Running with the Dog - Dog 1, Person 0 (read this one, there's pictures and it's kind of funny)

fart·lek (färtlk)
n.
1. An athletic training technique, used especially in running, in which periods of intense effort alternate with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout.

2. Grabel's definition: An athletic technique where you bring your insane street dog on your run; you mix periods of ez running with periods of intense effort as the dog lunges at squirrels, baby strollers, other dogs and various inanimate objects throughout the park

Obviously the above isn't quite real but I was reminded of this running technique as I ran (or something like it) with my crazy but lovable dog this afternoon. Here's a picture of her in more calm moments

Anyway, with the beautiful day outside today and a swap of an easy run at 12:25 replacing my long run day I thought, what a great day to run with my dog. Now, I've run with Sabrina (her name) before and it's always pretty much like this. But it always starts with me having this idyllic vision of "Running With Your Dog" that I hear other runners referencing. You get this picture of the runner and dog in motion together, enjoying each others company - at peace, happy, in sync. My experience isn't quite like this.

There typical pattern goes something like this:
First two miles: Sabrina is pulling from the start; she wants to do a 9 minute mile while I just want to keep to my pace. She's lunging at squirrels on the street, practically ready to head up a tree after them..
The next two miles: it starts to even out and now I'm actually ahead of her. Now I'm more at my tempo pace around 10 or 11 and she's starting to slog along. But she still has the energy to go after anything out there with fur.
The last two miles: I feel like I'm implementing cruel and unusual punishment. Despite stopping for a bit of water along the way, she's panting and laboring and using any opportunity to stop, sniff and rest. OK, perhaps more water would have helped but I'm letting her stop pretty often.

Well, maybe the next time will be the charm? Then I came inside, got my other dog, Emerson who is 10. Here the challenge isn't getting him to slow down, it's actually getting him to move. But I always take him out by ourselves after running with Sabrina so he feels like he's getting equal attention. It's a great cool down after a frenetic run with the other. Here's a pic of our handsome senior dog:

Finally, an easy Seinfeld to link to this story of dog joy, a few clips from "The Dog"

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1mexx_seinfeld-the-dog_shortfilms