Get Down Tonight
OK, so we haven’t tried canicross yet, though the concept that “your dog is actually supposed to be pulling you” is quite compelling since that is kind of how it goes now anyway. The thought of tying Brody to a bicycle seat, scooter, or anything with wheels fills me with a deep sense of dread. I think for now, in order to keep it simple, I have two main goals for us in the next few months:
1. Learn to paddleboard (me first, then I’ll throw him on and see what happens.)
2. Get back into running. He’s fine, I’m the one who needs to ease back into things. Maybe I should get those sneakers the kids wear with the wheels on the back so I can run, but then when we hit a big hill, flip down the wheels and let him drag me along.
I’m dying to doga and do all the other crazy stuff too like skijoring, but I have to rein in my enthusiasm until I get some of the basics out of the way, like, you know, running technique. Boring stuff. But I’m always up for something new and exciting instead.
And then I saw this: I’d thought I’d seen it all in terms of crazy dog exercises, but somehow Canine Freestyle eluded me until just this very week. Why didn’t anyone tell me?
I got all excited when I heard the word “freestyle” because I thought it meant you got out there and did your thing, and your dog did their own thing, and I thought to myself, “We could totally do that.” I can do the running man in the middle while Brody runs around in circles and barks. It would be epic. But no, you actually do have some serious choreography in the freestyle event. All right, we’re out for now. But just wait- I think Brody could do the Cabbage Patch with a little practice.
As fun as this was to watch, the thing that mesmerized me the most was the happy attitude displayed by the dog. That is joy, right there. And that’s what it’s all about, right?
Or is it about the costumes? I really can’t tell.
I’ll be honest, I know Brody loves it but I find running kind of a slog. I want to come up with something we both love to do. We need to find our freestyle. Preferably one that does not involve coin belts or purple lycra.
But for now- running! Training! Endurance building! I hope with enough exclamation points I will actually begin to believe my own enthusiasm! That’s OK, Brody is enthusiastic enough for the both of us. Well worth every blister to keep the house from another Jimmy Poo incident.
