As I have mentioned many times, when I run, I narrate in my head, as if I am writing my running commentary as I go. Sometime later, when I sit down and type in my Running Commentary post, I never use all the good stuff. I usually remember it later and say, Damn! Well, since today is Non-Sequitur Thursday, I’m going to share a couple of stories from different runs that did not make it through my porous mind into the post that day.
During a recent run in what I call The Suburbs, I had a nice canine encounter (that is an expression I just now made up, “canine encounter,” do you like it?). “The Suburbs” are not really suburbs, of course. I don’t think Herkimer is large enough to rate real suburbs. It is a nice, hilly residential section behind Valley Health Services. There are no sidewalks, which I prefer to run on, but there is not much traffic.
Regular readers know that when I run, if I see a nice dog, I always ask if I can pet him or her. On this particular run, I met a lady walking two cute little ones.
“Can I pet your dogs?”
The lady said that the boy dog would let me, but the girl might not. Sure enough, one dog walked right over, wagging his cute little tail. I tried to greet his sister, too, but she backed off. He was an adorable black and white dog. He reminded me of our much missed Spunky. Considering the resemblance and since I do not run with a camera, I’ll share a picture of Spunkman. I think illustrations add punch to a blog post.
How I miss my poocher!
The nice dog I petted did not have Spunky’s underbite. I ran on, turning here and there, choosing some hills and avoiding others. Soon I saw that I was approaching the lady and her two dogs again. I thought I would not bother her by asking to pet them again. However, as I got closer, my little black and white friend started walking towards me.
“He says, ‘I’ll take more pets!'” the lady said.
“I’ll give you pets, you friendly fellow,” I said. I love dogs!
I can’t believe I left that little story out of my running commentary that day.
The other story concerns a cool-down walk. Regular readers know I always walk around the block, drinking water after a run. I usually take about ten minutes. I figure, my metabolism is all kicked up from the run, so I burn more calories walking around the block than I would otherwise. Also, it feels awesome to walk after a run. Well, I was about a block and a half away from home when I saw a folded piece of paper on the sidewalk, so I picked it up and unfolded it.
Well, who doesn’t?
I brought the note home and gave it to Steve.
“I think your girlfriend dropped this before she had a chance to give it to you,” I said.
He did not deny it.
Mohawk Valley Girl 