  DISTANCE: 8.02 km DURATION: 1:00:28
Omg, best day ever! Now let me explain why... When I came to get Jackson today for our weekly Wednesday run, he seemed a little sleepy and not suppppppper keen to exercise. But, when we stepped outside into the beautiful sunshine, his energy changed instantly. He was ready to take on the world! On our route, we encountered some big inclines. (This was by far the funnest part of our day). Jack and I hightailed it up the 14th Street hill; tongues out and legs running wild! We had such a great time encouraging each other to keep moving up that steep slope. When we weren't climbing mountains, we found grassy parks to play in. We made a point of sprinting through them as fast as we could and I've never seen Jackson smile so big! We will definitely be making parks a priority this summer. Have a great long weekend, Jack, you earned it! The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia
0 Comments
 DISTANCE: 6.91 km DURATION: 56:26
Back with my ol' pal, Jack today! He was very sleepy when I arrived to pick him up, so it took a little bit to motivate him to leave his comfy spot (this is where the good treats come in handy). But once we hit the pavement, he was ready to move! Jackson was never fazed by the polar vortex that hit Calgary this winter, but warm weather is a different story with him. Jack gets very warm when he's exercising, so going at a moderate speed is the strategy we took today. Of course, when the sun is out, more puppies and pedestrians are out as well...this made Jack excitable. He is very curious about other four-legged friends on our path, so we had to make sure we were looking far enough ahead to avoid any situations. One of the highlights of today was how many sets of stairs we encountered. Every chance we got to run up and down, we took it and it definitely energized us. We always seem to find an adventure and make our runs very exciting! The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia   DISTANCE: 8.29 km DURATION: 58:22 I was so happy to see Jack today! He was on holidays last week, so we were due for some time together. He was keen for some time outside, so he had us at a fast pace right out of the gate. We tried a new route that we hadn't done before (even though we've run all over the neighborhood), which kept both of us focused on where we were headed and where we were stepping. Which brings me into the next topic... It is definitely spring in Calgary because Jackson was smelling ev-ery-thing! When the snow melts, all that was beneath the snow is unveiled... including "gifts" from other pooches. Jack and I were bobbing and weaving as we ran through the grassy patches to ensure we wouldn't end up with any unmentionables on our shoes/paws. Towards the end, we stopped for a mini break and to take photos. Jackson is the most photogenic dog and is a great model subject. I usually end up fiddling with my phone for a few minutes to make sure it's on the right setting and by the time I look up, he's waiting patiently for his photo to be taken. The best ending to our run. The Scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia
 
 DISTANCE: 8.12 km DURATION: 1:05:06
Spring has sprung! Jack and I had an awesome run today and we were both in fine form for it. I hadn't seen him in over a week (and I missed him!) so we started our jog with a lot of hugs and pats. The terrain was pretty sloshy, so we had to navigate through puddles and squishy grass. Also with the weather being so nice, there were a lot of other furry friends out, so Jackson was on high alert. We had to get creative to make sure that Jack enjoyed his run and wasn't on edge, so we would dip and change direction if I saw trouble ahead. It made for a fun game and definitely kept us both on our toes. Since I know Jack prefers cooler weather, when I saw that he was getting overheated from our quick pace, we would take a break and he would lay belly down in an existing snow patch. From there, he would stick his face in the snow and get a mouthful of crispy icicles -- I could tell it was very satisfying for him! I hope the weather continues to be warm and we have more fun, Spring adventures ahead. The scoop: one poop and one pee. Runner: Lucia   DISTANCE: 4.78 km DURATION: 55:44 Hello Jackson! No need to be shy, I'm here to get you out and about. There were a few neighbourhood dogs, and a little construction to spice things up on our jog. around the neighbourhood (and a gang of Calgary hares Jackson missed *phew*). Overall, it was super peaceful out today. It was sunny and brisk, but not cold for those who keep moving. Or those who intermittently run and forage for smells in the snow. Scoop Score: #1 x2, #2 x1. Take care until next time Jackson! Runner: Michael
  DISTANCE: 6.95 km . DURATION: 54:05
Jack and I had a BLAST today! He was in such a cuddly mood, and who doesn't love puppy snuggles during the middle of a work week?! He also ran right next to me for almost the entire run. (it may have been the country music I had blasting that motivated him?!) Jackson is still loving the cold weather and snowy banks. He often snuck in a mouthful of snow along the way to quench his thirst. We really explored his neighbourhood -- dipping into back alleys, parkways and other interesting routes. We passed by many pedestrians near the University, but Jackson didn't even flinch. He was so calm and focused! Any chance I got, I rewarded him with some hugs, treats, and words of encouragement. My favourite part of the run was us dashing to the doorway, his ears flapping in the wind and my arms up like we just finished a marathon sprint! Definitely one of my favourite runs to date. The scoop: 1 poo, 2 pee. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 8.42 km . DURATION: 1:03:22
Happy Hump Day! Jackson was just the sweetest, as I pulled up to his house. I saw his cute face pushed up against the front window. As I unlocked the front door and walked in, he sat there patiently waiting for his "hello" pat and treat. What a great start! As we got on our way, Jackson seemed to get more and more excitable. There were a few distractions that caught his eye, so we slowed our pace and made sure to keep close together. Jackson seems to relax when I bring him close to my leg as we run, which slows our pace, but it makes the world of difference when we are running along busy streets and areas. Jackson also spent some time rolling around in the snow. It was a warm enough day that I wasn't concerned when he leapt into giant snowbank that almost covered his whole body! We had a lot of fun being silly today and I hope we have many more times like this. The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 7.45 km . DURATION: 1:00:06
After a nice long weekend, it was great to get outside and get movin’ again! Jack and I felt like we were track n’ field hurdlers because we were forced to bound over large snow mounds that surrounded the sidewalks along our route. We even made a little game out of it. We would first go at a moderate pace and when we saw a “hurdle” coming up, we would bolt and together leap over the banks to the finish line. I decided to play music out of my phone speaker during our run and Jackson seemed to really enjoy it. At times, he would look around to find the source of the sound, but after some reassuring pats, we could go on our way. The constant beat kept us jiving as we jogged along and made the time fly by! The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 6.72 km. DURATION: 54:59
Although the thermometer only read -17C, it sure did feel colder! It was quite slick on the roads, so we decided to stick to the cleared pathways of the park. This is where Jackson and I frequent, so I figured he would be very comfortable here. However, we had a little surprise when another dog came into view. In these scenarios, we usually change direction or head to higher ground (that usually helps to alleviate Jack's anxiousness), but something about this other pup really got him going. Jackson and I headed straight through the snow up a hill to give him some distraction, but the poor guy was beside himself. At that point in the run, we had two choices: 1. stop and attempt to relax, or 2. use that energy to push forward and continue. This time, we chose #1. Since I know Jack loves the snow, I crouched down and had him lay down for a few seconds. From there, we rolled and played around in it! But only for a couple minutes, since we were both about to turn to icicles. That really seemed to do the trick. Jack was high energy for the rest of the jog, but in a very good way -- I really think he felt a sense of accomplishment and ease on our way back home! Stay warm pal, see you next time. The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia
 DISTANCE: 7.08 km DURATION: 55:40
A much better day for running! I think Jackson had a bit of cabin fever from the last couple days of freezing conditions, so when we started our run, he was raring to go. I delayed the start of our jog until the temperatures reached the daily peak of -17 degrees, to make it bearable for both Jackson and me. Ironically, the cold air did not slow him down one bit. We charged through snowy parkways and slick sidewalks with confidence. I brought some special dog treats with me today (just in case, he needed some extra "motivation"). Jackson was super keen to focus during our run...and he did great! One thing I continuously noticed now that the weather is in full winter mode is that he gets a bit excitable when he sees a person walking towards us with their jacket hood up. I'm not sure if that triggers an anxious feeling, so when those instances come up I bring him in closer to me to make sure he feels safe and comfortable. Stay warm, Jack! See you next time! xx The scoop: 1 very big poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia 
 DISTANCE: 8.23 km DURATION: 57:53
What a beautiful day for a run! Jackson and I had a great time together, and what made it even better was he was super keen to get a good workout in. #AttaBoy. I can't quite figure it out yet, but Jackson has two speeds: 1. quick (running next to my heel) & 2. speed demon! He will get random spurts of energy and go into a full-on gallop. I love the energy he has and I always try and match it! I also think that Jackson was becoming acclimatized to the snow, cold, and below zero temperatures because he was working up a sweat today. Needless to say, we took a handful of little breaks so he could munch on some crystallized snow chunks. Jackson has become very good at handling himself around other dogs if he sees they are behind a fence or door. He still struggles when he sees one up close, but we are making baby steps together and I couldn't be prouder! The only downfall about our run today was that I ran out of treats. When we finished up, I couldn't even reward him for his great behaviour. I owe him one (or three) next time! The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 6.07 km . DURATION: 54:19
Happy Wednesday, Jackson... or should I say Balto! **insert name of famous sled dog here** While I whined about the cold temperature and snowy conditions, Jackson couldn't have been happier to be outside. He bound out of the house and went straight into a 7 min/km pace. We did need to slow down a bit though because a lot of the pathways were not cleared yet and the last thing I want is to have one of us injured. I'm sure he was wondering why I was cramping his fast-paced style! Jackson is usually very interactive and happy to see other pedestrians on the sidewalks, but today when he saw strangers all bundled up in their parkas, toques, and mittens, it made him a bit anxious. Luckily, there are a TON of other routes around where Jackson lives, so we could avoid those distractions. I also learned that Jackson belongs in the North Pole and I need to wear double the amount of clothing. Although we didn't go the farthest distance today, our run was meaningful to both of us. See you next time! The scoop: 1 poo. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 9.39 km . DURATION: 1:10:37
Today was an interesting one for Jackson and me. The combination of my bum ankle and the slick sidewalks had us on edge at first! Jackson was happy to take it slow and begin our run on the grassy patches of the park near his home. We made sure to watch where we ran and avoid any "glossy" areas. In this park, there are a couple pedestrian tunnels we had the option to travel through. He was a bit uneasy because of the echoing of his collar and my shoes hitting the ground, but a great way to keep him at ease and moving forward was to continually give him verbal praise. As soon as I said "good boy, Jackson!" and "awesome job!" his spirit automatically lifted and he kicked it into high gear -- tail wagging and ears flying in the wind. I really enjoyed our easy-going run, so much that I lost track of time! We were at the 6.5 km mark (around 45 mins.) and I realized we were about 3 kms away from home (yikes!). Time really does fly when you are having fun...Jackson and I raced back, almost sprinting at full speed, for those 3 kms. He was a trooper and didn't let up once. Jackson is a speedy guy and has amazing stamina. The scoop: 1 poop and 1 pee. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 8.01 km . DURATION: 59:29
No snow and all ice today! Man, was it slippery for us during our run. I thought the conditions would slow us down, but it didn't in the least. Jackson was very eager to get outside when I picked him up and we had a great, consistent run together. Jackson is a great jogging partner! He runs right by my heel, listens well and is getting better at encounters with other dogs. About halfway through our run we accidentally encountered an off-leash dog park. At first, he was excitable, so I slowed him down, pulled him close to me and he automatically relaxed. We are definitely starting to jive and learn how to communicate with each other. Jackson also found comfort in rolling around in the icy (and somewhat non-existent) snow patches. He always loves a good icicle break mid-exercise, but today he spent a good few minutes cooling himself off by fully rolling around in the pokey snow -- a great massage technique! Keep warm this week, Jackson. See you next time! The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner; Lucia 
 DISTANCE: 6.44 km. DURATION: 53:24
Happy New Year to you, Jackson! When I arrived to pick you up, you were sleepily laying on your bed. Needless to say, going out for a run took a bit of convincing (*treats and lots of pats*) Once we got out of the house, it was quite windy for us so we stuck to sheltered areas. Something I realized about you Jackson is that alleyways can be distracting (and I don't blame you!). There is tons to see - cars, garbage bins, wildlife and potentially some other furry friends. Let's stick to the main street and pathways from now on! I love when you get motivated and start cantering. We end up in a full-on sprint - you definitely kicked it into turbo mode! This was a great first run of the year, and I have a feeling that once the "vacation" mode wears off, we will be back to our regular pace very soon. Have a great week, buddy! The scoop: 0 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia |
Archives
April 2019
Categories:
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|