because today's 22 miler was probably the best long run of 20+ miles that I've ever had.  It was either the total amount of butter or just the combination of flavors in this cinnamon roll cake...seriously wonderful!

Miles and Mutts

On Sunday, I met with a group of new potential running partners.  I had the normal anxious energy one gets when about to meet a new group.  I didn't know what to wear.  I hoped we'd be evenly matched.  I hoped they would like me.  I went for a short six miler on my own in the morning to shake out my nerves.  Then, I got in the car and drove to meet some new runners.

However, these weren't any runners.

It is likely that none of them have ever tried to run for distance before.  Short sprints?  Sure.  Controlled distance running, probably not.

All of them are homeless too.

And available for adoption.

They are also furry with four legs.

Xena - click for her Petfinder ad.

Two years ago, I came up with the brilliant (sarcastic because I later found out there are many) idea to start a program to run with shelter dogs.  I always thought it would be something I'd love to implement but never really had the warm, fuzzy feeling to pitch it to the shelter I was volunteering with.  I just didn't think they'd go for it.
 
So, I sat on the idea for a long time.

Athena - click for her Petfinder ad.

Last year I ran a 5K for a different organization.  After it, I gave some feedback on the race and found myself on the committee for next year's race.  I went to their shelter which is one I hadn't been to before.  The only reason I hadn't been there is it is more of a rescue, all volunteer run so they do not have any set hours for the public.  It is all appointment only.  Quite honestly, the day I went I was a bit overwhelmed.  I have no idea how many animal shelters I've been inside in my life but it's a good number, I'd say at least 10-15, probably more.  This was a more unconventional set up and I was surprised by the number of dogs they had since I honestly thought it was a more foster home driven organization.

After some thinking and wanting to be involved, I went ahead and threw the idea out there.  They discussed a bit and then I made the idea into a more formal presentation.  Everyone seems for it so now it's time to figure out how to make it happen and make it successful.

Test running started yesterday and there are some good candidates.  I'm starting with the easy ones that are easy to control even though some of the ones that outweigh me are truly the ones who could benefit the most.  Unfortunately, controlling them just on a walk is one thing.  Running is completely different.  

Hopefully by starting very small and controlled this will turn into a wonderful program and not a fiasco!

Miles and Mutts planning is officially underway.

Lexi

Website here.
Facebook here.

Here we go...

Blake - click for his Petfinder ad.