Running Partner

Sorry I didn't post yesterday...I've been too busy running!  Well, that's a partial falsehood, but I have been logging some serious miles in my tennies.  I am finally caught up with my running, and I feel great!

Tuesday was a four miler and yesterday was eight miles, and both times, I had the best running partner in the world with me, Cameron.  She's just now turning 10 months old, so I figured it was about time to get her out pounding the pavement with me.  Man, can she fly!!!  Seriously, she loves running more than me and for some reason, enjoys dragging me behind her as she sprints down hills.  Trying to keep up with her is a serious workout.

When I was looking at dogs over a year ago, one of my main reasons for getting a lab was to have a loyal running partner.  I'm not always a huge fan of running with humans because they like to talk (I'm often lost in thought when I run), so running with a four legged friend is perfect for me.

The best part about running with Cam is that sometimes, mid-stride, she'll glance back at me grinning ear to ear with her tongue hanging out.  I can tell she is having a blast hoofing it around D.C. and Arlington.  Also, I get to pick up on her puppy attention deficit disorder by watching her ears perk up at birds, buses, beer bottles and babies.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that I'm tempted to cross the street to the other sidewalk when I see a stroller because I know Cameron's nose is going straight to the baby's toes.  She loves giving babies kisses (and some parents don't find her as amusing as I do).

Last night, we ran down past the Air Force Memorial, and I thought it was a good place for us to stop and take a look at the city.  There was no guard to scowl at Cameron and no tourists for her to terrorize, so the brown dog and I trotted up to the memorial and sat down under the massive structure.  I asked Cameron to sit beside me, and I put my arm around her and pointed out all the sights in Washington from Georgetown and the Waterfront to the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial and Arlington Cemetery to our immediate left.

Not that Cameron really understood or appreciated me showing her the entire city from our vantage point, but she gave me a loving look when I finished pointing out the landmarks and licked me from my chin to my eyebrows.  Best running partner ever.

Happy running!