Roxy training diary month 76

September 2009

Sky Gets a Q

Sky Gets a Hug

Sky Gets Labeled

Sep 12. No running since the Disneyland Half. I'm fighting a runner's knee, and it seems that rest would be the best thing for it. The running calendar is clear for now.

We're in Boise, at a USDAA agility trial. Roxy is still being flaky; she's fine on contacts but refusing jumps. Maybe it's her eyesight or her elbows. We'll get her checked out when we get back home. Since we've been having trouble with her for a while, we've got her on a light schedule, just Snooker and Gamblers.

Meanwhile, Sky did well at his second-ever agility trial. He got his first Q, in Snooker. Rosemary has been working with him a lot, and it certainly showed. I ran him in Jumpers and in Standard. He fell in love with his Pairs partner, Molly. In Standard, the last run of five for the day, he was running behind Molly, and instead of taking the first jump, he ran over to see what Molly was doing. That wasn't what I wanted, but it's just part of having a green blue dog. He had to wear the devil horns when we got back to the room.

Jim and Lilo, No Stitch

I'm still happy after running the Disneyland Half Marathon, which involves running through the Magic Kingdom — twice — covering much of Anaheim, with paid cheerleading squads leading cheers (that's why they're called "cheerleaders"), by the arena used by the Mighty Ducks and through Angels Stadium, where 4000 paid Boy and Girl Scouts and 4Hers will also root for you as your image is flashed up on the Jumbotron.

My time (1:58) was not the best for the half, but a combination of less-than-ideal conditions and a lot of non-serious runners meant that I finished in the top quarter of my age group, 75/336 among men 50-54. Plus, since it wasn't a PR kinda day, I stopped about a mile from the finish to have my picture taken with Lilo.