A fun day out: Basingstoke Canal Path

The start at Greywell

The original plan was to “race” Marlborough Downs Challenge on Sunday…

The revised plan was to run the entire length of the Basingstoke Canal Path mostly solo, but the early sections with huskies – before it got too hot for them.  The Canal Path route was chosen as it had a lot of trees offering shade for the huskies.

I decided not to race Marlborough Challenge as my mind was quite simply not in race mode and I didn’t just want to plod round on my own admiring the view.  I would much prefer to have a fun jog with the huskies and share some of it with Ian.

The good news was that I had already packed and prepared all my food and running gear in preparation for a race, the bad news was that the route descriptions were all for the Marlborough area and not for the route that I was about to run and Ian was going to try and follow via car!

Fortunately Ian is an expert on following running routes via car after practising with me on numerous occasions!  With the correct tools at his disposal to aid navigation… he dropped me off at the start of the Canal Path in Greywell, near Odiham with Kez and Kroi.

Brothers in perfect unison...

Knowing that the route is narrow and that it was likely to be very busy with walkers and their dogs I chose to put harnesses on the huskies.  As soon as they wear harnesses they go into “work mode” and will ignore most other dogs and distractions.  Kroi is still working on his “ignoring every dog” rule, but Kez helps me out on those rare occasions and either pushes or drags him past the offending dog.  It is the naughty dogs that Kroi has trouble with ignoring, the ones that try to bounce him or are rude to him.  If a dog is under control and well behaved, Kroi  will just gently trot past.

Kroi was initially a little bit too enthusiastic, but he soon dropped down a gear and sedately trotted beside Kez down the path around 8:30 minute mile pace.  Lines loose in front of me unless I asked them to speed up and then they instantly responded.

We jogged along admiring the view, they were fascinated by the ducks and geese floating on the canal and ran with their heads to one side watching them rather a lot – I do hope they don’t have stiff necks this morning.

Spike waiting to run his relay leg

I had opted to wear my Salomon XR Missions as my ideal road to trail trainer, which were almost perfect for this run apart from the fact that my ankle gets troublesome on very flat and hard surfaces.  The canal path is a mixture of gravel, tarmac and well-drained soil, with very little mud.  After two hours of constant running on a hard and flat surface my ankle started objecting and I longed for some more cushioning.  I love my Salomon shoes, but I will need to find an alternative road shoe with suitable cushioning to ease the pain in ankle and toes….

Running along the canal path I was very aware that I had no idea where I was in relation to towns, major roads etc.  I knew that I was in no danger of getting lost, but I couldn’t relate the route to any area that I was familiar with, especially as I don’t really know the area East of Basingstoke…

Not a problem, until you suddenly reach a large metal fence advising you that you can go no further along the canal path due to landslide.  Had I been on my own, I would have probably found a way to “negotiate” the barrier, however I had two dogs’ safety to consider.  Therefore I headed away from the canal path and into civilisation.  I had no idea where I was and called Ian knowing that he was waiting for me just a little further up the route.  He suggested using the navigation on my phone.  I saw a footpath to my right and decided that I would “use my sense of direction” to get back on the canal path beyond the closed section instead….

All was going very well, until the footpath signs indicated that I had to negotiate a non-dog friendly stile into a horse field.  No problem for Kez as he has had years of practice in leaping over stiles and instantly was over on the other side.  Meanwhile Kroi very politely stood there and waited for me to lift him over!

Running dog in the making...

Mission accomplished we headed off to the woods and a path that I hoped would take us back to the canal path.  It worked and I was soon back en-route and on the phone to Ian arranging to meet him, although he had to do some very complicated research to determine where I actually was and if I had in fact bypassed him during my detour….

I dropped off Kez and Kroi with Ian and continued a few miles with Krofti and Spike at a pace that can best be described as “leisurely”.  It was getting a little hot now and Kroft was in a bit of a strop and refused to be motivated in any way.  No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he just glared at me.  To be fair though we had spent all day out and about on Saturday and he does struggle with travelling and stressful situations.  Spike on the other hand was a bundle of joy.  He bounced around smiling at everyone and jumping at me and at Krofti.  He ran in great leaping bounds and tried to pick up sticks along the way….

I dropped Krofti off with Ian and headed back down the canal path with Spike on his own.  He happily left the others and trotted
off down the path with a big smile on his face.  We soon speeded up and he ran along behaving impeccably.  I was so impressed with his behaviour that I even shared my croissant with him.  Probably a bad idea as I think he thought that he could have croissant for breakfast this morning instead of doggy kibble!

The end is the middle of this bridge

All too soon and I handed little Spike back to Ian, with the intention that I ran the rest of the way on my own.

My intention was to jog along at 8:30-9:00 minute mile pace, enjoying the view and munching my picnic as I ran.  

The reality was that I ran most of the way to the end a lot faster and still enjoyed the view.  My legs and body went into “coasting” mode – an almost effortless speed where I feel I can run for hours and hours, talking and eating as I run.  I wear my Suunto Ambit watch every day, but I rarely switch on the GPS as I have no interest in knowing what speed I am running at, I merely want to enjoy the experience of running without the pressure of time or distance.  I did want to know exactly how far I ran this day, so had switched it on from the start and was fully aware of the speeds I was running at with each dog and also on my own.  This will surprise many, but I was faster running solo than with any of the huskies.  There was a lot of “down time” with the dogs, taking that into consideration, my pace when moving was 30-60 seconds faster without huskies….

A lock on the Wey Navigation canal 

I kept on thinking I will slow down and jog the remaining miles, but my body refused to slow down.  It was in comfortable running mode and was happy running at this faster pace.  I realised that perhaps my fitness is actually better than it has ever been and perhaps Kroi’s insistence that we run faster during our daily runs is actually having a very positive affect on my running ability!

This discovery has certainly given me a lot to think about…

I would strongly recommend this route to anyone, but advise caution as to when you do it.  Sunday was a lovely day and as such there were a lot of walkers and cyclists out and about.  Most are courteous, especially in the first 10 miles of the route.  However there are sections where out of control dogs and children roam, posting potential hazards.... Also look out for cyclists as some of them treat the route like it is a racing track!  Thankfully they are in the minority as most people I met were lovely and some even said hello :-)

(Photos mostly thanks to tzruns)

Little Boy Blue: one month on...

The Huskies Running Team

Spike has now been with us for 4 weeks, nearly a full month.  In that time he has changed considerably in physical form and his loving personality has become even more loving!

He continues to be very well behaved and also challenge authority of humans and boy huskies with great enthusiasm and tenacity.

Playing with the big boy huskies

He has a huge appetite, so much catching up to do I guess!  His body is responding well and getting stronger every day.  His body is also well coated with fur now, although the fur is not yet shiny and plush like a “normal” and well-nourished husky puppy.

He runs every day on collar and loose lead.  I run short distances with him at a very slow speed, but as he gets stronger he wants to run further and faster….

Teasing Krofti...

He runs in the morning with Krofti and in the evening I run him solo, just him and I and a chance to bond.  He does respond very well, but does not know left from right and doesn’t quite understand that he shouldn’t stop dead in the path of a running human.  He also has not yet learned not to cut in front of the running human!  Work to do there, but he is learning and I am very impressed with his determination when running down hills….

This week I decided to run him in harness with Kez.  Kez is exceptionally well-behaved with a brilliant work ethos, therefore it was best to run Spike with him rather than Kroi.  Kez also has a variety of paces and will run at the speed of the slowest person/ dog, with no pulling or resistance.  He has been trained to always run in front of me, but only pull on command, therefore his default mode is not to pull.

Little Spike happily allowed me to put on his harness and bounced around as soon as we went out the door.  Jumping on Kez and trying to bite his ears.  Kez completely ignored him and gently trotted up the track.  Spike soon stopped trying to jump on Kez and bounded along beside him with much enthusiasm!   He bounds as Kez trots, but I have noticed that his trotting ability is improving as his muscles and strength develop.

Look at him go!!

We were soon running along at a nice steady pace and I asked Kez to speed up to see if Spike would respond.  Bless him, he tried so hard but he just couldn’t keep up.  As soon as Kez realised this he slowed down and refused to go faster.  Any time Spike slowed down, Kez responded by slowing down and waiting for him to catch up.  We stopped frequently to make the run fun for Spike, although I think Kez found this bit rather frustrating.  When Kez is wearing a harness his work ethic kicks in.  This is why 99% of the time I run our Huskies on collars and leads - it allows them more freedom and time to have fun and I get to run naturally.  The difference is amazing – even Kroi does not pull when running with a collar and lead.

On our return journey Spike decided that running full speed downhill was a good idea, which was awesome to watch.  His enthusiasm was definitely infectious.

Running and fun makes a sleepy puppy..

After such a good trial during the week I decided that he could participate in my run on Sunday along Basingstoke Canal path.  31 miles in total, I was going to run it all, the huskies run little parts of it before the temperatures became too hot.  I will write about this adventure in a separate blog, but I am pleased to say that the little guy most definitely enjoyed his part in the Huskies Running team event!

 (photos thanks to tz runs and me)

Little Boy Blue needs a home...

It is that time again.  Time to start preparing for an emotional roller coaster ride.  Time to share our Little Boy Blue with everyone and hope that somewhere out someone there can offer him the perfect home that he so deserves….

Little Boy Blue, also known as “Spike” is a black and white (dilute) husky with blue eyes.  He is approximately 7 months old and is going to make a super life-long friend for someone…

We have had the privilege of knowing this little guy for only 3 weeks, and in that short time I have been very impressed with his attitude and behaviour.

He is a very cuddly boy that loves people.  He loves being cuddled and if allowed…. would sit on your lap all evening as you watch television!  He loves to be around people and responds very well to them.

He is very easy to train and responds well to commands.  He is a little possessive of his food, but who can blame him when you consider how often he has been deprived of simple nutrition (based on his very underweight body condition when rescued).  His protectiveness of his food is abating and I am very confident that in the near future he will happily allow a person to share his food with him – I personally have no interest in chewing raw bones, but feel free to have a go yourself ;-)

Spike loves all people and is very good with other dogs.  His initial fear of big dogs is soon overcome when he realises that they are not going to hurt him – I have only allowed him to meet and interact with “normal” and well behaved dogs, I cannot guarantee how he will respond to dogs with “questionable” attitudes…

He is a husky and will therefore behave like a husky….  He will try to hunt furry animals, question authority and try to pretend that he knows better than humans….
He will howl for the love of howling and will run for nothing more than the love of running…

I have been running with him every day, and guess what….?  He loves it!!

Little Boy Blue “Spike” is a super chap, has shown no vices in his time here and has huge potential.  If you think that you could offer him the home that he deserves then go for it.  All applications to adopt him will be processed through Siberian Husky of Great Britain Welfare organisation.  If you believe that you can offer this little guy the home he deserves, please let us know and we will help you in all the ways that we can J

(All photos thanks to tzruns)

Nathan VaporWrap: The backpack that gives you a hug

After years of running with many different hydration backpacks, I may finally have found my perfect partner…

Over the years I have suffered serious pain and discomfort from wearing badly fitting packs and been frustrated with different issues, ranging from trouble accessing pockets to sloshing water reservoirs becoming irksome after hours of continuous running and everything in between!

I had entered the 40 mile version of the Compton Downland Challenge, but courtesy of a rather nasty cold with cough I decided to only run the 20 mile version and take it very easy.  I wanted to trial my new Nathan VaporWrap and enjoy the views along the way.  The race had been “sold” to me due to the fact that a little bit of the route runs along The Ridgeway….  Perfect opportunity to reminisce and also dream of things that might one day be…

The VaporWrap/ Shape is available in both male and female fit.   I chose to trial the male version in size S/M, which is available in Nathan’s trademark orange and grey colours.  I am a size 8-10 and was able to adjust the vest for a perfect fit on my small frame.  The vest has side, shoulder and chest straps allowing adjustment to ensure a perfect fit for the variety of sizes and shapes us humans are available in!

The 2 litre reservoir sits in a protective insulating bag inside the actual vest.  It is easily accessed and can be removed by the person actually wearing the vest at the time.  Putting it back in is a little bit harder unless you remove the vest and then it very simply drops in without any fuss, unlike some hydration packs which require a written explanation and at least two working hands – have you ever tried fiddling with a reservoir and backpack when your fingers are so cold they refuse to work…?

The reservoir is very easy to open/close, refill and clean.  It has a large opening for refilling, which is sealed by folding down and securing with a sliding clip.  The bite valve is quite literally that, no locking mechanism to confuse me as I can never remember what is open and what is closed – on many a very long ultra I have gotten really grumpy thinking I had a defective hose or a blockage, until realising that I was trying to suck water from a locked pipe!

Now this is the really cool bit, anyone that knows me will understand….  It has got loads of little compartments!  Little hiding holes for all the goodies that one requires during a very long ultra.  Side pockets for Clif Bars and Clif ShotBloks; secure front pockets for phone and emergency “stuff”; rear pockets for space blankets and spare clothes as well as a peanut butter bagel; extra bottle holders at the front – perfect for a ready-made portion of Dioralyte and a packet of baby food.  There is even space for an MP3 player for when I am trying to keep awake at 1am in the middle of an ultra. 

As I was only going to be running for a short while on Saturday I had opted to carry only a few things with me during the run.  ShotBloks, Clif Bars, Clif Gel (chocolate of course) my telephone and some water in the reservoir.  Plus of course my route map and directions in case I got lost along the way.

My immediate thought as I secured my VaporWrap chest straps was just how comfortable it felt.  It felt just like someone was giving me a little hug.  It didn’t feel like a parachute upon my back or a lump with sticky out bits to catch my arms and neck upon.  Even my pig tails didn’t catch on the shoulder straps. 

I decided to have a piece of ShotBlok very early in the run, just to see if I could access the side pocket to remove and replace any left overs without dropping anything or having to stop running.  Very easily done, the zip was simple to open and close, no need to carry left overs in my hands for many miles – yes, I have been known to do that in the past!

I was very much aware that during the entire run I did not have to fiddle with the straps or readjust any of them.  I have previously found that most other hydration bags have tended to bounce around as I run, loosening the straps, resulting in them needing to be tightened every few miles or so, or when the reservoir becomes empty.

I also noticed that that when I removed the vest, there was no evidence of sweat or salt staining on the straps – I guess that as there was no contact with my skin it was protected!  All previous back packs have required an emergency hosing down after accompanying me on a run!

The next test for the Nathan VaporWrap was to try it out while wearing a cani-cross belt.  As someone that runs with dogs (huskies) sometimes I wear a belt that I attach them to via their own harnesses and special bungee lines.  Running this way allows my hands to remain free (for accessing pockets on backpacks…) and also allows me to run quicker than normal by asking the dogs to assist me.  Picture huskies pulling sled in your mind, but replace the “sled” with me and my Nathan VaporWrap and you will understand…

I was delighted to find that the belt and vest work well together.  The vest is short in length and therefore does not infringe with the back of the belt, which sits on the top of my hips.  The only problem that I had during our two hour run together was that every time I removed something from a pocket the dogs turned their heads around as soon as they heard the rustle of paper – they are both big fans of Clif Bars!

One thing I have not yet tested is the performance of the reflective writing and strips when running in the dark.  When I first tried it on (during the day) Ian immediately commented on how brightly the words NATAHAN and the other strategically placed reflective strips were reflecting the sun coming through the front window.  This will be extremely useful during the night-time sections of very long runs - Ian will be able to spot me from miles away by just shining a light!

I have a permanent little scar on my shoulder from where a hydration pack damaged me during my first ever ultra distance event.  Over the years and miles that I have run since that day, I have yearned for a great many things from a backpack, most of which the Nathan VaporWrap delivers.  I have been on a quest to find the perfect partner for a very long time and I may well have found him.  The perfect running partner that even gives you little hugs as you run….;-)

Thank you 9Point9 for supplying me with this awesome hydration vest.

This review also featured on RUN247 the place to find all your running needs.

(Images courtesy of Nathansports & TZRuns)

Little Boy Blue: Week One

Little Boy Blue has only been with us for one week, but in that short time he has shown huge improvement in health and behaviour.

He is eating very well and his body is thriving on the good nourishment that he is now receiving.  We have been feeding him “proper” food, natural and wholesome in the form of raw meat, bones, fruit and vegetables.  His stomach is coping with it very well with no sign of any digestive problems.  He has a big appetite, which we are trying to satisfy!  It will be very interesting to see how much weight he has gained at tomorrow’s “weigh in”.

We were fearful that his poor start in life may have caused permanent damage to his body, but as each day passes we are more confident that he can make a full recovery.  His growth has quite clearly been restricted and only time will tell if he will fully catch up and be the size of husky his genes want him to be.

A lovely surprise this week has been the change in his hind leg movement.  Within days of free running with the other huskies his coordination and muscle development has improved immensely.  He is very clumsy and cumbersome, similar to a much younger puppy of “normal” upbringing, but everything is working well.  He has fallen over a lot, but each time he does he comes back stronger and more determined.  

When he first tried to climb stairs he only managed a few steps before his legs weakened and he had to be helped.  Now he dashes up and down the stairs at every opportunity, even managing to carry very large toys up and down them.

His skin is no longer red or irritable and his fur is growing well with very few bald patches remaining.  I bathed him today and he now smells sweet and looks fluffier.  He was very well behaved during his bath, relaxed and curious and he has become even more affectionate since!

His behaviour towards humans continues to surprise us.  He is friendly and affectionate to everyone that he meets.  He has no fear of them and is very trusting.  He shows no psychological signs of being badly treated by humans, quite the opposite in fact.

However, he is fearful when meeting other dogs outside of our pack, in particular large male dogs.  Unfortunately there are many irresponsible dog owners that cannot control their dogs and when they come charging up to Little Boy Blue it is heart breaking to see his reaction.  One large Labrador came charging over yesterday and would not leave him alone.  The owner as usual was oblivious and I had to step in to help little puppy.  We have work to do here as managed inappropriately he could potentially become a “fear biter”.  It should be a relatively easy problem to fix though as I know a lot of nice people with well socialised dogs and these are the dogs that puppy needs to spend time with.   He is also a very quick learner and is quite a sensible little chap.

This boy loves to run!  Hardly surprising being a Siberian Husky, but even when he could not move his back legs very well and his body was very weak, he was still determined to keep running.  Day by day he gets stronger and I don’t think it will be long until he is running short distances with the big boys.  At the moment he is mostly walking, with little running sessions when he feels the need to.  I use an extending lead so he run/ walk freely.  I must admit though that when he goes on one of his mad dashes I do struggle to keep up!!

When he breaks into a bounding motion, the tip of one of his ears flops up and down while the other one remains tightly upright.  He looks so happy when running, his little face lighting up with so much enthusiasm.  He has a very pronounced stripe down his back where his fur is most developed and when he raises his hackles he has the most awesome spike along the full length of his back.

We were concerned about his relationship with Kroft early this week.  Kroft is very wary of him and has being showing signs of stress when he is in the house and puppy is nearby.  This in turn causes stress for everyone.   Kez tries to defuse the situation by body blocking puppy and ushering him away from Kroft whilst Ian and I sit on the edge of our seats listening out for every little noise and trying to interpret all dog body language and eye contact.

I have been walking both of them together all week and am pleased to say that whilst Kroft is still wary when puppy is close, he has become more relaxed and is showing more tolerance of Little Boy Blue’s behaviour.  It is easy to forget that he is over 6 months old when you look at him and see a typical 3-4 month old sized body.  Kroft will know that he is more teenager than baby, and a rebellious teenager at that!

Kroi has been amazing this week.  When you introduce a puppy into a pack, the previous “baby” appears to instantly become a grown up.  The very sensible and mature behaviour shown by the ex Superbrat is an absolute pleasure to witness.  I even see the change when we are our running together without puppy anywhere nearby.  Kroi no longer feels the need to try and chase all wildlife he sees and if a dog tries to provoke him he just gives a “whatever” look and trots on by….  He listens to what I tell him without feeling the need to challenge.  He even ignores fresh road kill – all I have to say is “leave it” and he pretends that he never saw it!!  He is however still a full blood Siberian Husky, therefore if a mouse is going to run immediately in front of him, there is only going to be one outcome…

Little Boy Blue idolises Kroi, just like most other dogs appear to – the ones that don’t want to kill him that is.  Little Boy Blue follows him around like his shadow and tries to sleep as close to him as possible.   He has certainly chosen a very good role model to idolise.

Kez is helping teach him the house rules…. No jumping up when food is being prepared, don’t steal from anyone’s bowl and do not try and climb over the stair gate.  It is brilliant to watch Kez in action as he deals with the situation quicker than I can and then glances over to me for approval of what he has just done. 

The Huskies Running team have a lot of work to do with this little chap, but the future is looking good for Little Boy Blue.

All photos courtesy of my new phone :-)

Little Boy Blue

We had expected a very skinny and moth eaten 3-4 month only husky puppy.  What appears to have moved in with us is a very underweight, malnourished, moth eaten puppy that is at least 6 months old, quite possibly older.

He weighs 10kg, is the size of a 3-4 month old puppy, has a full set of adult teeth and has certain behaviours consistent with a male husky between 6-12 months.

When he first arrived he was very defensive towards all three of our dogs, which took us all by surprise.  Perhaps an attitude derived from the life he has led so far.  Or perhaps there is another reason, time will tell….

In the 24 hours that he has been here today the tension within the pack has settled and he has shown puppy like behaviour and respect for the big boys.  The boy huskies are helping teach him a few house rules and he is responding very well.  Kez is already taking on his “mother hen” role…

One thing that has taken both Ian and I by surprise is his attitude towards people.  He is a very friendly and very affectionate little boy.  Very inquisitive and not fearful of anything that we do.  We have already been able to start teaching him the word “no” and he comes to us when we encourage him to.

He would not settle or lie down all yesterday afternoon and evening, and I feared a very restless night for us all.  I decided to lie down on his bed and within seconds he lay down beside me and as I held him in my arms, he fell asleep.  He slept right through the night, only once awaking and asking to out for a little wee.

He was very chilled and laid back whilst in the veterinary surgery this evening, lying down to have his nails trimmed and very relaxed whilst being examined by the vet.

The only issue I had the whole time that I was there was when we exited the surgery and met four very aggressive sounding German Shepherds…..  Little Boy Blue was initially scared, but after two seconds of hesitancy he leapt forward growling and snarling like a ferocious lion!  To see such a pathetic and fragile little furry person react in that way was heart wrenching.  He certainly has a strong survival instinct, and an attitude that belies his very weak form.

Little Boy Blue was found wondering the streets in Brentwood, near the railway station.  Some lovely people were able to capture him just before he escaped under a fence and onto the railway line.  They then took him to a local lady that owns huskies and she took him into her home.  As well as severely malnourished, he had sarcoptic mange (fox mange) and all the symptoms associated with a severe infestation.  This lady has taken brilliant care of him in the few weeks that he was with her – he has been bathed, fed and shown love and attention.

Sadly she could not keep him and so his journey now takes a different path as he becomes a temporary member of the Huskies Running team.  He will not be running for a very long time, but he will enjoy all the other benefits of being in the team!

He has very poor bone and muscle development, his front legs work quite well(ish), but his back legs are very unstable.  His co-ordination is poor and he wobbles and falls over rather easily.

Little walks for now as we build up his body and strength.  It is too early to know how he will develop from this point forth.  Very stunted growth, but with the right care and attention the future is bright for Little Boy Blue and our objective is to turn this little boy into a beautiful glowing and happy husky.  When we do that he will fly this nest and find love with a forever family of his own.  We will be updating you on his progress, so watch this space to see something amazing. 

Finding and losing - what running gives me...

Today we found snow!!

I originally started writing this as a way of a public apology, but then my mind wandered around a little….

Today I did something that I am very ashamed and very embarrassed about.  Today I used bad language when I spoke to someone, very bad language….

He was unfortunately the person that happened to be there when I finally “lost it".

An accumulation of several historical incidents, a confusing past few months and physical pain - today was the day when I finally expressed my anger....

We also found this handsome chap...

I had already been running for several hours, was soaked through, freezing cold and in a lot of pain from a combination of toothache and ankle pain.

So what was his crime?  He had an off lead, out of control dog.  It was not aggressive but it quite blatantly was out of control and totally ignored him when he tried to call it.  I had gone way off the path to keep out of its way, it chased us and it jumped on Kroi as he tried to continue running and ignore it.

My words to him were “you should not let your dog off the lead if you cannot control it”, his words to me were that “this is a field for dogs and dogs to do whatever they wanted and I should run somewhere else if I did not like that”.  My response was “and I bet you don’t pick up its poo either” and then I used a bad word……

I then ran rather quickly after that as he was the sort of person that I would be very scared of if I met in the centre of the City… The sort of person that one could easily imagine carrying some sort of weapon and his face appearing on “Wanted” posters….

The ironic part of this story is that we were actually both trespassing – this field belongs to a farmer and is NOT for general public use, a fact that I will remember and opt for a different route in future.  This field is also the very place that I have so many problems with rude/ aggressive dogs and their owners.  It sits on the outskirts of a rather notorious Council Housing Estate….

Anyway, time to return to the “finding” part of today’s running adventures, too much negativity dealing with the rude Plonker…. 

And look!  We also found something high in the sky....

We found snow, we found fun and we found an ability to make decisions.  Running this morning helped me process some scenarios that I have been contemplating for a long while.  

For too long I have been trying to manage two “careers”, and failing in both (in my opinion).  

Today I made the decision that I never ever believed I would make.  Today I decided to prioritise my “working” career over my “fun” career.  It is a sad decision in many ways, but money does indeed make the world go around, dreams do not.  Today I switch off my dreams and deal with the reality of life.  This is not a sad day, it is a fact day.

I will continue to run, my huskies, my body and my mind need to run, I just will not dream any more….