Sunday, August 30, 2009

Testing the Limits

Today was a beautiful day.  Sunny with a high of 73, and not much wind to speak of.  I got out for a run and made it 3 1/2 miles in under 29 minutes, which is the farthest I've gone since surgery earlier this year.  Also my fastest run this year, go figure!  I'll give the weather the credit, because it felt great out there.  I'm not running close to the speed I did pre-surgery, but it's progress.  And those who know me well know how much progress motivates me to keep at it.

But it wasn't just me testing my limits today, Comet was too.  Actually, let me introduce Comet briefly.


That's Comet.  He's my Border Collie.  I got him in July when he was 7 1/2 weeks old and have been trying my best to raise him right, with heavy socialization and positive training.  Right now he's a little bit over 3 months and quick as a whip.  Next year, when it's healthy for him to start running with me, he'll be my new running partner.  Although, I'll also admit a friend of mine is trying to get me to train him for agility, and for now I'll just say I'm "not opposed" to the idea.

Tonight Comet was simply full of it.  Normally he walks great on a loose leash, but tonight he was constantly taking a flying leap of faith into the end of the leash.  Every time we would turn around and go the other way, until he was walking nice, and then turn back around.  At least half the walk was back tracking.  He's definitely trying to push his limits now that he's getting more rambunctious.  I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope it's an extinction burst and persistence (on my end, more than his) will save the day.