My very first double Q, with Deuce that is and a freaking 12 mile run!

I was feeling a little worried about this weekend.  I needed to get a 12 mile run done at some point, with tony working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and also get to lawrence for the dog show. I also had to keep andrew entertained and my focus on the show at the same time which is super hard.  I never Q when he is there because I don't think my brain is ever fully in the game, but it is what it is.  I am a mommy so I just need to buck up and do it.  Let's start with my 12 mile run shall we?

I had decided the best idea was to be at daycare when it opened, drop andrew off and drive like mad to Linear Trial in manhattan to do a 12 miler.  I am pretty bored with our 6 mile loop and would rather not do it twice.  I needed a change of scenery and bad.  Since I would be by myself, i took miss stella along as she has been with me on most of my longer runs lately, well all of my runs lately since my BRF is just now getting back in the game after her 15 miler.  The sun was rising and it was beautiful in Wamego but as I got closer to manhattan, it was getting darker and darker.  WTH?  I guess i missed the memo that we were suppose to get rain and snow on friday.  Started out to grey over cast sky that quickly opened up, first to a gentle sprinkle at mile 4 and then to a downpour of sleet and rain at mile 7.  Mile 4-9 were under tree cover but the last 3 or so miles were just on open trail so stella and I got pounded with ice pellets.  See the white stuff on my shoulder on my pullover?  That is ice!!  Kind of funny though, my last 4 miles were the fastest I have ever run a long run at.  I did an out and back and my splits for every 2 miles were positive on the way back.  I ran a 10:46 overall pace which is way quicker than normal.  I tend to hover around 11 or 11:15.  I am thinking because of that and because of the fact that I felt like I had gas in my tank, I should be able to stay with the 2:30 pacer and then head out at the end if I feel good.  I didn't realize how truly cold I was ( i ran in leggings and a t shirt and my nike dri fit pullover) till I pulled off to get some chocolate milk and some carbs.  I literally could not grip the pen to sign my name to the credit card receipt.  I had to sign an X as that was the best I could muster!  I then drove like hell to get home and shower and head to lawrence.  It was a late start show so I got there in time to walk the first course.

Time to beat was a really straight forward course but I said turn in front of a jump and the turkey listened and turned and did not take the jump. No biggie in T2B but then he took back side of the jump and came towards me so NQ.  We had standard next and I was oddly ahead of him the whole course.  Not sure if I am just getting faster or if he is getting slower but he got the same amount of MACH points he normally gets on a course so I will go with me being faster.  I think it also is coming with the fact that I can trust that he will take stuff and I go get into position.  He did do one very naughty thing on this run.  He JUMPED off the a-frame.  It was towards the end of the run.  He had two a-frames in T2B, one that I had quick released him on (he was in 2 on 2 off) and then one I fought him on as he creeped down.  The angle was weird so he would have come off the side of the a-frame to get into position based on where I was located so I guess he just thought jumping was a necessity.  He has NEVER done this on a contact.  I got a verbal correction in but kept going.  I worked every contact after that and need to go back this week to working on you stay straight in your two on two off no matter where I am.  He got third on that run thanks to his running a-frame LOL.  Jumpers was next with a very tricky tunnel, tunnel discrimination and a very big lateral move away from the weaves to cue decel down the line for a nice tight 180 to set the line to the correct end of the tunnel.  He was a rock star and nailed everything.  That was our first QQ EVER!  We have been one bar away so many runs so this felt so awesome and on two tough courses to beat.  Considering he got his first Qs in excellent B in 2011 fall, this has been a LONG time coming.

Of course day 2, I had andrew all day so my mind was not where it needed to be i guess.  The runs were awesome but he missed his weave pole entry in all three courses.  All three were short collections, T2B was a pretty fast entrance in, he didn't even try to make it.  Standard was a-frame, jump, 90 degree turn to the weaves and I really felt like he could have tried and I gave him his weave cue before the dang jump.  He didn't even attempt it and I not sure why.  Jumpers was the same thing, not a ton of speed coming in and he just skipped the first few poles.  Wonder if he is sore in some way?  His jumping was good this weekend.  He knocked two bars total, one was the first one on a course and one was the double into nothing from the table.  I blame myself on both, probably set him up too close to the first jump and i sent him in full extension into no where on the double and turned and called to get up the the a-frame (was a 180 to the a-frame) so I blame myself. 

 Andrew and I stopped at Kmart and did some retail therapy.  It made us both feel better.  And we stopped at sonic in topeka and had a peanut butter fudge milkshake and he ate the cherry.  Didn't even know he liked them!  He even added sand as an ingredient.  Luckily the whipped cream on the top caught most of it and kept it out of the ice cream!

Sunday I had andrew again.  He was not letting anyone hold him on saturday so I had to hold him or chase him during walk throws and strap him into his stroller.  My arms and shoulders are pretty sore after this weekend.  Who needs gym when you have a 25 lb toddler to carry all day?  Sunday he was a little better, interacting with his agility aunts and grandmas.  and bonus, on the ride home, he took a two hour long nap!  Started out the day with a Q on T2B.  Thanks to a very creepy a-frame, I only got 8 points.  I was not letting him get away with jumping another a-frame but instead I am back to creeping. Freaking criteria and freaking me letting him get in the grey area of it.  In standard we had two backside to jumps.  Yeah for this judge to have the balls to include some actual challenges.  I loved it!  The first one was out of a tunnel and he had to serp into me to get the next part of the sequence.  We are good at this so I wasn't worried.  I wasn't worried about the next one which was a teeter to the backside of a jump at an angle, but that is what bit me in the butt.  He didn't trust me and had this really confused look on his face so he cut in front of me and took the jump the correct way (in his mind).  This was the run he also decimated the double in but the rest was good and I am happy.  Jumpers was a wrong course that I didn't even consider but again, pulling can be a weakness of his and I think if I would have said a simple here down the line that he would have gotten the correct line and not the tunnel sucking him in.  No bars and super fast even with the wrong course so once again, I am happy.

The best part of the whole weekend was that my bestie barb got her MACH with her whippet Chloe.  She is one of 10 MACH whippets in the country and I am betting it won't be her only MACH.  This is the woman who got me into this dang sport many, many years ago.  We have been together through loosing our first agility dogs (her whippet Haley and my aussie berry), through several failed relationships, through a marriage, the birth of my son,  her god son, and many great times.  I am so proud of her and love her so much.  Fitting that we both got our MACHs in this very building.  

playing catch up

Been a couple of weeks since my last post and boy do I have alot to talk about.  Andrew is a full fledged toddler now and pretty much makes my day full.  He is non stop, go until he goes to bed at night kiddo now.  Even our precious naps seem to be fading. He use to sleep at least an hour in the morning and usually two in the afternoon.  Now he is turning into a little boy and the naps are little to nothing.  Except the fact that his body didn't get the memo that he no longer wanted to nap so he is a cranky little boy some afternoons.  I am lucky if we get an hour in the morning if that.  So there goes any chance of catching up on my blog unless I am at work.  Work has been crazy busy again and i am very thankful.  I would much rather come in, work my butt off and go home versus sitting here passing the time.  I am one of those who views their self worth based on how hard i work.  So days when I do nothing makes me feel like a worthless slob.  I make up for it by going psycho at the house, cleaning, washing, grooming dogs, and picking up the yard.   I guess it is a good thing but I don't feel good about myself till i pass out in bed at night.

Speaking of the bed, yep, we are still full fledged co sleepers without an end in sight.  Most nights it is fine, we read a short story or a bible verse, watch two short episodes of curious george on my iphone and snuggle up.  I have to admit, while I have woke up with feet in my face or elbows in my back, I don't really mind him being in the bed.  I am a super light sleeper so I feel him shifting around some times but for the most part, it doesn't affect my sleeping.  I guess years of sleeping with dogs and or foster dogs that might need to go out and potty has trained me well.   I also have to this point (knock on wood) always awakened if he gets out of the bed (he can get out of the bed safely by himself already.  Sigh .  Where does the time go).  We have installed gates on every possible place and we have a door to the bedroom that is most always shut.  He hasn't figured out the door knobs yet, but it will only be a matter of time.  Daycare reported that he has gotten out of their portable play yard already (think giant expen) by opening the gate.  There are a handful of nights where he is not ready to go to bed at said bed time.  I usually have him in the bath at 8:30 and in the bed by 9 and he is usually asleep by 9:30.  Those nights are rough because we basically have to keep him in the bed no matter what.  Those are the nights where I would love to plop his little butt in the crib and walk away.  Anyway, this is still working for me, even though I am not getting up super early and needing to run.   Some day, I will put on my big girl panties, hook up the video monitor in his bedroom and walk out the door and leave him for the night.  That day has not come  yet:)

Run wise, I have run an 11 miler and an 8 miler.  My runs are getting more complicated to get in, due to my hubby's work schedule. I am okay with that, I would much rather him be working and me have to change around my activities.  I have had to hire baby sitters the past two weeks just so I can teach agility classes.  Kind of weird to pay people money so I can go make money but i digress.  Anyway, some of my runs have to be shifted to nights or weird times.  This week for example, I will have to do a long run friday morning after I take andrew to daycare and before I leave for the dog show.  So to say that some runs haven't been great kind of comes with the territory.  I am adjusting back to being a night runner and having to run with the stroller more which sucks, but is doable.  I have six more runs till my half.  Is it weird that i am already getting a nervous stomach, just reading the final details emails they are sending me?  Just like with agility nationals.  Yikes.  Speaking of agility, I am still taking my online class.  Got way better videos this time and finally had time to answer email discussion about the other runs I uploaded.  While I an undecided about whether or not I will take another class, I have learned alot through this class and i am hoping we will see an improvement in our skills on course this weekend.  I have a three day show this weekend in lawrence so will be driving back and forth.  It's going to be a long weekend.  Tony is working so me and andrew and deuce and 100s of other dogs packed in that tiny building at the fairgrounds.  Pray for good weather so I can keep him and I and deuce out of the dust.  I have such a love hate relationship with that building.  I always walk away sick from it yet it is so close and i can drive back and forth, saving me hotel and food bills.  URGH.

Lastly, did the Glow run 5 K this past weekend in lawrence.  Here is my finish photo.  I think i was confused at this point.  Was suppose to be a 5 K and my garmin and phone said 2.73.  Hmmmm.

 Pre race with my team.  We were the glorious gaiters.  Hence the gators on the shirts.  They made them, not me.  I am not that crafty.

Andrew playing with his new light saber.  They had everything that lit up and cheap too.  He loves this thing and it still glowing.  

This was my first real "fun" run that I have ever done since I missed the color run.  While the company was fun (all my running group ladies), I don't think I got into it as much as I should have.  I think alcohol needed to be involved.  Then maybe I would have let loose.  All said and done, it is a perfect race for those who are starting out or just want to have fun. Parts of the entry fee went to a good cause and like I said the glow stuff you could buy was very cheap and decent made.  It was fun to see the costumes and I guess after the run (we left because andrew was tired and getting cranky)they had a huge party with a DJ and contests and such.  I used this as a tempo run so didn't run directly with my group, just my BRF but we did enjoy the music and cheers on course.  They also had a black light tunnel that was fun to run under and black lights on course.  Should have taken more pics on the course but was needing to do speed work.

Lots of kids so maybe next year if we do it again, andrew can either run with or i can push him in the stroller.  He loves the medal I got it glows in the dark, so there is that.  

Conquer the Konza!

What a full weekend I had!  My BRF had her half, which was actually longer than a half (15.5 miles versus 13.1 for you non runners), our little town had Oztoberfest, and I taught two classes and took my online class that turned into a private lesson because my trainer was in town.

First of was Oztoberfest.  It was oddly in september but they had planned it the only weekend KSU wasn't having a game.  Unfortunately every other organization planned something this weekend too (Jazz fest in JC, Pumpkin patch in Manhattan, HUGE consignment sale in manhattan among other things).  It was hard to just pick one thing but since Oztoberfest is 2 minutes away from our house, it was a no brainer.  I had another 10 miler planned for Saturday morning but when I got up at 7 (the sun now rises at 7:30), it was pouring rain.  I just am not that dedicated yet.  So andrew and I snuggled up and went back to sleep till 8ish.  Still raining.  Waited, waited, waited.  Finally at 9, the rain stopped.  It was still cool and drizzly but it was perfect for running.  Because of the rain, I was a little worried about the gravel roads being soggy and I am sorry, I paid way to much for these shoes to ruin them in mud:)  So I had to be creative on my route to get 10 miles in.  I was concerned about traffic coming into town for the festival so tried using old 24 and then looping onto new 24.  The problem was, the shoulder of new 24 was not very wide at the end of old 24 so I spent much of my time running in muddy loose gravel which was the very thing I was trying to avoid.  Also stella was with me (her first big mileage run) so was trying to keep her away from noisy truck traffic but succeeded in putting her in more than she has ever been.  Sigh.  Oh well, got it done.  Tony was watching me run live on the mapmyrun app and was wondering where the hell I was going.  Had my first squat in a cornfield moment.  I had been to the potty before heading out but it hit me and I had to go.  Was planning on ducking behind a big semi that was parked in the industrial area I sometimes run in but a cop showed up out of the blue for no reason so not wanting to get a public urination ticket,I kept trucking.  He turned out of the park and I booked it for the nearest corn field.  The funny part about the whole thing was, I got my shorts pulled back u p, no problem but my undies stuck to my sweaty butt and I couldn't get them up.  I was running and pulling, running and pulling.  I am certain that the guys working in the nearest shop were having a great time laughing at me. I was for sure laughing at me:)

 After my run, we headed to Manhattan for an information meeting on what my duties were for the conquer the konza.  I some how lucked out and got put at the highest hill on Konza.  I was the luckiest volunteer for sure!  I was located at the top of the radio tower hill as they called it at the top of the stairs.

This picture does not do it full justice.  They are coming from that trail way out by the trees, all the way up and the stairs start way at the bottom of this picture and wind around.  It was a killer and they had to do this twice!!!!

I figured we'd better hike up to the top just so i knew how early to get there in order to hike up in the dark.  It was a beautiful day!  Here is a pic of the big blue stem transitioning to little blue stem.

This is one of two sway bridges I had to cross.  The runners did not run across these thank goodness but I had to traverse these.  When I say sway, I mean SWAY.  One did not even have hand rails.  Let's just say my fear of heights and my fear of these exact bridges caused the race organizers to find a way to get my butt up to the top of the hill via a vehicle.  I told them I could crawl across them in the dark no problem.  They didn't believe me.  I am glad they didn't:)

After we hiked up and down, we headed back to wamego for Oztoberfest.  In true fashion, andrew went to sleep so we were stuck sitting in our van till he woke up.  Of course by the time he woke up, the festival was almost over so we caught the tail end of the events and vendors packing up.  We did however get one beer at the beer garden before it closed.  I think all of the original munchkins are dead now so I am not sure what they actually do at the festival now.  We use to have so much fun seeing the munchkins out and about the town after the festival.

an old pic of munchkins.  I think both of these have passed on now:(

Sunday dawned early with me having to be out at the prairie around 6ish.  Thank goodness I am use to getting up at o dark thirty.  As previously mentioned, I was escorted to my spot via mule and had to hike down a small hill.

..

This was before the sun rose.  It was beautiful.  The deer were out as were other wildlife.  I could see for miles.  The gun started the runners at 7:44 am.  It took the first place runner 26 minutes to get to my spot.  He was a beast.

See that little dot?  That orange dot?  That is the beast taming the stairs.  He ran up those things both times and never missed a beat.  Finished 15.5 in an hour 30ish.  He is a monster.  I had so much fun cheering the runners up these stairs.  I had a real cowbell and I ran it furiously for those runners.  I got so many compliments on my cheering.  I will be doing it again next year!

The runner's high I felt after watching all of my running buddies top this hill for the second time was amazing.  Would that be considered a contact high?  The best part was the hugs I got from the last place finishers.  They were so grateful for my cheering and staying for them.  I know what it means to be cheered for and helped verbally in a very tough part of a course. OF course none of my races were like this one but still, I had some semi tough hills for sure.  I am SO proud of all of my running buddies for doing this race.  It was the toughest races of all the ones in our area.  It was mentally and physically challenging and they all finished! 

After the race, I had to run home, shower and get my dog for teaching.  Lucky for me, Alice had the field set so all i had to do was drag a few pieces out of the beginners.  The best part was we had a live class for our online class.  I learned what a lap turn was and how to use it in a course.  I see some opportunities maybe in gamblers or snooker in the future.  Plus we got to address deuce's bar issue.  It still seems like lack of conditioning.  Sigh.  This never was an issue for miller so struggling to figure this out.  We don't have access to swimming and he isn't a ball dog.  I can take him running on slow short mileage but need to wear stella out too.  Thoughts, ideas???? 

  

The good, the bad and the ?????

Well, another 10 K in the books.  It was a super small race, maybe 9 people total in the 10 k.  Four women total so I guess I came in fourth:)  Lucky for me, one of the ladies I work out with at the gym was a the race because my BRF couldn't come.  Even better, we both run the same pace so we stayed together the whole race!!!!  She left me at the very end but that is okay.  Honestly, I ran out of gas.  This was a two loop race with the first loop being the 5 K people and the second loop being of course for us crazies.  The course was tough.  The first mile was up 8th street and up a very steep hill that levels out and then goes straight back up.  So basically no rest for the weary, especially on the second loop.  I officially don't like two loop 10 Ks.  It's boring and its tough when you have hills to do them all over again. The bonus of it all was there was a super cute, super cool cop directing traffic so we got to talk to him four times.  The other bonus was it was city wide garage sale so we got to see the yard sales.  OF course by the time we did the awards and the door prizes, all the good stuff was gone but WOW, the door prizes were super cool!  I got a 20 dollar coupon for Dick's which is the only place Tony can get clothes since he is kind of big.  I ended up second in my age group and fourth overall woman.  Will be sending my medal to my I Run For buddy Brady. He will get a kick out of having a medal and all this little guy will do is sit on my dresser.  

Post race.  She beat me but I ran out of gas at mile 5.5.  Didn't carb up like I normally do the night before so maybe that is why?

Tony took this pic on the course.  We had fun running together.  I can't believe with the hills and the pace we kept that we were able to keep up conversation.  

This little guy and his daddy met me at several spots on the course and cheered me on.  Love this little guy!  He makes me want to run and get healthy and be there for him!  

So that is the good.  Here is the bad and the ???   My job is in jeopardy again.  We haven't built up the clientele that we hoped for to be a service center.  We need to make money to stay in business.  The company who we are a service center before is not sending us the business either.  We are hoping to stay in business till at least december.  I have been told to start searching so here I go again.  Sigh.  Tony is also off work right now.  There is a ton of work going on, just not for his contractor.  So we wait.  And plan.  Big plans.  Maybe Coleman Electric???  Going to take alot of praying, scraping by, budgeting, and hoping.  I know he can do it, just not sure we are ready to head into this right at this second.  Was kind of hoping in the next 5 years but situations beyond our control may make us rush a little quicker into this than we would have liked.  We are rushing to get a business plan together presently.  Fun times.  Head office manager of coleman electric?  Can I dig that?  May have to.  

On another note, did a 10 mile run today.  My first 10 miler.  No pics, ran with my BRF and we talked the whole way.  We needed a change in scenery and we got in, complete with some killer hills!  We did it, with an average pace of 10:48 which is booking for us on long runs!  I don't know what lit a fire under our asses but we were quite speedy today, especially after running yesterday.  Ended with some chocolate milk and some powdered doughnuts.  CARBS!  Will also have some liquid carbs tonight;)

When is money going to grow on trees please?

Had my first 9 mile run this weekend.  Seems once you get over that 10 K hump, the rest just comes easy.  I didn't even look at my watch till around mile 7.  Ran with my BRF.  We talked the entire time and it just made it fly by.  I remember saying I have no clue how I am ever going to run that long, yet here I am, plodding along at a snail's pace but getting it done.  Took us about an hour and forty minutes.  AND on top of running on sunday, I got to teach two classes and take an online agility class.  It was stoked and my legs survived.  I can tell how much better shape I am in even though I seem to be gaining weight,not loosing.  I will focus on the positive, my legs look awesome and I almost bought a pic at the last agility trial because it was of deuce and my muscled legs LOL.  Yep, a little vain when it comes to my legs.  Anyway it's good to be knocking out these long runs and it is good to be back teaching.  I really do love beginners.  There are my favorite to teach.  I love to see the light bulb turn on and i love getting back to my computer at home and already having emails asking questions on their homework.  I treated my second class more as an informal get together and less like a class.  We only had 4 other dogs signed up so I ran deuce on a few of the sequences.  Then afterwards, ran my sequences for class and got those on video for analysis.  Except i numbered the course wrong both times so didn't exactly run the correct sequence but that is neither here nor there. The teachers knows I will be behind in this class since I can only work on it once a week and we are actually going to start meeting as a small group (those of us taking locally) so we can work together to get things set up and video taped.


Was suppose to do the color run this weekend but didn't get to go.  Kind of glad as my van broke down that afternoon.  That would have totally sucked if I would have broken down on the highway with a screaming toddler by myself.  I think God had a little hand in making sure I had no desire to go.  BRF had to back out and I didn't know the other ladies from our area going and then tony had to work so couldn't even go with me either.  Van broke down in a parking lot as she always seems to do but managed to limp her to the car mechanic.  Many things were wrong and the total bill was over 1 K.  YIKES.  Still in that struggle of which is  cheaper, a car payment or fixing this stupid van.  So in essence, there goes my dog show money, probably for the rest of the year.  What little I made on teaching is going straight to insurance, online class and maybe one show.  I am okay with this, we have work to do.  He still has a bar issue that seems to be a timing issue.  He was pretty good the other day when I was videoing, but he had a few warm up runs where he did knock a bar each time.  I am hoping now that we will have at least one day a week dedicated to a "class type setting" that we will get some good work in.  I am hoping to get two sessions of classes in, to introduce this full beginner class to a handler class so that would mean a little more income coming in for maybe some winter shows.  I think the break will do us good.  I think it will help me come back with a more clear mind and hopefully a better conditioned, more practiced dog.  And for once, I am not sweating the small stuff.  Money is just money and we have always managed.  I have a roof over my head, a car that is working at the moment and a little bit of credit card debt. Too many good things that out weigh the bad.

Have a race this coming weekend and am totally stoked to try a PR on a 10 K.  Then a have a couple of fun runs and then the big one!  I am actually very excited to see what I can do!  I feel like my fueling strategy and hydration strategy is in place and my nutrition is on par so excited to do this!  So crazy, never ever thought I would be saying that I am excited to run a half marathon yet here I am.  AND announced just last week, a marathon is happening next year in my own backyard.  Tempting:))))))

toddlers, 8 mile long runs and dog shows, oh my

I will start about my lovely toddler who seems to have hit his terrible twos very early.  Like at 14 months early.  Wow.  If this is anything near what is to come, heaven help me!!!!!  Everything is a huge drama, everything involves a huge melt down and everything seems to be off.  His sleeping is off, his eating is off and that is not good for any of us.  I know he won't starve to death but he just hasn't been eating much of anything we offer him, veggies, meat or fruit. Even his favorite standbyes like apple sauce pouches.  He has also had some pretty spectacular falls lately.  He had a face first fall that really broke my heart.  He had a goose egg and a nice bruise to show.  Then this weekend, while I was gone to the dog show, he fell sideways into a antique trunk that has some decorative metal work on it and now has a huge bruise on the side of his head.  My heart can't handle it.  The wail that happens right after the falls breaks my heart into two pieces.  I have been trying not to show emotion but it's hard not to.  On a good note, I think most of his premolars are in now so maybe we will have a break before the next few come in.

Had my 8 miler this weekend.  Ran along adams dairy parkway which was super hilly.  Had decided if it got too tough, I would walk up the hills.  Then I saw all the runners out there, plodding along up those hills and I felt good so i just trudged right up them.  Overall was at a 11:24 pace which is a little slower than I like but the hills were massive.  My right quad today is really telling me how massive they were.  I did eat a little something prior to running and took water with me.  I did four chomps around 40 minutes in and that seemed to do the trick.  No GI issues and I was able to finish, despite the hills, very strongly.  There were several groups that went out and I saw them pass by me as I was coming back in and I missed my BRF:(

The show was eh.  Just eh.  I either had a bar every run or he ran past something which was just weird.  One day, he ran past the triple in JWW and then in standard he decimated it.  Then I was scared.  Today he was fine on the spreads so who knows.  Thought we had licked this issue, guess not.  I am excited because my trainer is going to do an online class and I am going to sign up.  Maybe this is the fire I needed to light under my ass to get motivated again.  I have one more show this fall  that i am entered in and will probably sign up for one, maybe two more.  Depends on the finances.  Will have my first beginner class after a long time next weekend and a competition type class too.  Then right after, will work my online courses and video tape them.  I am excited.  Both of the bars today looked like lack of conditioning again.  Weird, he seemed better conditioning wise but the heat wave has been back so no running and not a ton of ball playing.  Maybe that is the issue.  Sigh.  It's always something:)  Off to sub for a local trainer's puppy class.  She has a puppy agility night that she always has me come in for and I love getting these people and their puppies hooked on trying the sport of agility.  We do foundations and trick training and some tiny jump bumps and a tunnel.

Triune recap and my first 7 miler!

Big weekend for me!  First time going over 10 K and first dog show back after a long break.  Honestly was kind of dreading the dog show more than the run.  Just haven't gotten the practice in that i had hoped for.  Had good intentions just never acted on them.  The heat wave that had mysteriously been gone most of the summer some how made it's way back last weekend.  That zapped my desire to be out working my heavy coated dog.  I had made a pact with myself, it this weekend and the next weekend were bad with regards to bars, I would pull from the third show and not waste my money anymore till i had dedicated time to figure out this issue.  Who knew when that would be but I was tired of wasting money run after run.  Plus mentally it was wearing on me.  I was deep down hoping that lori was right, that this was a timing issue on his and my part and that we could easily resolve it.  His weight was good, his energy level and conditioning was better so I had a few things going for me.  My mom is here visiting from TN with the sole purpose of helping me take care of andrew at the show.  I also knew this would be a challenge because he is newly mobile and not loving being contained.  It isn't fair to him or to any of the dogs at the trial to be put in situations where a dog is uncomfortable or andrew is potentially harmed.  So this weekend was very important.  I hate leaving him at home to do dog shows yet I don't want him in harms way and don't want to feel exhausted at the show either.  Alot riding on many variables.

Got up early saturday morning (was not entered friday) and headed out for my first 7 miler.  Tony decided to go with on his bike which i am eternally grateful for.  Especially cause he took his iphone and took some really cool shots of me dying a slow painful death running.  Like this one:

Pretty sure this was early on in our run.  I look way to happy.  This was the first time I had attempted to fuel.  Had bought several products to try and decided on the GU chomps for my first attempt.  What I failed to do was eat prior to running.  I usually don't but I think for this distance and future further distances, I need something other than just the GU in my belly.  This was also the first time I tried taking my own water source.  Needless to say, I am again very grateful that my hubby came along as he had to take my water bottle from me as it was digging a hole to my spine via my back.  I had bought a small bottle that fits in the small of your back and holds maybe 100 mls of water.  I had put in the fridge pre-run so it would be nice and cold. I think the fact that it made my back numb for several mile helped ease the pain, but once the numbness wore off, that stupid thing had to GO.  Will be exploring other options this week FO SHO.  

Love this pic.  Sun was just beginning to come up.  Luckily the clouds came out too about this time so we were spared her warming rays.  I always seem to hit this mental block about 4 miles in.  Not sure why.  I was running at a pretty slow pace and talking to tony but my legs just weren't as happy as I would like for them to be.  I had run three the day before so nothing too hard.  I think it is all mental.  Need to get over this!!!!

This was after a pretty big hill,  yet short and I felt really good after it.  I shocked myself.  Running back to town was hard but it felt good to finish.  It had finally gotten hot and very sticky and I was sweating pretty good.  I never felt like the GU chomps did anything but more important was what they didn't do.  They didn't bother my tummy.  I am going to try and double the amount I take next time.  I had one before the run, one 30 minutes in and one and hour in.  I think my total running time was 1 hour, 18 minutes with an 11:08 minute pace.  I tried running hard the last mile but my pace was pretty even the whole time, hovering around 11 minutes and some change.  

This was my attempt at my first collage.  Am so jealous of all the people who post cool pic collages in the IRUN 4 program FB site.  Well, let's just say I am not the most creative and I tried so A for effort.  After my run, I not so quickly showered and then loaded mom's van.  We headed out and of course got stuck in bad labor day traffic.  I missed two of my runs that day but go there in plenty of time to run standard.  Standard had one of those tricky spots where decel was cruicial to cue the turn to the weaves and of course over a panel jump.  I watched several dogs that run like deuce miss the panel due to decel so I was worried about the spot.  In looking the video, I think if I would have taken one more step or kept my hand up one more second, he would have taken it but instead, he put on the breaks as I did my decel and went  on to the weaves as my body was indicating.  GOOD dog.  Got him over the panel and then he missed another jump after the table.  Again, handler error, my arm and hand were not indicating take the jump and my body was preparing for a front to run like hell down a tricky line so he just came with.  GOOD dog again, bad handler.   

I was feeling elated though, NO BARS!  He doesn't always run so well on this turf so i knew this would be a crap shoot.  Day 2 started with T2B.  Finally a fast flowing course like T2B should be.  I love T2B as it is a great warm up for the day.  Well, we had another no bar run.  He missed the weave pole entry as I was crowding him on a jump out of a tunnel and i honestly don't think he even saw the weaves.  No biggie, got him back but then he flicked off of me later and took and off course.  Even the judge said under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear, "hadn't thought of that one".  Well, leave it to deuce to think of that one:)  No video but was told over and over, that nothing about my body said turn left away from me and take this jump way over there.  Next up was JWW and a very fun course with lots of options.  Not a fan of pulls and need to work on them more so had a section that probably needed a pull but I forced a front.  Well, guess what, when I opened up my cross, I was on top of the jump and he tried to jump it but just couldn't.  Finished the course well and was happy that the bar was on me and not on him.  That was three runs in a row with NO BARS that were totally his fault!!!!!!  Standard was last and a nice fun course.  There were two tricky parts that in my mind were places were deuce and I could screw up.   One was weaves to table.  I knew I had to stay out of his way and let him find them on his own and not try and shape it in any form or fashion.  Once we got through that part, i felt so much better.  The next part was coming from the dog walk, going over a jump straight ahead and then coming back to take the double with a dummy jump to the other side of the double. I watched several of the big dogs take the jump after the dog walk, swing out way wide and take the dummy jump.  I decided to leave deuce on the dog walk a second or two and run to the jump, ask for collection and then go.  Got great collection but once again I think I was too close to the double when I opened up my cross.  The agility gods threw me a bone and the bar went straight up and straight back into the jump cups.  YIPEEEEE!   It felt to so good to have a well handled run and a Q.  Other than leaving him on the dog walk to be still for collection cue, the run was not run safely at all, it was balls to the wall.  OF course holding the dog walk and a-frame cost me placements but he still was 21 seconds under course time!  

Day 3 just had JWW and Standard.  Jumpers was again a very fast fun course.  I ran it with confidence, left him in the weaves to get down a line and trusted him to find the line and collect and change leads appropriately and he did like a big boy.  Another Q and another very fun run!  No shouting and no safe handling.  Why can't I do this every run????  He didn't place again but I was super excited because several aussies were in the top 10 with an aussie winning the class over some screaming fast BCs!  I think deuce was 8th, nestled between some BCs I NEVER thought I would ever be in the same company as:)

Standard was last and I was super tired.  As I had suspected, andrew had been a handful the past few days.  Mom and I tried to keep him busy and occupied but his desire to be down was great and his frustration/ temper level was also great.  I really, really want to thank all of those people who brought super nice, kid friendly dogs over to let andrew smack pet.  Just like any other toddler, we are working on the finer points of being gentle and while he is getting it, it is slow going.  Our dogs don't care what he does to them, well other than stella so while we do police it, i think sometimes he gets mixed signals as to what he can and can't do with dogs in general.  Deuce is the best and worse because he has the heart of a saint and will let andrew pretty much do anything to him.  Andrew also is learning to not go up to crates.  This is something I am also policing quite heavily but he is lighting fast sometimes and I just don't want him getting bit due to a crate protective dog.  He did have one dog lunge at him through a soft crate even though we were not anywhere near the crate.  I swear the crate moved 6 feet towards us but I don't think it scared andrew or taught him anything.  For all of these reasons I do not think I will take andrew to any dog shows in the future.  Plus the fact that he won't nap anymore at the shows so mom had to take him back to the room to get good naps out of him and I can't do that if I am showing.  It is going to be tough to leave him at home but I just can't deal with him at shows and my mom refuses to move here and I can't keep her tied up in the guest room.

Anyway, back to standard.  Two jump push to the weaves first three obstacles.  Not my strong point. I don't like standing still but I was fearing any movement would send him straight to the off course jump straight ahead.  Rear crossing was an option but a safer option.  Thought about a lead out pivot.  Mixed success with those so opted for a push and it worked surprisingly well.  I swear we were so in sync this weekend, so much more than any other show lately and I have no clue why.  I trusted him so much this weekend and I so wish I could call up that trust every single run.  The run was lovely, yet we had one little bar.  Not sure why but i suspect it was because he was coming out of the chute, turning over a wingless jump and rushing to get to me who was rushing to get a cross in.  I probably should have taken one more step towards that jump, one more second with my hand up.  I ended up pulling him into a tunnel nestled under the a-frame without the cross which is really good for him but why was i rushing?   Probably the ever popular oh crap, I am going to get a double Q.  Oh well, the rest of the run was perfection with him even getting a pull to the correct end of the tunnel when he was lined up to go to the wrong end (due to course design, not me) and also getting a push to the teeter after a double and not even ticking the double.      I was so proud of him and didn't even care about the bar.  If I had video, it was probably yet again my fault.  

Overall, I was very pleased with the weekend.  I will have to say that the course were all big fairly flowing run your ass off type of courses.  I think it gave deuce plenty of opportunity to run and extend which he likes.  Call it course design, the smiling of the agility gods or luck but it was super nice to get at least two good runs rewarded with a Q.  I know it is never about the Q but damn it, sometimes you need some sort of reward other than hey, good run.  I will run again this weekend, both dog show and running.  I have an 8 miler planned for saturday so will have to get up SUPER early to go run and make it back to the dog show.  I think am praying that the route I have chosen is safe and lighted.  I hope that i have legs left to run him afterwards.  I have already warned my friends that they need to be ready if I have spaghetti for legs.  I know one thing,I am already salivating over the strawberry smoothies at panera that i discovered this weekend.  Why hasn't anyone told me about them before?  Between those and peanut butter fudge millkshakes, I am destined to put on 5 or more lbs this weekend!!!!