  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
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  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 
 DISTANCE: 6.84 km . DURATION: 56:47 Happy holidays, Jackson! It was our last run together before Christmas, so we made it a good one. Our adventure started out by searching for snowy parks (which was a lot harder to find since the snow has melted in a lot of places). Luckily, we succeeded and Jackson had a ball rolling around in the white stuff. The next highlight for him was finding a candy cane hanging from a passing tree -- he was so intrigued by the sparkly item, that he had to go in for a closer inspection! The weather was beautiful today and this brought out a lot of other pups. When we saw another dog approaching and we didn't have the option to go across the street, we stuck close together and kept on our way -- he did his very best to focus and keep going. #GoodDog And let me tell ya, Jackson is FAST. When it comes down to the last few kilometers of our runs, he is in a full throttle mode and kicks it up into high gear. Those are my favourite times with Jackson! See you in 2019, pal. xx The scoop: 1 poo, 1 pee. Runner: Lucia  
  DISTANCE: 6.23 km . DURATION: 52:44
Nice seeing you again, Jackson! You were a little mischievous at first and didn't like the idea of a run today, so we started off with a gentle walk. We patrolled the area and took in our surroundings, and at some point along the way, you got motivated again and we started to jog. Way to go! There were many distractions on our journey too, but you handled yourself very well -- dogs, children and emergency vehicles seemed to be around every street corner! Luckily, we were able to divert in another direction any time another furry friend got too close. When we heard children having fun at school or on the playground, I know you wanted to go join in on the fun! Jackson, you are the most lively in the snow, so that's where we spend most of our time together. Not only do you double your speed (he is one fast pooch), but your whole body language and mood instantly changes. Perhaps dog sledding is in your future? I hope the snow sticks around for our run together next week! Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 7.15 km . DURATION: 53:23
It was a brisk -7 degrees for our run today! Jackson was very excitable (and a little distracted) when we first started off. He was very curious about some kids tobogganing at a nearby hill and wanted to have some fun of his own. To make up for the fact that we didn't have a sled with us, we took our run off road, traipsed through the snow, and made our tracks. Jackson loved this! His favourite thing to do when the weather is snowy is dip his nose in the ground and fling the flakes in the air. This is a good way of keeping us both entertained. It felt like a winter wonderland running through Confederation Park. We even found some lovely holiday decorations to pose with for our photos. The most surprising part about today was Jackson's finishing kick. For the last two kms, he kicked it into high gear and we increased our pace drastically. This definitely ended our workout on a very high note. Keep warm buddy & see you next time! The Scoop: 0 poo, 2 pees. Runner: Lucia
  DISTANCE: 6.63 km. DURATION: 1:00:58
Hi Jackson, it's nice to meet you. Lucia’s back is out of whack. Would you like to get some sunshine with me?🐾 In about 4 seconds, Jackson sniffed out the pocket that should have a treat for him. Yup, you are a Lab!! I present pictures 1 & 2 as evidence. It took some time for Jackson to feel comfortable with me so we could pick up the pace. He would stop, stare at me, and then when I would kneel down he would run up to me. A fun ( and a little wet) game🐶. Then, Jackson would trot. He did this with such a goofy cadence that you have to smile and join in. Yup, Jackson’s all Lab. Then we had a couple of exuberant Lab Energy Spikes. You may ask, what is that? Only if you have not had the pleasure of a Labradors company. When Jackson caught the whiff of another dog or even a glimpse, he wanted to be right there and nothing was stopping him. He is a strong boy. Yup, he is a Lab! Thank you for joining me today Jackson. The Doggy Business Report: 1 & 1. Runner: Michelle  DISTANCE: 7.15 km DURATION: 55:51
A great run with J today! He was full of energy and kept a steady pace the entire time (he is definitely getting in good shape). We decided that we would do a campus tour of U of C -- including photo ops at the main entry sign and the Olympic Oval. Jackson is a treat to run with. He is very well-tempered and never startles at animals or passing cars. He wore a new harness today and it definitely motivated him to keep his paws moving. Although we did accomplish a 7km run today, we also took time to roll in any remaining snow patches and to smell grassy patches in the park. Jackson, I look forward to our runs together every week and going on new adventures with you. See you next week, pal! The Scoop: nothing to report. Runner: Lucia 
 DISTANCE: 5.77 km DURATION: 53:06
After a long weekend, both Jackson and I were a bit sluggish for our run today. Luckily, Calgary has been having some warmer weather, so the sidewalks weren’t icy and the sun was out! Jackson and I spent a lot of our time jogging though grassy parks (that’s his favourite place to run), and we even had a few “cool- down” breaks rolling in the snow. Jackson is the cutest pup to watch canter through the remaining snow - as he runs full tilt, he will dip his nose in and flick it high in the air! I can sense someone is excited for winter to come. We may not have run as far as last week, but I enjoyed our casual pace looking at wildlife (squirrels), greenery (grassy fields), and exploring a new community. See you again soon for the next leg of the blonde ambition tour! The scoop: 1 pee, 1 poop. Runner: Lucia 
  DISTANCE: 7.27 km DURATION: 57:48
Jackson was such a treat to run with today! With it being so cold and snowy the past couple days, I was worried about my and his mobility...but trust me when I say this, I think Jackson was more motivated than ever to get outside and exercise. #CabinFever He is definitely getting into great shape! We only stopped a couple times and that was for a quick sniff and photo op. Otherwise, he was cantering through the snow like one of Santa’s reindeer (too soon for Christmas mentions?) I also noticed today that Jackson prefers softer ground beneath his feet - so we usually opted for snowy, grassy patches. He didn’t mind since he often likes to dip his nose in the snow and get a whiff of grass. See you next time, my blonde buddy! The scoop: 0 pee, 0 poo. Runner: Lucia |
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