It's been a whole week since I've posted, and I don't have a good excuse - I'll claim Christmas hectic time.
Today I had a great run at the trail with Holly and Ann. I felt good, and maybe this is because we ran later (8:40 a.m.), and I had already had my coffee and my full breakfast 2 hours earlier.
I ran with Holly the whole way (I think she slowed down for me a little), and it was the fastest I had run that route for quite a while. I even had 2 negative splits! Felt great afterwards, too.
Well, what has Mocha been up to? She had a good Christmas. Several friends and relatives gave her presents, and she now has them all arranged on her kitchen bed. She still likes her old toy, Chicken, but will also chew on a new toy for variety.
Mocha and I have been taking lots of walks on the trail. Today we had a good one with lots of sniffing and going up and down hills. We are trying to go longer so that Mocha gets more exposure and more excercise.
Happy 2016! I will keep you up to date with Mocha and running news.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Christmas Eve Run
Today I had my best run in a long time! I normally run first thing in the morning, but since it was raining when I would have gone, I waited to see if it would stop raining later.
After doing some neighbor visiting and home vacuuming, the sun was starting to peek out. The temperature was 65 degrees at least! So I got dressed in my December running gear - capris and a short sleeved shirt. Is this really December?
I ran a slightly different route than the one I do most weekdays - it turned out to be 3.02 miles, and my pace was faster than it has been in a long time! Why, I don't know. Was it the later time? The caffeine I had time to ingest before running? I would think the warmer weather would not help with speed. Anyway, I'm happy with my time and with the fact that I didn't get rained on.
Since I had some coffee left, and I was hot and sweaty when I got home, I had an iced coffee - first one since summer.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
After doing some neighbor visiting and home vacuuming, the sun was starting to peek out. The temperature was 65 degrees at least! So I got dressed in my December running gear - capris and a short sleeved shirt. Is this really December?
I ran a slightly different route than the one I do most weekdays - it turned out to be 3.02 miles, and my pace was faster than it has been in a long time! Why, I don't know. Was it the later time? The caffeine I had time to ingest before running? I would think the warmer weather would not help with speed. Anyway, I'm happy with my time and with the fact that I didn't get rained on.
Since I had some coffee left, and I was hot and sweaty when I got home, I had an iced coffee - first one since summer.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Play Date with Cooper
Mocha had her first play date on Sunday! As you may know, she has had a reputation (rightly deserved) of not being good with other dogs. Cooper is a neighbor dog with whom Mocha has gotten pretty well acquainted. They've taken walks together, and they sit together and wait while their parents talk.
Dave thought that Mocha was ready to try to interact with Cooper off-leash. Cooper's parents were always willing to try this with Mocha. Their yard is fenced, so a date was made to play this past Sunday.
I didn't go, because I was nervous about it, and felt my nervous energy might change Mocha's behavior in a bad way.
Here is what Dave told me about the play date:
They started out by standing in the driveway out front for a couple minutes. Then they went into the yard. Mocha sniffed around some, and then Dave let her off the leash. Cooper's dad brought out 2 squeaky tennis balls, and threw them for the dogs. Mocha would run to get one and bring it back to Dave. Cooper would just run past the ball, very fast. A couple times when he was running fast past Mocha, she growled. Dave corrected her right away, and she stopped immediately.
This running and chasing balls continued for a while. The dogs played separately but together. All in all, I think this was a success! Mocha may have more friends in the future.
Dave thought that Mocha was ready to try to interact with Cooper off-leash. Cooper's parents were always willing to try this with Mocha. Their yard is fenced, so a date was made to play this past Sunday.
I didn't go, because I was nervous about it, and felt my nervous energy might change Mocha's behavior in a bad way.
Here is what Dave told me about the play date:
They started out by standing in the driveway out front for a couple minutes. Then they went into the yard. Mocha sniffed around some, and then Dave let her off the leash. Cooper's dad brought out 2 squeaky tennis balls, and threw them for the dogs. Mocha would run to get one and bring it back to Dave. Cooper would just run past the ball, very fast. A couple times when he was running fast past Mocha, she growled. Dave corrected her right away, and she stopped immediately.
This running and chasing balls continued for a while. The dogs played separately but together. All in all, I think this was a success! Mocha may have more friends in the future.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Mocha and the Christmas Tree
We got our Christmas tree on Monday evening in the rain! The Boy Scouts had gotten 25 newly cut trees, after selling out all 300 of the first batch. Luckily, we had procrastinated about getting a tree, so with insider information from a Scout mom, we learned of the fresh trees, and went and got one.
Tuesday, I brought it into the house and decorated it. Mocha wandered in to see what I was doing, and she didn't seem too interested in the tree. She hung out with me while I did some more tree decorating. After I was all done, I put the Christmas tree skirt around the tree.
Well yesterday, when I got home, here is what I saw:
Mocha had pulled the skirt from around the tree. No ornaments had been disturbed, and the curtains weren't pulled aside as if she had been looking out the window. So why did she pull the skirt away? It is a mystery. We shall see if it happens again.
Tuesday, I brought it into the house and decorated it. Mocha wandered in to see what I was doing, and she didn't seem too interested in the tree. She hung out with me while I did some more tree decorating. After I was all done, I put the Christmas tree skirt around the tree.
Well yesterday, when I got home, here is what I saw:
Mocha had pulled the skirt from around the tree. No ornaments had been disturbed, and the curtains weren't pulled aside as if she had been looking out the window. So why did she pull the skirt away? It is a mystery. We shall see if it happens again.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Excitement at the Trail
Mocha and I went to the trail today for her mid-day walk. We saw a couple in Harley jackets looking towards the distance, and I thought they were just admiring the view and enjoying the pretty day. However, when Mocha and I started walking around the pond, we noticed a loose dog. It was by itself, and running slowly around the pond. I called back to the couple, and asked if they knew if that dog was by itself. They said it looked lost. The woman was walking towards where the dog was running to, and I approached the man and offered him some dog treats to help with catching the dog.
Meanwhile, another man with an old dog were heading towards us. He said, "Oh, that's Myrtle. Myrtle is with that truck." Myrtle, I now saw, looked like a Basset hound. She was near a silver truck, but no owner was in sight. Myrtle started to approach Mocha. We just stood there to see if Myrtle would get close enough for the woman in the Harley jacket to catch her, but Myrtle stopped short of Mocha (good choice, probably).
At that point, I thought that the situation was under control - Myrtle had three people helping her. Mocha and I continued our short walk, and soon left to come home.
And today I remembered to put the Christmas collar on Mocha! She is now dressed for the season:
Ann and I had a good foggy run today. We left later than usual, and thought we would have some light to run in, but since it was so foggy, it didn't seem any different than usual. I felt pretty good, no walk breaks!
Meanwhile, another man with an old dog were heading towards us. He said, "Oh, that's Myrtle. Myrtle is with that truck." Myrtle, I now saw, looked like a Basset hound. She was near a silver truck, but no owner was in sight. Myrtle started to approach Mocha. We just stood there to see if Myrtle would get close enough for the woman in the Harley jacket to catch her, but Myrtle stopped short of Mocha (good choice, probably).
At that point, I thought that the situation was under control - Myrtle had three people helping her. Mocha and I continued our short walk, and soon left to come home.
And today I remembered to put the Christmas collar on Mocha! She is now dressed for the season:
Ann and I had a good foggy run today. We left later than usual, and thought we would have some light to run in, but since it was so foggy, it didn't seem any different than usual. I felt pretty good, no walk breaks!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Trail Walks
Mocha and I go to the trail for a walk most days. She likes the car ride to get there as much as the walk!
Yesterday, there were several other dogs there that we encountered. Mocha did very well - she was interested, and kept turning around to look at them, but she never got her hackles up, and she didn't seem stressed. I was happy with her behavior!
On days like today, when it's cold in the morning, after our walk, Mocha likes to eat breakfast and then get back in bed. I think if the sun didn't come out, she would be tempted to stay in bed all day. But sunny days motivate her to get up. I think today will be nice again.
On the running front... Sunday's run at the trail was kind of hard - I took one walk break. But I think it was more due to mental fatigue than physical. Today the run was slow, but good. I didn't walk at all.
I don't think I am doing any races this month. Weekends seem to get so busy this time of year. I hope to keep doing at least 6 races a year, just to try to stay competitive in my age group.
Yesterday, there were several other dogs there that we encountered. Mocha did very well - she was interested, and kept turning around to look at them, but she never got her hackles up, and she didn't seem stressed. I was happy with her behavior!
On days like today, when it's cold in the morning, after our walk, Mocha likes to eat breakfast and then get back in bed. I think if the sun didn't come out, she would be tempted to stay in bed all day. But sunny days motivate her to get up. I think today will be nice again.
On the running front... Sunday's run at the trail was kind of hard - I took one walk break. But I think it was more due to mental fatigue than physical. Today the run was slow, but good. I didn't walk at all.
I don't think I am doing any races this month. Weekends seem to get so busy this time of year. I hope to keep doing at least 6 races a year, just to try to stay competitive in my age group.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Back to Back Runs
For the first time in a while, I ran two days in a row. Wednesday was supposed to be a running day, but it was yucky all day - drizzly and foggy - so I decided to skip it and run on Thursday. I did that, and then I wanted to be back on track to run with Ann on the weekend, so I ran today also. And I did fine! I didn't experience that low energy feeling where each step is a struggle. I'm glad I was able to run two days in a row and feel fine.
Mocha is officially trying to lose weight now. She has hardly had any treats in the past two days, and yesterday she didn't want to eat breakfast, so she ended up getting about 1/2 cup less food than usual. The vet wants to weigh her in about a month to see if she's losing. I think she will be able to lose the weight that she's gained. We've been going for 3 walks a day most days.
Mocha noticed some reindeer decorations that a neighbor has. They are almost life-size, and Mocha stares at them, waiting to see if they will move. She is suspicious that they are big dogs maybe? But she moves along after a while. Pretty soon she'll totally ignore them, I'm sure.
Mocha is officially trying to lose weight now. She has hardly had any treats in the past two days, and yesterday she didn't want to eat breakfast, so she ended up getting about 1/2 cup less food than usual. The vet wants to weigh her in about a month to see if she's losing. I think she will be able to lose the weight that she's gained. We've been going for 3 walks a day most days.
Mocha noticed some reindeer decorations that a neighbor has. They are almost life-size, and Mocha stares at them, waiting to see if they will move. She is suspicious that they are big dogs maybe? But she moves along after a while. Pretty soon she'll totally ignore them, I'm sure.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Ruh-Roh - Mocha Gained Weight
I took Mocha with me today when I went to pick up something at the vet - I wanted to get her weighed. Dave had mentioned recently that she looks like she has gained weight, and I agreed. I wanted to find out how much weight she had put on.
Well, the scale showed that Mocha weighs 60.4 pounds! That is about 8 pounds more than last time. She needs to lose a bit. The vet's office is going to work up a plan for her, based on the brand of food she eats (Blue Buffalo Basic). I think I could help her lose weight without that, but since they offered...
I have to mention that she was a model dog at the vet. When we got there, a little dog was at the counter checking out (being held by its mom). Mocha did not react one bit. When the receptionist took her back to get weighed, she went right with her, stubber waggin'. They love her there - said she sat right on the scale until they told her she was done.
Before the stop at the vet, we took a wet walk at the trail. First time in a long time that we didn't see any other dogs there. When we left home, it was just a light misty drizzle, but it started raining hard on our way to the trail. We both got wet! Maybe the water on her fur was the extra 0.4 pounds.
Well, the scale showed that Mocha weighs 60.4 pounds! That is about 8 pounds more than last time. She needs to lose a bit. The vet's office is going to work up a plan for her, based on the brand of food she eats (Blue Buffalo Basic). I think I could help her lose weight without that, but since they offered...
I have to mention that she was a model dog at the vet. When we got there, a little dog was at the counter checking out (being held by its mom). Mocha did not react one bit. When the receptionist took her back to get weighed, she went right with her, stubber waggin'. They love her there - said she sat right on the scale until they told her she was done.
Before the stop at the vet, we took a wet walk at the trail. First time in a long time that we didn't see any other dogs there. When we left home, it was just a light misty drizzle, but it started raining hard on our way to the trail. We both got wet! Maybe the water on her fur was the extra 0.4 pounds.
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