Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Do Something Each Day that Scares You - Does Walking Two Dogs Together Count?

Let's start by announcing the winner to my dodgy, home-made give-away prize. (I like to really talk things up) And the winner is (cue drum roll)... Ali Mac. Ali if you can contact me with a few details we can discuss what and where.


Okay, housekeeping done - time to talk about other fun stuff namely me!

I did something unusual, possibly foolhardy and definitely brave this morning. I took both dogs for a walk AT THE SAME TIME.

I've been walking Toby regularly for ages now but really didn't include Bubbles in our expeditions. My reasoning was that I had to concentrate on getting Toby  to be good on the lead with as few distractions as possible. Toby is blonde and can be a little ditzy at times especially when there's strange and interesting dogs around, birds to chase (yes, with me attached by the lead) and strange noises to frighten us.

Every time I'd pull on my walking shoes (which are really my old running shoes in disguise) Bubbles would get a little excited and whine frantically until I told her that she couldn't come and then she'd jump on the couch and look sad.

Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms.

I know it doesn't seem fair but Bubbles is over 10, weighs about 4 kilos and probably gets enough exercise running around the back yard chasing turkeys, fighting with Toby and jumping on and off couches and beds. Toby needed the exercise way more and I simply didn't have the energy to do two walks in a day on top of running.

But Toby is a lot better on the lead now so for the last couple of walks I've put on my big girl pants and pulled out both of their leads. As you can imagine, this creates pandemonium. A walk, to a dog gives the same excitement level as telling an eight year old that you're taking them out of school for the day to go to Dreamworld or Disneyland (unless that eight year old is scared of rides and in that case the announcement might be greeted with projectile vomiting).

No need for you to come, Mum. I know the way I can take her.

There is jumping, barking and lots of pulling which make getting down the stairs in one piece a feat in itself. Just as well I've got these massive guns (thanks to my illicit performance-enhancing drug use).

Working on the Tuckshop Lady arms (I was going to say bat wings but there are other definitions to that one according to Urban Dictionary that I'd never heard of)

Once we've safely negotiated the stairs the fun really starts. Stop, start, stop, sniff. It wouldn't be so bad if they managed to synchronise their stops but the smell that stimulates one dog's olfactory organ doesn't titillate the nostrils of the other. They meander across the path, not at the same time mind you. The leads go over, under and through until we're just a tangle of flesh and fur held together by black and red nylon.


The walk was punctuated by detangling stops, poo pick-ups (yes, I'm a responsible dog owner) and foliage watering. But the best moment came when Bubbles decided to check out exactly what Toby was doing when he squatted. That's a mistake I doubt she'll make again - she really doesn't like having to have baths.

This was supposed to be my rest day after two solid days' training. Not so sure that it was restful. But at least I've got some very tired canines who aren't going to do any mattress or magazine tearing today.

I'd like to finish off with a little gratuitous bragging - again.

I finished an entire speed session yesterday!! That wouldn't have been worth bragging about a couple of years ago but since January last year it definitely gets the Gold Seal of Boastfulness. The session was to run continuous reps like a time trial at a pre-determined pace (approximate 10k pace). Luckily my last 10k was in July and was pretty slow so I put myself into the 5:30/k group. Even then I wasn't confident but I made all 8k under that pace (between 4:58 and 5:25). Obviously need to do a little work on getting my pacing more even.


13 comments:

  1. This post made me smile a lot! First - I am so happy that you are feeling so much better and that speed sessions are back on the menu! Definitely brag-worthy!
    And second, that picture with Toby's paw resting on Bubbles' back... It just melted by heart!
    p.s How about those muscles!? I'm so jealous! It makes me very eager to get back to Barrecode!

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  2. Well done on the speed session. Louie came over for a visit today and I took them for a walk. Two Labradors that like to chase everything down and do monster poos...are very lucky I walk them with such enthusiasm.

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  3. Very funny indeed! I know if I try that with our dogs it would certainly count as something that scares you. That's when one is not our little terror, Spiral. That dog alone is a scary walk always.

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  4. If you ever fancy walking my two dogs together you are more than welcome; warning though .... your arms would look like Arnold S in his hay-day!!!!
    I just let them charge around the garden, fortunately the garden is 5 acres!

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  5. The pic of Toby and Bubbles is too cute.

    I only have one dog and I try to walk her every day at least 30 minutes or more (besides the shorter walks). It's great to be outside after a long day inside at the office. But at the moment a little less because it's really cold and going outside for the last walk at 10 pm isn't that attractive right now.

    Congrats on finishing the speed work sessions.

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  6. I loved this post - it made me very happy on a sunny (cold) Wednesday morning!!! I laughed out loud picturing you with the dogs together - you must have way more patience than me!!!!
    Great job on the speed work!

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  7. I love picturing this walk and seeing some of the actual pictures, too! Dogs are so entertaining. We have a bunch in my neighborhood and we often walk them all together after dropping the kids at school--watching the soap opera that is doggy relations is the best.

    Congrats on the speed work!

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  8. It scares me to come to your blog because I always think I am going to go a virtual sugar rush!

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  9. Ugh speedwork is not my friend! but dogs are; I walk my 3 all together and generally dont have a lot of trouble with them...unless they find something on the walk to fight about!

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  10. I love the picture of Toby and Bubbles. Give them a try at going alone! Glad to hear about the speed session!

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  11. I loved this post and the photo is adorable. Well done!

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  12. Awesome to hear about your speed session, Char! You are motivating me to bite the bullet and get my butt out on the track.

    Adorable pic!

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  13. Glad that your running seems to be going from strength to strength. I don't know how you do it in that heat.

    I walked a dog once - it was harder than it looks.

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