Running Maya

Today I ran Maya. It’s actually the first time I have taken her on a run, though we’ve run a little bit while walking a few times. We went to Rockwood Hall, a park along the Hudson where some impressive chiseled stonewalls are all that’s left of a mansion that once stood there maybe 100 years ago. A nice walking trail circles the park, making about a 2.25-mile course. Maya and I went there about 1 pm and ran a mile and then walked a quarter mile and then ran another mile. After that we walked, and then a little more running when a couple runners going a lot faster than we had went by. Maya got excited and started to run with them. They said they were going about 8 minutes a mile, which beats the hell out of my 10 to 11 minutes a mile. When I stopped Maya was obviously disappointed. My pace bored her! In total we did 3.9 miles.

She was tuckered. This evening she wouldn’t chase a tennis ball for anything. She would have played tug but I don’t play that with her leash and that’s all I had. She crashed about 10, even though Fionna had a bunch of friends over watching a movie. Kids are normally an unbearable distraction for Maya, who thinks everyone is her playmate.
One of the trainers said I shouldn’t run her until she’s about a year old and completely gown. I think she wants to run and something like what I did today isn’t too much for her. Plus, I need to get out and run with some regularity. I’ve been in a funk for at least a half year. Thought I might have picked up Lime Disease or some other thing but the doctor found only a low count for vitamin B12. So getting shots for that. He says that should help restore my energy. It’s good stuff, B12. But he also said the best thing for fatigue is exercise! I haven’t run hardly at all since last fall, but a year ago I was regularly doing six-mile runs and in April of 2010 had even twice run the equivalent of a half marathon! I prefer running on dirt or gravel, so if I keep to that and don’t over do it with Maya, I think she’ll be fine. Me too, I hope.