I like to go for runs around the neighborhood.
I typically run one or two times per week, and I travel anywhere from three to eight miles.
I’m not all that fast, but I have impressive endurance. I keep myself in decent physical condition. Along with jogging, I jump rope, ride my bike, lift free weights, do lunges and squats and go through various abdominal crunches. I’m dedicated to a daily stretching routine. So when I watched my son’s dog for a week, I figured it would be fun to run with her. The dog is a two-year-old, 63 pound airedale. My son and his dog often run together. I assumed that running would be an ideal strategy to get rid of some of the excess energy. She was excited when I snapped on the leash. She recognized the leash that is specifically designed for long-distance runs. As soon as we got outside, she started dragging me down the road. I had no chance of keeping up with her. I was worried she might dislocate my shoulder. I am 55-years-old, five a little over feet tall and have short legs. I can’t run at the same pace as my son. He is in his mid twenties and over six-feet tall. I finally had to slow the dog down to a walking pace. I was discouraged. After we strolled along for about three miles, I saw that she was panting and tiring. I slowly elevated our pace up to a comfortable jog. She was willing to accept that speed. She and I ran together until we were both spent. It was a beneficial workout for both of us. I went on several more runs with the dog over the course of the week. We took a variety of routes. Each time, we began with a long walk to tire her out first.