On our way home yesterday, we stopped to visit my neice and her husband, who are pregnant with their first baby. She's in labor today and I'm so excited for them!

This is the biggest reason why I decided to get back into training and actually put in the work this spring - racing is fun! Especially racing with our dogs! This morning's Dash for Dogs 5k did not disappoint. We got to visit with our friends, meet lots of other dogs, and run along a beautiful trail that followed the river on a gorgeous day. What more could you ask for? Buffy & I paced it as well as we could and ran 99% of it.

We stopped & got off the trail in order to take pictures without distracting Ed & George from their goal - winning Top Dog!

 I'm so proud of them. An out and back course isn't in George's wheelhouse because of all the other dogs and runners coming at him(he gets nervous), and Ed's really worked hard to increase his speed in order to sprint past his competition.

It's been a while! Our only other stop was at the turn around point for a drink, and then a quick pit stop. I was pleased, and other runners actually commented on it. Slow & steady might not actually win anything, but it'll get you there in the end, with enough energy left to pick up the pace at the end to finish fast! 

Thank you Lynda for some of these pictures & Ed for coming out on course to take pictures of our finish. Loved running with Casey & Brie again today. It's been too long! As always - thank you to Nooksack Racing for the best gear! I can't wait for the next one!!

This tree is so incredibly beautiful every spring. It's only for a few days, though, so we're all sure to enjoy it while we can!

Honestly, it was such a pretty day, but such a dreary evening that I didn't expect to see a sunset. When we came out of the woods to take a lap around the pond, I was blown away. Wow!

One of the horse trainers that I worked with years ago explained to us that running your horse in circles would never calm it down, it would just increase their fitness. You've gotta make them think. The same is true with dogs. I can't tire George out at this point because he's getting so fit. But, when he's overexcited, I can work his brain and he'll settle down.

This evening we ran around some singletrack mountain bike trails. They're super fun with lots of twists and turns and switchbacks, and it gets really confusing. Because he's in front of me, George has to make the decisions. It's fantastic training of voice commands when I guide him, but I also let him try to figure some of it out on his own. And he did. It's so cool to watch him thinking each turn through! It didn't take long before he was panting though, and ready for a break. Mind you, we weren't moving fast because on top of all that, it's tricky footing with leaves covering over roots and rocks and branches, so I know that's not what was tiring him out.

We took the next turn out onto the straight access path so that he could relax and just run easy. He's such a good boy! Needless to say, I didn't get any pictures of the single track trail because all my focus was on staying upright and avoiding a fall. We all know how graceful I am!

Newfields Country Store makes such a good sandwich!

Tonight I drove up to Portland to get fitted for new sneakers & then took them for a test run!