Day 54: And a Dog Shall Lead Them. Maaaaaybe.

As I wrote yesterday, I'm nursing a wee bit of a wonky hip so I had to adjust my workout schedule accordingly.  Being that I'm practically at the end of week eight, that's somewhat of a bummer.  But it's a reminder that we just can't plan for everything (and the first eight-week challenge is really nine weeks, so I have some wiggle room.)

Speaking of wiggling, as I laced up my shoes to head to the gym I thought y'know, it's a beautiful day outside...  Thirty second later I was half-dressed (when I get an idea, I drop everything including trou)  at the computer, checking to see what my route should be.  My last 25-minute run covered 2.3 miles (I.R.Slow) and moments later I had a route - shorter, around two miles, as I wanted to baby my hip (not a baby on my hip - I can train for that later) and grabbed my keys when I saw...

The Sad Eyes.

The logical jump to make is to take Daisy with me.  Except that walks with Daisy are an exercise in Doggie ADD where she stops every three seconds to send pee-mail (lifting her leg to do so - my bitch is butch!) and occasionally acting like a terror when she sees a dog off leash.  Daisy, you see, is a pit bull, and while Daisy is a doll with children (hanging with my niece since she was a month old) to the old folks, Daisy is NOT a fan of other dogs.  Will and I have worked with some basic behavior modification (all positive training, a beautiful thing) so she doesn't go apeshit when she sees another dog, but there's something about dogs off leash that drives her crazy. (She takes after me this way.)  It starts with a small but discernible whine and ends up with an OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG barkmonster.    

Again, we train through all of these things.  And she's not a danger, as she is only 47 pounds and I can easily pick her up as I've had to when my neighbor's westie runs across the busy street and then attacks her. (The neighbor finds this 'funny' even when I explain that her dog is going to be pancaked by a passing car.) 

I thought to myself:

can I really run two miles outside, with people, traffic, kids playing, cracks in the sidewalk, people selling fruit on the corner, and cat calls, all while towing along my 47-pound dog who hates other dogs and likes to stop every thirteen steps to lift her leg on a tree or poop under the world's thorniest bush that I end up looking like a cutter after I extract her stinky offense in an attempt to be a good citizen?

Shockingly, the answer to that question turned out to be yes.

I started out too quickly but we eventually hit our rhythm, and I only almost got clotheslined twice.  Not too shabby for our first outing.  My hip held up until the last few blocks, but that ended up not being a issue because I outlasted my dog.

Daisy the Wonderdog, exhausted! Minutes ago.

I think I'll be working her into the next training challenge... 

Comments

[9a]

I was thinking about your "Strapping Daisy to you back dilemma," and I thought of a great way to train for that task - also seeing as she is only 47lbs!!!

Have you messed around with Kettlebells at all? I just got some cheap ones, and I am beginning to think they are the best thing ever: http://www.gofit.net/site/gofit/section/83

So far I am having a blast with them, as I like free weights better than machines in general. And for some reason I seem to be getting more control and challenge due to their weird distribution of weight when doing the different presses and such ...

Though I can't figure out a good tricep extension ... I figure laying down would be best, as the standing one creeps me out a bit!!!

Anyway ... I am a convert!!! It's also cool in that it totally meshes cardio w/weight training when you do the snatch/swing stuff ...

So far I am down a good solid 32 lbs ... 35 on a great day. Woot!

[the slackmistress]

@9a: Fab! And I think you can do a good skullcrusher type exercise with the 'bells, which is done lying on a bench (or your bed!)

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Triceps/BBLyingTriExtSC.html

If you hold the kettlebells with palms facing away from you,you can simply flex and press.

[ZooKeeper]

I can't wait until my pitbull, Bazil, is big enough to keep up on a run (he's only 10 weeks old.) Of course, that might mean that I should get in shape enough to run...

[Alyce Smythee]

She's the perfect workout help.. Running away from zombies -- it's not like you'll have a clear and easy path, so the more challenges that you can add to your run, the better.

Besides, you need to figure out how to run Daisy to zombie-free freedom too.

[Deann B.]

so glad you are taking Daisy with you on your workouts. I don't want the zombies to get 'er!

[Chris]

Now what are you gonna do when sad eyes attack you? Actually, I am not surprised by the running with you, my eager beaver Sasha is the same way until a light run and then she focuses, sooo get her to run with you and you can skip the whole learning to strap her to you skill.

[9a]

Woot! Finally got a standing tricep press to work ... when I decided to step up and grab the kettlebell, "by the horns!" upside-down, with both hands, and sort of cup the ball part like a grapefruit ...

Because obviously you don't want the handle of a 15lb ball of iron swinging around and rotating too much behind you when doing a standing tricep extension .. and thus being able to rotate into one's own skull! And the idea of that just skeeved me out a bit too much!

(Skull Crush indeed!)

It works for the lying down extension as well as standing ... which is super cool because they are actually easier to control and get a more solid grip than a normal vertical free weight ... but the wacky uneven balance of them makes it feel like more work!

They also seem to be a little kinder and more natural than free weights ... like normally when I do shoulder work, I sometimes get the "snapping/clicking muscle thing," one one side and it doesn't happen with these ... but I also realized how weak my non-dominant arm really is!!!

Seriously, I am in love with these things!

... and best of all ... in case of threat level 10, I can effortlessly crush zombie skulls with them too!

Yay!

PS I really want to find one of those self defense classes where you can beat up the guy in the padded suit!!! (Hopefully that's not just in movies!! I have anger issues lately with work stuff.)

[aliastaken]

I've always wondered why Daisy seems to have such large nipples. Did she ever breast feed? Apologies in advance if this is too personal to share.