Dog Walking and Road Racing!

Gracie and Anne following a walk last summer...
me thinks it may be time to update my catalog of "stock" dog pix!
Walk: 2 miles @ 1:30 p.m.
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 73°F, 51% Humidity, Wind: From NNE @ 5 mph; feels like 73°F.
Course: The Park Avenue neighborhood of Rochester, NY.

With no work today (the summer school program for which I teach does not run on Fridays), no one else at home, and all of the chores on my agenda crossed off for the day, I decide to take our English Springer Spaniel, Gracie, for a walk around the neighborhood.

I am sorry to confess that I don't take her walking as much as a better owner would, but when I do she greatly enjoys being out among the other dogs and people in our high-pedestrian-traffic neighborhood. She behaved wonderfully (natch!) and was equally thankful for the heaping bowl of ice water and big cookie upon our return home.

I also stopped by one of our local running stores and signed up for a 5k this coming Sunday. Though I had already signed up for the September 12 Rochester half-Marathon, I thought it might be prudent to get out and at least reacquaint myself with road racing, albeit at a much shorter distance. My sense is that the Peter Cannon Memorial 5k will be a smaller event (< 250 registrants?--there are quite a few of 5ks being run this weekend!) though I hope they generate a lot of money as it is to honor the memory of a recently deceased local high school athlete.

My personal goal for this 5k is, as always (though very different from more competitive years past), to simply finish feeling well and with a smile on my face...

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!