The Best Running Buddy

It is always better to have somebody to run with. My running buddy just happens to be a 70lbs black lab/golden retriever. She is the best motivation because of her unlimited energy and always ready attitude. The way that she came into my life was kind of crazy. I came home around Christmas last year and happened to stumble on my parents who were on the Animal Control site. I guess they were going to surprise me with a puppy but puppies need to be at least a year to run so we had to adopt. When we first went to animal control my parents didn't want me to get a lab. They wanted me to get a more protective dog but I've always loved labs. So the moment I first saw Puma in her kennel I wanted her. She was found along the freeway running near Frenchtown. So I guess you can say she came running into my life. I got her name because I love the Puma shoe brand plus she just happens to act like a wild puma cat. Now I have the best running partner and coach, Coach Puma.

Running in the Elements

Ok so the weather lately has been nice but for a distance runner it is way tooooo hot. I went on a 3 mile run on Monday and almost died because of the heat. I normally run in the morning and it is nice and cool. But with school starting my nice morning runs have been pushed away into the heat of the day. I should be happy with the sunny weather because in just a few short weeks it will be freezing and icky. I race year round so I have to train year round. Sometimes it is so hard getting motivated to run after a crazy day at school expecially when the weather is not the best. But I still lace up my shoes and hit the pavement because that's what crazy runners do. :-)

Grizzly Hustle

Ok so on Saturday I ran in another 5k race. It was ahead of the Griz Parade on the same route. For once the weather was on my side and it was sunny. There were alot of runners, thankfully I got to the head of the pack at the start. It was very wierd running in front of soooo many people but after the first 1/2 mile I got in my zone and ignored the people. Part of the race was one lap around the griz stadium which was very cool and the field wasn't as large as I thought. After exiting the stadium the race continued down the streets past all the tailgaters and the smell of the food was pretty sickening for a runner. Then we raced around the park next to the school finally finishing in the middle of the park. My time was 23:30, not my best time. My best race time for a 5k is 22:25. I came in 45th place, which out of the hundreds of runners is pretty good.