lost - one Collie

Today's run was certainly eventful. The Master and I decided to go off road and into Swinley Forest again. We'd planned on a seven miler (to fit in with the training schedule) but the Master has a recurring ankle injury and it was playing up. So I thought it would be a short one but that I'd have plenty of opportunity to go in some ponds, chase any wildlife slow enough to give me a chance and generally get filthy. Anyway we were about to set off when the Master recognised one of his friends and erstwhile running partners in the distance. Boring for me you may think, but no, the mistress in question has a large two year old German Shepherd, and we are great mates. Off we went tombolling into each other; chasing each other; seeing who could run fastest, farthest etc etc. What fun. Then we ran into a border collie, just like me (only smaller and not as handsome as my Master reassured me) and he appeared to be alone in the wood. He (for it was definitely a male dog as he tried to mount my friend a couple of times) joined in with us for our five mile jaunt together with the Master and his runner friend. Well, he was great fun, although he never introduced himself properly. He didn't have a collar on like me so the Master had no idea what he was called. Still he was a good runner, in need of a bit of attention I think though. When we got back to base the Master tried to find his owner but he ran off into the woods, never to return again, or at least not before we had departed. I tell you, I was as filthy as I have ever been and the mess I made of the car was a joy to behold and a nice tidy job for the Master for the rest of the afternoon.

short but good

The Master went out all day and only got to take me out late in the evening. He's taken to wearing some sort of caving torch on his head - he does look funny! Anyway, it was very cold, even for me and remember, I've been bred for the hills and dales of the border country (quite why I am in the South of England in the flatest county outside Norfolk I just can't begin to understand). Anyway, a quick 40 minutes it was, but very enjoyable. Today's soundtrack was "Silent Alarm" by Bloc Party - one of the albums of 2005. It is a major find for a runner (or more accurately "jogger") because the beat on the majority of the tracks matches the common running stride. Thus it really can move you along at a fast clip. Highight of the album is when they sing "This pain won't last for ever" on Two More Years. Couldn't have put it better myself

Post Christmas Day blues

It's been two days since we had a run together. My Mistress has taken me out a couple of times for a tediously slow walk around the block, but most of the time both she and the Master seem to have been glued to the goggle box and going out. He can ill afford to eat and drink like he does but he doesn't listen to me when I bark at him. Today's run was quite a long one and unusually we headed off road and into the back fields. I was off the lead for a long time and during a long period when he clearly was struggling I took my opportunity. There are some fabulous deer in those fields and I chased one about four years ago but have never had an opportunity since. This time I took it. I caught sight of one in the distance, admittedly far enough away that I'd need a bit of finese to get close before it saw me. Unfortunately I wasn't born with much as I am used to chasing dumb sheep around the place and the deer spotted me early on. However I do like a good chase and so I went after it into the woods. I lost it pretty early on but still I chased around a bit because it made me feel like I could have caught it if it hadn't had such a head start. Well, on my return, the Master ent ballistic. I have never seen him like that before. Apparently I had put him out of his stride and therefore mucked up his run. Lot of old hot air if you ask me.
After that we went past a field of sheep, but there was no chance of me being off the lead for the rest of the run. "Hoist by my own petard" apparently, whatever that means.

Tough one today

After my Master's exertions yesterday I sensed a reluctance to keep up with the training already. It wasn't until just before lunch (his lunch, not mine - I don't get any at that time of day) that he finally seemed to motivate himself enough to get ready. We covered about five human miles - he kept me on the lead the whole time, which was very depressing, so my freedom was somewhat limited. He is so slow. He fell over my tail once and kept asking me to pull him up the hills. He's not going to be ready for 2010 never mind 2006. Apparently his iPod helps him over the pain barrier - a sort of auditory masking. There were three other dogs being taken for walks by their masters. I was able to lunge for one of them whilst my Master was engaged in the difficult process of putting one foot in front of the other. It caused all sorts of shouting and reactive behavior - excellent. The other two dogs were too far away and I was held very close. Apprently pain relief today came from The Killers and their "Hot Fuss" album (www.thekillers.co.uk) - surely the best album of late 2004/2005.

Training started this week

I trained with my Master for the 2001 London Marathon but since then he's just been lazy and the daily walk has been all I have had to look forward to. For an incomprehensible reason he filled in the entry form for 2006 Marathon. The pleasure-pain principle was evident when he opened the acceptance letter, though. I was cock-a-hoop naturally. That's at least 500 miles before April. Great! Anyway he startred his training this morning and I was there by his side. He's following a training programme available at www.halhigdon.com - the novice program I hasten to add. Equipped with an iPod, various support bandages and a phone (in case of breakdown) we set off for the first run in Swinley Forest, somewhere in the South of England. It was uneventful really. I love to bark,, mostly at other dogs. In fact barking comes fourth only to eating, sleeping and of course running in a list of my favorite pursuits. Unfortunately there was only one large Alsatian off its lead, to whom I gave good account of myself,I think. So we did about 4 miles which seems to give the Master a bit of a problem. However he did finish it. Well I say 4 miles, but I was off my lead most of the time so I must have done about 20 miles. I am going to be ready for multiple marathons - which can be more than can be said of the Master.