A Helping Paw

Just a quick post ... had to show the world this cutie.

He's trying to help me roll out on the foam roller.  Clearly.

A minute before, he was jumping on me, over me and snuggling under me.  Anytime I'm down on the floor, Austin thinks it's time to play.  Sometimes it is, but this time I just wanted to roll out those sore calves!

No One Likes a Grumpy Pants

Sleep.

Bedtime. Nap. Snooze. Zzzzs. Pillow. Blankie. Blanket. Comfy. Dreaming.

I'm a big fan of sleep and have always been able to fall asleep really quickly.  I actually think that my abilities are genetic - all of my dad's family are sleepers and can snooze at the snap of a finger.  It's an amazing quality to have.  Me and naps are tight - BFFs, if you will.  Austin likes them, too.

One downfall, though, is that I need a lot of sleep.  I cannot function on less than seven hours of sleep every night.  I get extremely grumpy if I don't get enough ZZzzz time.  I know, I know, I sound like an old lady (and the boyfriend actually calls me grandma when I tell him I need to hit the sack).  But, the National Sleep Foundation says that adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night.  So there.

But in all seriousness, sleep is such a vital part of staying healthy.  If you don't get enough sleep, you don't feel like exercising.  If you don't feel like exercising, you're gonna sit on the couch eating Goldfish and Popsicles and tortilla chips (oh, wait, that might have been me last night).  You lose any motivation to do anything when you are tired.  Then, your days become consumed with slipping in and out of consciousness or lounging or staring blankly at the TV as "I Love Lucy" and "Brady Bunch" reruns flicker.  Sure, it's fun to have a down day and sleep in late and stay in bed even later.  I'm not going to deny that.  At least for me, though, once I get in that mode, it's hard to peel my backside off of the comfy, comfy couch (just one more episode, I swear).

So, what's the point I'm trying to make in all of this sleepy gobbly-gook?  Just that.  Sleep.  It's vital for your body, it's healthy for any relationships you have (no one likes a grumpy pants) and it makes the world go round.  Yeah, that's right...sleep makes the world go round....I should market that...make it into a song...who's with me?

What I Learned from My Pup

I took Austin out this morning for a quick run.  Here are some running lessons I learned while jogging with him:

• He instinctively knows when we are doing an out-and-back run.  As the smart athlete that he is, he runs slower on the out part and faster on the back part.  I think it's part of a runner's DNA that when you finally turn that corner to head home, your pace picks up just a little bit...you can almost taste the end of the run at that point.  If you feel like letting lose and pumping your arms a bit faster, by all means, do it!

• Always take time to smell the grass. And the trashcan. And the stoplight. Ok, don't do that. But take a cue from dogs and don't be afraid to stop if you see something that interests you. Or slow down to take in the scenery.  Running is about enjoying what you are doing, so don't blow by things so fast. 

• If there's a puddle, always run through it.  Or if there's a sprinkler on, don't veer around it.  Puppies aren't afraid of getting a little wet & dirty - you shouldn't be either. 

• Dog's paws can withstand a whole heck of a lot of wear and tear.  If they can run barefoot, we should be able to as well, right?  Their mechanics allow them to run smoothly and efficiently.  We should definitely take a page out of their book. 

• If your tongue hangs out while running, let it hang out!  If you have a weird way of holding your right arm or a shorter stride than others, don't be ashamed of it.  I am a true believer in my body and what it can and cannot do.  If it says that I should run a certain way, then I should.  If my right hand is better in a fist than an open hand, then by all means, that's what I'm going to do. 

• Nothing feels better than a quick roll in the grass after a run.  Austin likes to stretch out and scratch his back along the turf.  In my case, I'd trade the grass for a nice, long shower.  Cold water to shock the body and cool off and then warm water to envelop it in goodness.   

• Head right to the water bowl after a long run and if your beard gets a little drippy in the process and the kitchen floor is a little wet, all the better.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. (And go barefoot in the kitchen so your socks don't get wet from the water spilled on the floor by Austin).

Like I said in a previous post, there is just something fun & rewarding about running with a dog and having a buddy to share the joys of running with.

P.S. If you don't feel like getting out of bed (like Austin in this picture), that's what rest days were invented for. :)