My first six miler, dogs and happiness

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It’s a lovely clear and sunny day, my legs are feeling good and my feet are happily encased in their new Merrells so I decide to push it up to six miles.

Metronome set, off I go along my usual Sunday route, that is the canal towpath. This morning is a busy morning – there is a fishing match going on and lots of runners, cyclists and dog walkers who have also been enticed out by the mild weather.

The canal is also heavily populated with house boats of all shapes and sizes – not all posh ones like you see in London, but a myriad of ramshackle barges, small motor cruisers and several unusual, individual and possibly home-made designs. It’s a bustling and vibrant community and this morning lots of the inhabitants have ventured out to chop wood, walk their dogs or just stand around drinking tea and chatting.

One mile in and I overhear some anxious women discussing which direction their wayward dog has gone. Half a mile further on I notice a lovely collie wandering around on it’s own, I then witness it poo in the grass verge – not good. Is this the missing dog I wonder? I approach it to check its collar, its very friendy. Mmmmm what to do? Ok the possible owner is not far away, I shall run back and check if this is the missing dog.

Back I go, but they are gone, I ask a fisherman if he knows anything, but he just grunts at me – I think he is alarmed by my constant 180 beats a minute ticking. Ok back to the dog then, shall I call the number on its collar? But just as I reach for my phone a runner with her own dog passes, so I ask her opinion.

“Oh, that dog?” she says “ Its always here, belongs to one of the boats I think.’

Great – wasted time, disrupted run and I am completely out of my rhythm. Not only that but I feel really let down by the anti-social dog owner who lets their dog poo freely, with no regard for other towpath users.

Now do I continue to my three mile marker or turn short? Ok, on to the three mile mark and back into my rhythm. My continued plan of relaxing into the pace seems to pay off, I concentrate on my technique and settle back into it.

The rest of the run is fairly uneventful, except I realise how much harder it is to stay focussed on the beat here in the great outdoors compared to the treadmill. Everyone is so friendly, and my attention is continually distracted by the constant ‘hellos’ and ‘mornings’ from fellow runners, joggers and cyclists.

Maybe I need some mean shades to block everyone else out, so that I can concentrate. But then again maybe it’s nicer to stay friendly.

Happiness is a sunny, friendly run in the beautiful great outdoors.

Distance: 6 miles (well probably nearer 6 ½ – 7 miles with the diversion)
Shoes: Merrell, Women’s Pace Glove
Course: Canal Towpath

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