If you don't mind, I thought I post a little story about how I met my running partner this last May...
Last week my wife and I took a vacation/research trip to Virginia, North Carolina, & Tennessee. Basically this was a week of collecting for her
(ecologist
) and a week of training for me
(the weather could have been better
). So last Friday we arrive at our 3rd campground. My wife and her lab partners hop in the car and head to the "woods" to find more samples. I head off for a 6 mile run. Leaving the campground I head over to a small summer home subdivision. As I enter the subdivision a small "hound dog" starts following me. I say nothing and she doesn't make any noise or approach closely, just the pitter patter of feet 10' behind me. After I complete the subdivision loop I stop and tell the dog to go home, stay, no, etc... and start running again. She follows me down a hill and falls a little behind, I break for it on the slope and try to get around the corner out of sight. I make it, but pretty soon I hear the pitter patter of little feet again right behind me. So I complete the last 4 miles of my run with dog in tow and arrive back at the campground. I'll be the first to admit I have no experience with pets or kids, so I didn't pay much attention to her. I went about my business at camp and she just roamed around near by. I figured eventually she would get bored and go home. I hopped in the lake and went for a 40 minute swim
(man was that nice!
). When I returned, there was the dog, still in our camp. I've still got a couple of hours to kill before Chris gets back so I head out for a bike ride. The puppy follows me out of the campground, so I head back towards the subdivision, figuring I could ditch her easy on the bike, near her home. She revs up to full gallop and has little trouble keeping up with me on the flats. A little downhill and I pull away, thinking, "Ha! She's almost home, headed the right way, perfect." Then I reach a short climb, I slow into the low teens and here comes the puppy bounding along up behind me again. When I reach the subdivision where we first met, 2 hours ago, and 6 miles ago, I take off on another decline and lose her for good. So that, I thought, was my dog story...
That evening when Chris returned we headed to town for pizza and I told everyone my dog story. As we drive back into the campground, someone says, hey there's a dog. Is that the one?
(Keep in mind we are 2 miles from were I met and dropped her.
) Sure enough it was her and she promptly started following the car back to our camp. When we got out Chris took a good look at her and it was obvious
(to her. I was oblivious.
) that she was a stray. No collar, ticks all over, mange, but cute as a button, and real calm. Chris fed her a little and she wandered off for the night. And that I thought was the epilogue of my dog story...
So, the next morning Chris and I head out for a short run. We stop at the restrooms. When Chris steps out, I motion for her to turn around. There's the puppy again, with her shoes laced up
(apparently
) and ready for another run. We do a short 2 miles with the puppy happily trailing behind. And that was the beginning of our partnership with Jordan.
Jordan is back on Long Island with us now. Our landlord agreed to let us keep her, since we've been responsible tenants. We took her to the vet and got all the pills and potions to tack care of the ear mites, mange, whip worm, and hook worm she'd aquired while on her own. We pulled about 50 ticks off her over the first few days and gave her two baths. She doesn't have heartworm, hallelujah. The vet thinks she is about 8 months old. And she is a darling. Very well mannered, loves to cuddle
(she thinks she is a 35 lb. lap dog
), doesn't bark, and seems to be taking to dog-training very well. We think she is a Mountain View Cur Hound mix.
Last night we went for our first run together with a leash. She did fantastic. The pace was cake for her. Our run is just a trot for her and she didn't even start to pant or get tired at the end. I think she'll take to our running schedule
(up to 6 miles is probably a good limit
) instantly.
I've never had a pet before, so this is all new territory for me, but I just couldn't understand how or why someone could abandon such a beautiful well-behaved puppy. Hopefully, we can provide her with the good home she deserves.
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Justin in Austin, get it? :)
Cool races:
-
Redman -
Desoto American Triple T
